Barrels Community Market: Green ‘Ville
by Michelle Troutman

Named after the building which houses it, the Barrell Block, its first owner, Charles Barrell, and in the spirit of plenty, the Barrels Community Market is a project of Waterville Main Street, part of their ongoing efforts to revitalize the downtown.

Barrels manager David Gulak (pictured right) graduated from George Washington University in 2002 with a degree in International Economics. He worked with businesses doing market research, grant writing, and creating business plans before turning to organic farming.

"I always had piles of vegetables in my house, and in every single corner, because I was pretty obsessed about growing stuff," he says, a hobby that led him to start Sunwater Farm two years ago in Benton, which he helps manage with Virginia Flood. As part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) concept, they deliver crates of vegetables from each weekly harvest to people who buy shares on a seasonal basis.

"What is setting us apart is our almost exclusive emphasis on local," Gulak says of Barrels. Items sold are preferably produced within Maine, or within 20 miles of Waterville, made with few if any chemicals, using ecologically-friendly methods that they can re-sell affordably on consignment.

It's reminiscent of a small-scale indoor Common Ground Fair, offering organic and natural produce, baked goods, health and beauty items, crafts, and tools from local vendors, and space for lectures, lessons, and music performances. They plan to open the room downstairs in late summer/early fall for events.

Products don't have to be certified organic, but should be made with few if any chemicals. Vegetables sold will be in season, such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips, beets, and carrots. They're looking for home goods, bath and beauty products, toys, baked goods, and prepared foods. Vendor applications can be downloaded at their Web site: www.barrelsmarket.com .

They want to sell local produce to institutions such as Colby College, Unity College, Inland Hospital, and MaineGeneral through long-term agreements with them.

Gulak looks to raise $100,000 to fund the operations. So far, the “Buy the Farm...and Live to Tell About it" campaign is over halfway toward the goal, having received donations from over 60 people and businesses, $10,000 from the Waterville Rotary Club, and $25,000 from an anonymous donor. A core group of 20 volunteers help regularly, and they seek more.

Gulak states that it might look and feel like a co-op, but they are following a non-profit business management model with the mission of buying and selling foods and other items made locally and sustainably, and to support farmers and craftspeople while offering affordable goods to consumers and strengthening the downtown community.

"We're really trying to work hand in hand with the businesses downtown doing co-marketing, and partnerships, and just making sure that what we're doing brings people downtown, complements their stores, and encourages people to shop at all places. We're not actively competing with them."

Barrels will be closed during the weekly Farmer's Market, open Thursdays from 2:00 to 6:00pm, to avoid direct competition. Gulak says their goal is "to get more people used to buying more produce downtown both from us and from them."

The market had its "soft opening" on June 22nd, a test marketing phase for customers to browse and buy goods and provide feedback. Gulak anticipates being better organized and having more items in stock for the grand opening on Saturday, July 18.

Barrels Community Market at 74 Main St. (formerly Lamey Wellehan) is open Monday through Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Thursday hours run from 10:00am to 2:00pm: 660-4844. www.barrelsmarket.com .

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