Post by WoeiJing Teng

I'm a farmer's market girlie now, apparently👩‍🌾 Earlier this week, I set up a 10x10 tent at my local farmer's market.
 Solo. (Well..me, my toddler and her babysitter) 
 I wasn't selling organic vegetables or homemade granola.
 I was “selling” organic connection. 
 Think Bubble blasters 🫧. Chalk in every shape imaginable. A picnic blanket in the shade with building blocks and a wooden train set. Thrifted frames for kids to turn into art. 

And me: finding ways for strangers to linger a little longer together and reaching out for 1:1 side chats while their littles squealed with joy around us 🎉 
 Here's how it started: I serendipitously met the farmer's market manager a few weeks ago. She mentioned the market was caught in a catch-22: vendors want more visitors, visitors want more vendors. And that this week's theme was kids, but nothing was planned
 I said yes before I finished thinking about it. 
 Because 2026 is my year of saying yes to community, especially when it requires more effort than feels reasonable. And here's what I know to be true (and noticed at the market): people want to linger. They want to experience something together. They're just waiting for a reason, a blanket on the grass or someone saying “Hey there!” And they almost never get the chance. We are more ‘connected’ and reachable than any humans in history. We’re surrounded by a constant stream of messages, meetings and slack pings - and we can still go a whole week without anyone really being with us. Without bearing witness or holding space for someone else. It’s the ache underneath a lot of what people are calling burnout, or loneliness or “I’m feeling meh…” After wrap-up, the market manager said she'd love to see that same energy every week. Me too. If you're waiting for the perfect moment to show up for your community, this is me…with a bubble blaster and chalk-stained hands telling you the moment is now 🌈💛😍