Phillips Helps Farmers Market Continue to Grow

With springtime in full bloom, it won't be long until the is back in business on SE 32nd Street.

In fact, the first market of the year is scheduled to take place June 12 and they're holding a  at Lilly's Restaurant at on May 15. Mercer Island Patch sat down with the Market's Executive Director Edee Phillips to take a closer look at who's behind the Farmers Market.

Phillips and her family moved to Mercer Island more than a decade ago, after receiving some troublesome feedback from Seattle school administrators regarding their second grader's learning abilities. In their heart of hearts, the Phillips' knew there was something amiss behind the "diagnosis" school administrators were suggesting. After researching private schools and school districts in the area, the Phillips were most impressed by the . It wasn't an easy decision, though.

In fact, today, Phillips ruefully admits that before she moved to Mercer Island, she had some serious concerns about what life would be like living on the Island. Thinking back, and with a gentle smile, she remembers being happily surprised by "the sense of community and small-town feel" she saw when she and her husband drove around the Island. They purchased a home almost immediately, and have never looked back.

As their family grew, and the children started primary school, Edee became involved in her children's activities and volunteered at the schools. When the warm days of summer rolled around, she found herself driving off Island to the University District's Farmers Market, which she found to be a huge stress-reliever when "things rattled me." When she found herself attending regularly, that Phillips thought to herself, "Why am I driving all the way to the University District when we could have (a farmers market) here on Mercer Island?"

In 2007, Phillips called the Washington State Farmers Market Association to find out what she needed to do in order to start a local Farmers Market. As luck would have it, fellow Island resident Tracy Landsman had recently called in to inquire as well, and the representative at WSFMA gave Phillips her contact information. 

After another call, this time to the , Edee Phillips learned that there had been many inquiries from Island residents regarding the creation of a local farmers market. Phillips and Landsman put their heads together and organized the first at the .

More than 50 residents attended that first meeting, and the interest and support has only continued to grow. 

"We were really lucky," says Phillips. "People had tried to open a market in previous years ... this particular City Council was very supportive."

Phillips credits the support from the community as a huge factor in the Mercer Island Farmer's Market success. From allowing parking in their private lot on Sundays, to Gull Industries (which owns the ) allowing accessible parking for handicapped and elderly drivers, to the creating their own banner to display in support of the Farmers Market, there is no shortage of support from local businesses or residents.

As director of the Mercer Island Farmer's Market, Edee Phillips reflects that besides her personal challenges as well as satisfaction of learning new skills such as marketing, blogging and social media, the best thing about her experience has been:

"Having met so many wonderful people that live on the Island that I wouldn't have known otherwise."

For the Phillips, the move to Mercer Island has been a decision that has paid off. Their eldest son blossomed in the Mercer Island School District and is now nearing the successful completion of his freshman year at the University of Washington. Their two younger sons currently attend and .

With her work on behalf of Mercer Island Farmers Market, Edee Phillips is now an integral part of that community she once spied out of a car window and has, perhaps, even helped to make it a stronger community.

Get to know your neighbor, Edee Phillips!

• Favorite Hobby: Cooking and baking with my youngest son Eli, experimenting with new recipes and enjoying meals together!

• Favorite Book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, Folly, by Lori R. King, and then of course, Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson to name just a few... 

• Favorite Quote: "You are what you eat!"

• Favorite Mercer Island Spot: I have to say it's a tie between: When my whole family is home, hanging out together laughing and joking and sometimes even dancin' to fun music! AND then there is the site of the : I know that place so well and have so many memories there - even now when the Market isn't going on, I can see the people there, smell the delicious foods cookin' there and taste the summer Sundays when the Market is alive!

Opening Day of the Mercer Island Farmers Market this summer is on Sunday June 12th with new extended hours to shop: 10am-3pm

'Farms, Families and Friends - Experience our Market!'