Earlier this year, Becky Baumwirt was out walking her dog, Bronny, when she came across an empty lot in her local San Carlos neighborhood.
“What if this space could bring people together?” she asked herself.
Inspiration had struck. She went home and shared with her vision to create a local farmers market with her family. They were on board.
Her kids, ages 9 and 11, became unofficial board members — giving their input and sharing ideas over family dinners. They said they wanted a children’s area where kids could craft while their parents shopped.
Over the course of this year, Baumwirt went through the process of setting up a nonprofit — which she named BronnyB’s Neighborhood, after her dog — and figured out how to put the farmers market together. From the getting the permits to reaching out to vendors, she did it all with the help of neighbors and friends.
“It definitely was a lot more [work] than I thought it would be when I first started out,” she said.
After the Thanksgiving holiday, that dream Baumwirt conjured up on a neighborhood walk last January became reality. Approximately 350 people from the community gathered to enjoy the first San Carlos Farmers Market put on by BronnyB’s Neighborhood. Nearly two dozen vendors offered fresh fruits and vegetables, hot food (the fish tacos were a hit), and locally made crafts.
Jeff MacMaster lives close by and made sure to attend the market with his wife and two children. He said his kids were enthralled by the laser engraved products of a local vendor, Deb Manis.
“It’s really important to support local businesses and local families,” said MacMaster, whose family ran a local jewelry store for generations. “The small local businesses have a vested interest and they care about the community because they’re already a part of it.”
Manis agrees. As a local elementary school teacher who started her side business as a way to tap into her creative side, she said that the best part about selling locally is seeing people she knows in the community and being able to make custom items for people.
“I find a lot of value in meeting with neighbors face to face and building community and connections that doesn’t often happen selling online,” Manis said.
It’s this community connection that really drove Baumwirt to start the market. “We have these great spaces in our neighborhood, but not really a lot of community events that bring us all together,” she said.
Joy Malaise, Baumwirt’s neighbor who helped out at the event, said that people have been craving a space to be together.
“People really want to feel part of a community,” Malaise said. “This was just a great avenue for that because you got to meet your neighbors.”
The farmers market will be back in January on a regular schedule: the fourth Sunday of the month at the East San Diego Masonic Lodge.
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