Meet Juno Mollor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juno Mollor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juno, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The Nolensville Farmers Market is successful because everyone who makes it happen acts from a place of care. Customers support our vendors because they care about small businesses, local farmers, and local, nutritionally dense food for their families. Our vendors encourage each other and share ideas and their products with each other and their customers because they care about providing high-quality products and contributing to the success of others. And our management team does our best to care for each other, our vendors, and our customers. We care about being a hub for small businesses and providing a gathering place where all these exchanges of care can take place. We know that the love and resources spread into the wider Nolensville community. In short, the success of the Nolensville farmers market is a shining example of how much good can come from a group of people who take good care of each other. It’s a no-brainer!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since I was in school studying environmental science, I’ve focused on the bigger picture. Sometimes to a fault. The more I learned about the state of the world today, the more the panic began to sink in. My mental health suffered, and I felt trapped, like I was at the bottom of a pit with no way out. As I finished school, I could not stop thinking about our agricultural systems and how much pollution and waste we create with them year after year. I was sick of looking at everything from a bird’s eye view and wanted to get on the ground, metaphorically and literally. Farming saved my life. In just a few weeks I was out of my head and into my body. Taking care of the land became a tether to cling to when the panic and depression came knocking, and I started to get better. I was sore and tired, but I felt more stable. Of course, the system is far from perfect. I developed a profound respect for small-scale operations that handle everything from production to distribution with little to no overhead. The stress for generational farmers is very real, and I feel immensely lucky that my farming community made one of the most difficult jobs also the most rewarding. By introducing more people to their local farmers, I hope I can shed more light on how important a strong community is to folks who sacrifice so much to put food on our tables.

Today I still work on a farm part-time, and at market, I am proud to support my local farmers, especially those who avoid harmful practices like monoculture and over-spraying. The way I see it, in the US today, there are so many forces at play that are set on causing division and conflict, and so I think now more than ever we need to focus on simple, universal truths. Everyone needs clean air to breathe, water to drink, and fresh, nutritious food to eat. But none of us can have any of those things without people to make sure we can access them. I like to think that by showing up on the field and under the tents, I am doing my small part to protect these resources, the people that provide them, and the communities that need them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Shoot, I live in the city but I’m not a city girl at heart! I would check out Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, home to the Tennessee State Department of Agriculture. They have beautiful gardens that double as an arboretum, so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh air and learn some new plants at the same time, all for free! Cul2vate is also on the property, a nonprofit farm that operates on employees and volunteers to grow and donate produce to food insecure populations in Nashville. They have a beautiful property with access to a stunning creek where I love to go to cool off after a jog through one of the center’s trails, and they have a farm store where you can buy some of the freshest produce in town, literally harvested the morning you buy it.

I have recently become a member of the Ecstatic Dance community in Nashville. Their sober, Sunday morning celebrations have become a place of worship for me where I feel safe and welcome to show up exactly as I am. They host events on the first and third Sunday of each month and are definitely worth checking out!

Another favorite of mine is the Duck River down towards Columbia. This scenic river is the most biodiverse in the entire US (yes, really!), and you can enjoy a leisurely float down its lazy current by kayak courtesy of Higher Pursuits rental. I think visiting this river is one of the most important things we can do right now; it’s currently under threat by lawmakers who want to allow developers to build dams and use it as a water source for factories. For anyone that has actually spent time on and in this invaluable public resource, we know how important it is to protect it and keep it in the hands of the public.

And of course, last but not least, if you find yourself on Nolensville road on a Saturday morning, do yourself a favor and come to the Nolensville Farmers market! We have around 50 vendors every week, on the corner of Sunset and Nolensville Road from 8am-12pm. Find us at the Historic Nolensville School. You can’t miss it!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Last year I was introduced to the Nolensville Farmers Market community as a vendor, selling produce for Athena’s Harvest Farm and Training Center in Santa Fe, TN. I spent 9 months living on and growing vegetables at Athena’s and learning how to live in community. I would not be where I am today without the dedication, guidance, and commitment to care that the wider Athena’s community brings to everything they do; I have made lifelong friends, and I am eternally grateful.

Website: https://www.wilcoeventstn.org/nolensvillefm

Instagram: @nolensvillefarmersmarket

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juno-mollor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolensvillefarmersmarket/