Proctor Farmers' Market Green Initiatives

The Proctor Farmers' Market strives to provide the community with fresh, locally grown farm products while providing area growers with a venue for their crops and products. In addition we seek to educate the public about the importance of local agriculture, sustainable business and the impact we have on the environment.

See below how we are working to make the Market more sustainable, by incorporating Green Initiatives.  

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Proctor Farmers' Market & Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

“The earth is what we all have in common.”
Naturalist and writer, Wendell Berry

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Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability

Zestful Gardens, Tacoma, WA

Farmers selling at markets minimize the amount of waste and pollution they create:
•Many markets sell organically labeled products, and many more sell chemical or pesticide-free labeled products.
•A 2015 survey of farmers selling at farmers markets showed that one in four farmers selling at farmers markets cultivate land that is protected from commercial development.
•Locally or regionally grown sourced produce travels about 27 times less distance than conventionally sourced produce.
•Four out of five discuss farming practices with their customers, educating them about farming and its interaction with the natural environment.
Source information - click on:  Farmers Market Coalition

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Green Excellence Certification

Since 2015 the Proctor Farmers' Market has been proud to have a Green Excellence certification from the City of Tacoma.  This certification is renewed yearly, and is the highest level available for events that decrease their impact on the environment.  As part of this ongoing program, we take extra care to ensure that our Market is made more sustainable by incorporating Green Initiatives like providing bike racks, recycling, reducing waste, donating excess food, and much more.

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BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) Ordinance

The Market supports the City of Tacoma's 2017 'Bring Your Own Bag' ordinance with online education and sale of  reusable totes in the Market Info Booth.

The main elements of the law are:

• Thin plastic checkout bags may no longer be distributed at any Tacoma retail establishments.
  
• Retail establishments must collect a minimum pass-through charge of five cents for each recycled paper or reusable checkout bag requested by customers.
• Those with EBT/WIC/TANF benefits do not have to pay the pass-through charge on paper bags.

Remember to 'Bring Your Own Bag' wherever you shop!

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Proctor Farmers' Market – Rain Barrel

In 2015, the Green Committee worked with our Board of Directors to install the Market's first rain barrel, provided by Dan Borba, Proctor Farmers' Market Vendor  (Dan Borba's Rain Barrels) and Green Committee member.

Using rainwater that runs from the roof of the Market' storage shed, our rain barrel provides harvested water during the Market day to refresh Vendor flowers and plants.  In addition to conserving municipal water, a precious natural resource, the Market's rain barrel also helps keep our waterways clean by reducing the run-off that goes down storm drains, which can pollute creeks, rivers, bays, and oceans.

Interested in making your home or business more sustainable with a rain barrel? Visit Dan Borba at his Booth, every Saturday, 9am-2pm at the Market!

Dan Borba and the Market's Rain Barrel

Dao Lee and son, Tuchu of Dao Lee Garden, use Rain Barrel water to keep their flowers fresh all day at the Market.

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Proctor Farmers' Market - Food Banks

• Weekly collections at the Market of unspoiled, leftover produce by *Nourish Pierce County amounts to thousands of pounds per year of donated food to help feed those in need.  This year-round effort supports a "Sustainable Management of Food' Program  which  not only feeds people, but reduces food waste, and  ultimately landfill waste.

• In 2018, our Vendors donated 3.700 pounds of produce to the Nourish Pierce County food bank!

 

• Our yearly Hunger Awareness Event is held every November and encourages donations with the collection of extra purchases of produce and products from Market Vendors, which not only helps feed the hungry, but also supports sustainable agriculture.
  • The November 17, 2018 Hunger Awareness Day Food Bank participants were: Feed 253 and St. Leo Food Connection.

 *Our neighbor, located at
Mason United Methodist Church
2710 North Madison Street, Tacoma WA 98407

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Proctor Farmers' Market - Vinyl Banner Repurposing

• Used Market vinyl advertising banners are delivered to Tinkertopia, a Tacoma 'Creative Reuse Center,' and made into totes, games, and other creative items.
• The environmental advantages of repurposing vinyl banners are: *
  1. Energy Reduction - eliminates the need to make materials from scratch.
  2. Reduces solid waste, as less trash is going to landfills.
  3. Reduces our Carbon Footprint - when Tinkertopia reuses our materials.
  4. Reduces the use of virgin materials - the items created at Tinkertopia, can be upcycled when no longer in use, reducing use of new materials.

*Source: Relan-Environmental Benefits of Repurposing Vinyl Banners and Billboards - Part 2

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Proctor Farmers' Market - Recycling & Solid Waste

One of the many ways the Market helps to reduce waste in landfills is by sorting solid waste as per the City of Tacoma’s current program. 
Below are some steps we take to dispose of garbage, recycling, and food waste generated by the Market:

Step 1 - Customers dispose of waste in one of three clearly marked receptacles found throughout the Marketplace:

1. Compost Only
   
2. Recycling
3. Trash Only
   

Signage clearly describes what can be disposed of in each bin (shown below):

Step 2 - Market waste is then emptied into appropriate containers by staff for commercial disposal:
City of Tacoma:
Vegetable/plant waste (from Vendors): Brown Bin
Trash: Green Bin
Recycling: Blue Bin

City of Tacoma 'Brown Waste,'Trash,' and 'Recycling' Bins

Step 3 - Cedar Grove:
All "Compost Only' food waste and compostable food container waste is emptied into a specially marked bin and collected by Cedar Grove, and then processed into compost rather than disposed of as trash and shipped to landfills.

Cedar Grove Bin

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Additional Resources:

photo from: City of Tacoma's "Preventing Food Waste"

City of Tacoma: Preventing Food Waste
City of Tacoma: BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) - (no thin, plastic checkout bags  as of July 12, 2017).
Farmers Market Coalition: Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability

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Proctor Farmers' Market - Repair, Reuse

The Market utilizes a great many items, with working parts, that need constant repair. 
We try to repair before we replace.  Items beyond repair are then recycled where or when appropriate.
When Daniel Burke, our 2016 repair person, moved out of state, he was fortunately replaced by the Market's bookkeeper, Jack Sommer. 
In addition to repairing almost anything, Jack helps out when we are short-staffed on-site.

Daniel Burke

Jack Sommer

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Proctor Farmers' Market - Saving Resources

By maximizing the use of the Market’s resources to process vendor applications, deliver vendor checks via direct deposit, and email targeted digital marketing flyers, we work to save trees, cut down on the use of fossil fuels, and help the environment and atmosphere:
•MarketWurks Online Vendor Application
•Direct Deposit of Vendor Checks
•Peachjar: Digital Flyers sent yearly to 6,000+Tacoma elementary and middle school parents or caregivers to promote and advertise both Kids Day & Green Day.

Online Vendor Application

Direct Deposit of Vendor Checks

6,000+ digital flyers sent yearly via email.

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Proctor Farmers' Market 'Green Day'

Green Day has traditionally been a yearly event at the Market, as it connects directly with the portion of our Mission that includes educating  the community about sustainability, the environment, as well as providing an exchange of ideas on how to be a part of a sustainable community and society.

Last year we decided to put the Green Day on hiatus, and look at revitalizing this important local event, that both educates and entertains.

We'll keep you posted on any plans for a future Green Day Event - meanwhile, enjoy these photos from 2016!