Bedford Farmers Co-op

Is there another Farmers Co-op anywhere in the United States to rival the one right here in Bedford County? I couldn't believe it when I went for the first time. I have gone out back to look at the plants this summer, but seldom do I get past the "pretties", as my mother and I used to call a gift shop area. It's unbelievable during the Christmas season. My sister from the Mississippi Gulf Coast always wants to go to the Co-op when she visits.

My husband asked me to go to the Davidson County Co-op a few times while it was still located a couple of blocks off the Metro square right in downtown Nashville. He needed seed, feed or such. Yes, co-ops are supposed to sell those things. As a matter of fact, that's about all they sell in Nashville. I'm sure they sell them here in Shelbyville, but I don't need them and have never looked. I'm very happy in the front of the store.

My first thought was that the Co-op owner opened the gift area of the store to give the women something to do while the husbands shopped. However, I don't think that's the case. I see women come in to shop either alone or with other women, but seldom are they with their husbands. Men, on the other hand, come in and make their farm purchases and don't have a wife along.

Someone had a wonderful idea, and it appears to be working well.