Few things in this world will get a college student up early on a Saturday morning, but if you have not yet made the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market one of your regular Saturday activities, I am here to convince you it should be.On Sept. 11 the market sponsored a “Farmer’s Appreciation Day” complete with a Southern-style breakfast for all vendors.

It was my first time experiencing all the farmers market has to offer. I walked inside unsure of where to start or what to expect. I was immediately greeted by a friendly hubbub as well as live music outside.

While fumbling for my pen and paper to start taking notes a vendor greeted me, “Are you CIA or FBI?”

After laughing and explaining I worked for the Guilfordian, he introduced himself as Daniel Woodham, farmer and market vendor for the past five years.

Woodham described the market as a “vortex of Greensboro life,” and after a spending the morning there talking to farmers and customers I have to agree. It was obvious that the farmers were happy to have a day dedicated to them, along with a delicious free breakfast.

“The friends of the market do a good job,” said Ann Crandall, a vendor at Simple Kneads Bakery. “It’s been going on for several years and it’s nice to feel appreciated.”

Junior Layth Awartani has been working at the farmers market with his family every Saturday for 10 years.

“The connections you make here are phenomenal,” said Awartani. “It (the market) is made up of every group of people from all around town.”

“What I really enjoy about the market are the people, the customers,” said Crandall. “You make a lot of friends and it’s just a nice place to be.”

Both farmers and customers kept emphasizing the importance of connecting with your farmers and with your food. Woodham emphasized to me “you need to know where your food comes from,” and customer Andrea Krauss added that having a direct connection to what you are eating is of the upmost importance.

While exploring, I found the Goat Lady Dairy farm stand, with about five goat cheese samples out. Curious, I asked the vendor what the differences were between the cheeses. She immediately gave me a detailed summary of the differences between the samples, comparing them to different cheeses such as feta and brie, and explaining the process of how each one was made.

I felt more prepared and excited to make my purchase after understanding what went into making it. I realized this just is not an experience you can have walking into a grocery store.

I could write about the Farmers Curb Market for pages, from the flower lady who gave me flowers for half price when I was spending my last dollars, to the greetings and friendly jokes, to how I left the market feeling like the sun was shining even though it was raining outside.

But really you just have to go and experience it yourself. If you still need help finding a reason to crawl out of bed, just follow Layth’s advice: “find a group of people to go, come as a group and explore, have new experiences and be silly, and have fun and that’s really the key.”

Food Justice Network, a new organization on campus is starting a carpool for the farmers market that will meet behind Founders Hall on Saturday mornings. Contact [email protected] for more information. The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market is located at 501 Yanceyville St. and is open from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday.