In an effort to avoid being a burden or annoyance to co-workers, friends, and loved ones, do you ever stop yourself from asking for help? Maybe you need clarification on someone’s expectations, have hit a roadblock with a project, or are struggling in an area of your personal life. Even though you know deep down you can’t go this alone, does it feel uncomfortable to reach out for assistance?

Heidi Grant’s Ted Talk explores her research about asking for help, as well as concrete steps to get better at doing it. Remember that like most things in life, changing habits takes time, patience, and practice. Bring an awareness to your current patterns of asking for help and consider practicing new ways to get your needs met.

Steps to asking for help effectively:

1. Acknowledge that you need help, and ask for it out loud.

2. Don’t fall into the trap of the “illusion of transparency.” (Other people can’t read our minds!)

3. When you ask for help, be clear on the kind of help you want, and why you want it.

4. Avoid adding in disclaimers, apologies, and bribes.

5. Keep clear boundaries between strangers who provide you with services (for a cost) from friends who do things to help you (for free).

6. Find a way to ask for help in person or via a phone call.

7. When someone agrees to help you, follow up with them afterward and let them know their help positively impacted you.

8. Remember that asking for help reveals your humanness--we all need each other.

In our opinion, there’s nothing that says summer quite like getting local produce and goodies from a farmers market. Picking out a bunch of green kale or unique patty pan squash, sampling squeaky cheese curds, buying fresh maple syrup, talking with a local farmer, and socializing with neighbors are a few of the experiences you can look forward to at a market. The beauty of farmers markets is that they benefit all of us--the farmers, our communities, and our bodies.

Why farmers markets are awesome:

They contribute to building local food economies. Farmers are able to experience rapid sales of their produce, on a weekly or consistent schedule, with low costs since the produce goes directly from the farm to the individual purchaser.
Eating seasonally happens naturally, because farmers bring produce that is at peak freshness and ready to be consumed.
Many of the farmers who participate in the markets use organic growing methods. The result is healthier food for our bodies that doesn’t rely on the use of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, genetic modification, and other toxic processes.
Did you know that food typically travels 1,500 miles to get to you? By shopping at farmers markets, you help reduce the amount of natural resources needed to bring food to you and help reduce or eliminate the need for plastic packaging.
The market becomes a place where individuals can become engaged in food policy issues through conversations with local farmers. While at the market, you may become aware of upcoming campaigns, initiatives, or volunteer opportunities to support farmers and community health in general.
Farmers markets provide access to healthy, local food, which is extremely important in areas where quality food is not available. In low-income neighborhoods, having a farmers market can increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and can be a place for conversations about balanced, healthy, affordable eating.
Use the farmers market as a perfect reason to get outside! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and socialize with other community members.

OnMilwaukee has created an up-to-date guide on the farmers markets throughout Milwaukee and other surrounding areas. Take a look at their list to learn specific details about each market! Many of them run into the Fall, so try to stop by when you have some time.

https://onmilwaukee.com/seasonal/festivals/articles/farmers-markets-guide.html

References

CUESA. 10 Reasons to Support Farmers Markets. Retrieved from https://cuesa.org/learn/10-reasons-support-farmers-markets

Farmers Market Coalition. Farmers Markets Support Healthy Communities. Retrieved from https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/education/farmers-markets-support-healthy-communities/

Matthews, D. (2016). Farmers’ Markets play a vital role in America’s changing economy. Retrieved from https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/articles/farmers-markets-america/

Saul, R. (2011). The cultural significance of Farmers Markets. Retrieved from https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/the-cultural-significance-of-farmers-markets/