At the Homer Farmers Market I had the chance to talk to Dave at his pottery booth. The potters in town recently got together and had a studio tour. Dave summed it up the same way as other potters I knew.

Though it was fun getting to show their work, work space and kilns to new customers, it turned out there was another gift hidden in the tour.

They all told me that their favorite part of the whole tour was getting to work with all the other potters.

It’s something that I hear from people from out of town all the time.

“You folks down in Homer can do that,” like it’s some strange magical power. “You folks down in Homer are good at working together.”

I saw it again this weekend talking with my friends at Oceanside Farm. Carey over at Hilltop Farm had told Don and Donna Rae, “You have to see the Farmers Friend Salad Harvester.”

At first they were doubtful, but once they saw Carrie’s salad harvester in action, they knew they had to have one too. It’s been revolutionary to how quickly they can harvest.

Donna Rae has been telling everyone about her Paper Pot Planter, and it really is amazing. Look up a video online and you will be amazed at some of the simple technologies that can improve market gardening speed and efficiency incredibly.

But aren’t Donna Rae and Carey competing? They both raise vegetables to sell people from the same town. The thing is, the more food they supply to our local food system, the more customers can rely on getting that food and therefore the more they look for.

It all goes hand in hand. And the more we grow and learn tricks, the more we share those tricks with others and the more they share their tricks with us. So, the more we grow and learn.

This is what goes on behind the scenes at the market. Come on down Wednesdays from 2-5 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and see the results of the sharing community.

Kyra Wagner is the coordinator of Sustainable Homer and the Homer Farmers Market’s biggest fan.