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Wednesday 18 October 2017

The stand

The sight of the potato stand brings a smile. It harkens back to a more innocent time, when you knew everyone in your community, relied on and trusted them. Now, traffic goes by with people from all over Prince Edward Island and beyond, from outside the neighbourhood and those one would know.


Traffic is so busy here, it is treacherous to stop and take a photo from the car. Yet, this potato stand appears every year when the harvest begins. The stand is opposite a farm on a two lane highway without much of a shoulder.




Such stands are an island tradition! Along the roadways or at the end of driveways,  farmers place their produce in stands, often as seen here, a wooden box with shelves. People stop, take a bag of potatoes and put money in the metal box. It is an honour system. The farmer is saying, "I have implicit faith you will leave money if you take the potatoes I have worked for months to grow.” 

And it works. 


On the rare occasion when it doesn’t, we hear about it on the evening news. Over this past summer, someone stole money and honey from a stand in Canoe Cove. No honour there. Still the practice continues and for the most part, without incident.


The world today is unsafe for many due to natural and man made disasters and tragedies. No wonder the stands make us smile.


40 comments:

Cathy said...

Farm gate stalls and an honesty box exist here as well. Fruit and veg, flowers honey, you name it the farmer sells it any way they can
And yes, boo and hiss to the low life who try to get away with it on the cheap ~ Cathy

Anvilcloud said...

That's pretty cool: a feel-good sort of thing.

Rhodesia said...

Sounds a great way to sell surplus food. We had a huge crop of potatoes off our small plot this year. I am sure we will get through them, but I feel sure that if I put a small stand here people would be honour bound in the country. Not so if we lived near a big town though.
Love this post take care Diane

Debra She Who Seeks said...

It's always nice to see some honour left in this world somewhere.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

There's still a few honesty box veg stands around here but nowhere near the number there used to be, partly because of dishonesty but more often because farms are much bigger concerns now and contract to supermarkets to sell them 100% of their produce.

DJan said...

I love the potato stands! It harkens back to a time when we were all working together for each other. I saw the same kind of produce stand on Vashon Island, based on an honor system which seems to work just fine. Marie, I just want to say once again how much I look forward to your posts, which buoy me up and fill me with peace. Thank you. :-)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Love this post Marie, we have to keep the belief that basically man is good!

Joanne Noragon said...

At the end of my street is a dilapidated home with a new owner. The owner is undertaking improvements by himself, and making visible progress. The overgrown side yard is cleared, and a large garden installed. I have counted the residents as the man, a woman, a child. There is enough produce coming from the garden for, literally, an army. A picnic table and a canopy have been installed on the corner, and produce neatly arranged all summer. There still were tomatoes, yesterday, and pumpkins. In thirty years, I've never seen this in the township. It's lovely. And honor system, too.

Angela said...

I have lived in a few different countries but have never seen such a thing except here in the US in a farm in South Dakota and now what you share here. It is indeed something of the old days. I am glad I am alive to see and hear about it. I so wish we could continue to be honorable people but my hopes are close to zero. Thanks for sharing this Marie!

Ginnie said...

Great post Marie. I feel the same way every time I pass my neighbor about 4 houses removed. They are bee keepers and have honey for sale on their front porch. If they are going to be away they have a small sign that says "please put payment through the mail slot and many thanks."

Silver in AZ said...

trust and honesty seem to be becoming a dying art. Good to hear stories of where it is still alive. :)

Elephant's Child said...

Honesty boxes operated in at least one of our States. Mangos, avocado, fresh vegetables. I haven't seen them in a while, and hope they still exist. A positive symbol of a kinder, gentler time.

Marie Smith said...

It's great to know the stands are used elsewhere, Cathy. It gives me hope for honesty and honour.

Marie Smith said...

I think so, AC.

Marie Smith said...

Small communities are different, Diane.

Thanks, Diane.

Marie Smith said...

It sure is, Debra.

Marie Smith said...

I imagine there are less stands here than there used to be for the reason you describe, John.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you, Jan! It means a lot!

Marie Smith said...

I think it is true, PDP.

Marie Smith said...

It is wonderful to see a stand in an area, Joanne. Great news!

Marie Smith said...

Oh Angela. I hope people are better than we sometimes think. Otherwise, the world is such a sad place.

Marie Smith said...

Great news, Ginnie! Honour sought and delivered, along with honey.

Marie Smith said...

It is good to hear of trust and honesty, SW.

Marie Smith said...

We need kinder and gentler in the world today, EC.

Jenn said...

I love this. I hope this tradition continues and people can keep some faith in the honour system.

Debbie said...

we have a lot of "honor system" farm stands and small family stands!! my favor places to get fresh veggies in summer!!!

Shammickite said...

Wonderful that this practice can continue. And I wish the bites of a thousand fleas to anyone who steals from a roadside stand. I remember buying blueberries from beside the road when I was in NL, just a bag of blueberries on a chair at the end of a driveway, take the blueberries and leave the money. This is how life ought to be!

Marie Smith said...

I hope it continues too, Jenn.

Marie Smith said...

That is wonderful, Debbie! It is not common in many other places!

Marie Smith said...

Lol. I am still laughing at the fleas, Shammi!

Bill said...

What a wonderful tradition and hopefully it will continue. The concept is great, the times have change but there is still good in most people who will follow the honor system.

jenny_o said...

I have seen those stands here as well, Marie. It's a good feeling to know that people still trust and that people are still trustworthy.

Anonymous said...

I love ferns! (prior post). I bet those are good potatoes. Some of the store ones have little taste. Andrea

Marie Smith said...

So true, Jenny. Something to be positive about in these uncertain times!

Marie Smith said...

Some of the types of potatoes grown here are incredibly delicious, Andrea.

Marie Smith said...

It is good to know that there is still honour in the world, Bill.

Catarina said...

Wonderful tradition. How great the world would be if we could trust each other.
:)

Marie Smith said...

So true, Catarina.

The Furry Gnome said...

A few of those stands around here, most commonly on Mennonite farms.

Marie Smith said...

It is good to see it, FG.