After the movie, we headed to Haymarket for some cheap produce. On our way, we ran into the African Festival of Boston in City Hall Plaza. Summer in Boston is full of interesting events. It almost makes you forget how long winter lasts. Almost.
We wandered through the market, but ended up in front of handcrafted textiles. (Not surprising. Erin and I's last husband free afternoon involved fabric and paint.)
Linda, director for MicroLoan Foundation here in the States, talked to us about the organization. The textiles at their booth, crafted in Malawi, came from Desenyo, a company founded with one of their microloans, which support African women in a wide variety of industries. She told me about their new project to bring in a tomato processing plant, ensuring the microloan-funded, tomato-farming women have a dependable market to sell their produce. Then I saw a flash of orange and blue. I peered around the corner — a volunteer was modeling a wrap skirt. I happily traded my birthday money to take it home.
Textiles tucked in our bags, we marched on to Haymarket.
Two hours and $9.50 later, I walked away with a pound of strawberries, two pounds of bananas, a container of blackberries, one pomegranate, two avocados, eight limes, and a bundle of leeks. Erin fared just as well. Of course we had to eat most of that in two days. Haymarket produce shelf life is not long, my friends.
Erin — thanks for a great Saturday!