Thanks for joining me on another trip to the market. In the video and blog, I talk briefly with Steve Ela, and discuss some great people I learned about in this episode. Music is by fellow Coloradoan and Dead aficionado Mark Brut. The link to his ReverbNation page is in the video caption. Mark has a lot of original music so be sure to go check him out. There was a line he sang in his second tune Never Been to North Dakota that stuck out as I listened.
I watched a dying man. Eyes light up when I take his hand.
And I'll take right to my grave, inspiration in the purest way.
A metaphorical death perhaps. These lines reminded me of the community here in some ways. #Steemit and the community has been a source of inspiration for me; one of many helping hands. Now let's take that good energy out into the world and do something positive with it! A major theme I will hit on again and again is the importance of doing just that. Not only do I talk about it, I try to get out and actually do something. Anything to do my small part to spread awareness on both ends; and to help as many people as possible. If you check out my Strange Occurrences on the Toilet Post you will see seeking out people and absorbing knowledge from them is a habit of mine. You should develop this habit as well if you haven't already. #Knowledge is power as they say.
Excuse the #Tolkien quote and related GIF, but my god I love that man. I learned so much reading those books as a kid. Farmer Maggot all the way!
Getting back to the video, I have a short discussion with Alex at Hog Coffee before my talk with Steve Ela. Alex is an enthusiastic guy and he seemed very interested in Steemit when I explained it to him. The iced coffee was very nice. I did get one after the video and talked to him for some time about Steem. One of our favorite purveyors of #coffee might have some competition soon! Incidentally, this is where my exposure snafu began. I adjusted for the dark conditions under his canopy and failed to re-adjust afterwards. Luckily the video is salvageable. Sometimes getting the message out outweighs production values.
Steve Ela (pronounced EE-luh, maybe I will remember now!) was kind enough to speak to me briefly about his farm and organic practices. I didn't want to hold him up too long as he was pretty busy, and we veered into a brief discussion of organic certification. In my last Farmer's market Video, I questioned the organic certification process. Now I am very interested to follow up with Steve and talk more about this, and the market; which we didn't touch on at all. I'll make it a point to catch him earlier in the morning in a future video to talk about these things in more detail.
What will we do with our time?
After leaving the Ela's stand I moved on and rambled a bit more, then started shopping. This is my favorite part of the trip of course! Apples, peaches and tomatoes from Ela Farms were amazing. I bought some really nice beef tips and ground sirloin from Snow Creek Ranch and I'll be talking to them in the future. One vendor I met struck me when I returned home and started doing research. They are: FSTO aka Baskets by Ti-A. I was fascinated by her story, and it ties in so well with the narrative I try to promote. So instead of trying to write up a paragraph I want to include a lengthy passage from their website. I find the story so inspirational I really want you to read it as well:
From the website
The roots of my career as a basket importer and supporter of artists in Ghana stretch back to my stint in the Peace Corps .....from 1988-1990 in the Dominican Republic, working in community development of a women's work cooperative. My experience there showed me that if we could empower women, it could impact so many parts of a family's life. For example, if a woman knew how to read a simple milk formula for her baby, it could save lives.
I began a business that imported African-made goods, largely art pieces and cultural relics. Among these collectibles were hand-woven baskets. These baskets hit home with Colorado, and US shoppers were impressed by their artfulness and utilitarian power .... By selling these baskets, I feel I can promote African culture and sell a useful, time-tested product that has a purpose in modern times. The baskets also enable me to achieve a more important goal. Since basket weavers are 98% women, this is a perfect way for me to empower women in Ghana.
That empowering effort became focused on one locale when I realized that the best baskets I could find in Ghana's art markets were made by artisans in the Bolgatanga village of Ghana. I made the first trip to the Bolgatanga village in 2005. The trip took 20 hours by dirt road, and what I found there was jarring. Most homes have no running water, electricity, or indoor plumbing. Many of the weavers and their families live in one-room mud houses with dirt floors. They also face unemployment levels of about 80%. Many are also single mothers in a culture that looks down on such women which further limits their job options.
Today the 400+ women in Ti-a's collectively get a hand up, not a handout. We are not a charity group. Our basket weavers proudly earn a sustainable income and gain a measure of financial independence. We are giving these women hope, pride, and a future. We have now founded a basket-weaving school in Bolgatanga that helps beginners learn basic techniques, and advanced weavers acquire new skills. I visit the villages near Bolgatanga every year to ensure that the rates being paid for the baskets are above fair-trade. With each visit I get to see that the weaving school is thriving and that Ti-a is having an impact on women and families in Northern Ghana.
Meanwhile, I gain something too. The artists give me inspiration. They say to me, "Do not stop; we need you to keep doing this." I don't know if I can do all they want, but they tell me, "No, you can do it." They have more faith in me than I do.
What a fantastic story! And a great example of how those of us who are more fortunate can directly interact with people in need and develop a win/win relationship. Talk about doing what it takes to get it done! Follow your passion with unwavering dedication and you will find success more often than not. And you will make many friends. I am planning on sitting down for a talk with the folks at the FSTO stand next week, having learned more about them. The name of the vendor I spoke with eludes me (more STML), but he is very knowledgeable about the material and process involved in the craft. I am also reaching out to request a more in depth interview with the founder. This is the kind of activity we should emulate, support and of course bring into the Steem universe. Check out a few images of the basket, which I bought for a great price:
Get out there and share your discoveries with us!
There are many entrepreneurs working in a similar way, directly with communities. I will seek out as many of them as I can and share them with you as I discover them. We are early adopters of an emerging technology that truly has the power to be a vehicle for change not only on a personal level, but on a global scale. Classic open market libertarianism on a global scale. Do you think this is something our corporatist rulers want to see take root? It is up to us to be good ambassadors and grow the community. This is organic globalism and I am all for it. Maybe we can be a force for real change in the world. Change that doesn't utilize abusive systems to take root like an unwanted weed, in places where it doesn't belong. It ain't gonna happen if we don't try, that's for sure. I'll be back next week for another market adventure!
Keep Steeming!
Courtesy 
I am a photographic educator and my goal is to bring you insight to my process in hopes of helping you along in your photographic journey. I earned my MFA in Photography from the University of Houston in 2015.