In my ever growing love for farmers markets and roadside vendors, I am sharing two great finds in Freeland on Whidbey Island. We were on our way to Langley on a mission to buy some flowers, when what was on the side of the road but a little self serve flower stand. For $5, we bought this gorgeous bouquet.
An old cardboard container with a rubber lid with a slit cut out and a note that said "thank you" was their check out system. I wish I had my camera there with me to have photographed the modest stand. And as we drove away, I wished I had left a note to say thank you to them for such a lovely experience. My girls asked me, how do they know people will leave them the money? Trust, I said. We are all on the honor system.
Then oh happy day. When we returned, the little farm stand next to where we are staying, was setting up shop. We have visited this new little stand several times always buying a little something just because. Also on the honor system, beautiful fresh vegetables are laid out for purchase, variety based on whatever is ready to be harvested.
We walked back with a bag of basil, some yellow potatoes and rockwell green beans which will all be making an appearance in dinner. We left our money in a tin container asking us to make our own change.
I marvel at these folks who employ the honor system. In a world where bad news travels like lightening on the information super highway, where it seems we fear to let our children do anything on their own, where our neighborhood newsletter alerts us of thefts in our area, I am so very thankful for Whidbey. It's a place where my kids roam freely on the beach, where we don't have to lock our door, where the honor system still exists, and where despite my lack of kitchen inventory, we still eat like kings on simply prepared, fresh, locally farmed food.
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