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Strategically fastened to the bike were two upright tiki torches, a croquet set, puppets and a three-tiered wire basket full of taco supplies.
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A little bit of everything was spread out on the tennis courts at Sobieski Park in Winona for community members like Winona State student Lindsay Haupt, left, during the "Really, Really Free Market" Sunday. Haupt said she liked the community aspect of the market and was interested in the community message of the event. (Photo by Andrew Link/Winona Daily News) |
Armstrong’s refried beans, cheese and potato tacos were a hit at Winona’s first “Really, Really Free Market,” an anarchist swap meet where goods, services and friendliness cost nothing.
About 200 people filtered through Sobieski Park to rifle through the giveaways, finding treasures in what others might call junk and enjoying the sunny day.
An eclectic hodgepodge of pretty much everything under the sun was up for grabs, including clothes, chess lessons, haircuts, a Jethro Tull electrical guitar tutorial book, Journey’s “Escape” vinyl record, anarchist literature, makeshift notebooks made of computer paper, cereal boxes and new toothbrushes.
Because of the positive turnout, the goal is to have a free market monthly, said Diane Leutgeb-Munson, who is one of about 25 individuals who helped plan the event.
“The beautiful thing about this is it wasn’t one person saying what we need to do for this to be successful,” she said. “It’s a huge collaborative effort … and there’s no leadership whatsoever.”
Winona’s first free market is based on many models across the country, such as the Burning Man Project in Nevada, but it’s uniquely organic to the Winona community and what participants here can offer for free, Leutgeb-Munson said.
Anarchy may have been an unspoken theme, but there was nothing anarchic about the organization.
A cork board displayed what individuals were seeking and what goods and services were available for trade, such as carpentry skills for horseback riding lessons.
Two guys strumming a banjo and guitar under a tent offered free lessons and background noise to Armstrong’s polka music.
A green-haired man helped raffle off five children’s bikes.
A woman taught children how to needle felt stars, flowers and horses out of wool.
For Tyler Reinhard, Sunday’s large crowd showed there’s a need in the community.
He expressed concern over businesses throwing away good food when there’s people starving and that public assistance isn’t enough for a family to get buy today.
“It seems like these days with the economy we have to figure out something else in the meantime,” Reinhard said.
Tony Nelton and Ella Piler, who picked up clothing, found the free market a “real big help.”
The Winona couple and their 1-year-old daughter Kayla have been living with friends to get by. Nelton, who has three other children, said they will be moving into public housing soon.
“I had to eat a pride sandwich with that one,” Nelton said. “I lived there before and vowed never to come back. I know how hard it is to get back out.”
