I’m not typically one to collect things, but there is one item I track down to get every new version. It’s not only a beautiful item, it’s always worth at least $20. That’s because I’m enamored with the Homer Farmers Market coins.

There are tons of farmers markets around the country where you can run your credit card and get market tokens, usually of wood, to spend anywhere in the market. Ours is the only one I know of that gets minted coins from the Alaska Mint.

Whenever they need to get more of these hefty golden coins, they get a new design on the back. This year’s is a totemic raven design. What a perfect Alaska gift for a visitor, what perfect currency to trade locally, what a perfectly small and beautiful keepsake to hold on to for yourself. If you get tired of the coin collecting habit you can always just spend it at the Market.

Of course some folks prefer to collect experiences rather than material things. But how do you share these experiences? Some folks post photos on the Market Facebook page, some share stories among friends, some bring visitors down to the Market to see it firsthand, some collecting the latest Market T-shirt to wear about town.

The Market is collecting too. They are creating a collection of recipes to share. Everyone who loves all that fresh local produce has got to have experience with amazing recipes that can be created out of that produce. What is your favorite specialty?

There are two ways to share your recipes with the Market, the high tech way and the old fashioned way. The high tech way you go to www.typensave.com, login with “HFM Cookbook” and password “rosemary593”. Then type as many recipes in as you like. The old fashioned way you email (djkmvk@gmail.com), call (299-1525), or hand a scribbled down recipe to Margarida Kondak at the Info Booth at the Market.

And head on down to the Market out on Ocean Drive this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. to discover your favorite collectable.

Kyra Wagner is the coordinator for Sustainable Homer and the Homer Farmers Market’s biggest fan.