Vanguard

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: http://www.fleamarketmobile.com

Media Credit: Aaron Smock Flea Market Mobile patrons walk A row, sorting through the vendor's booths on the hunt for the next market treasure.

Media Credit: Aaron Smock Catherine Verstuyft of Sweet as Sugar Gliders gives a customer a closer look at the little animal.

Summer is almost here, bringing with it the opportunity to do all those things which class schedules seldom permit: gardening, watching daytime television, going to the beach and visiting the flea market.
Flea Market Mobile, located at 401 Schillinger Rd., is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Flea marketing is all about the thrill of the hunt. At least 95 percent of the vendors do not carry something the majority of customers are searching for. Honestly, how many people are looking to take home candelabra covered in artificial flowers or a brand new pet pig? However, with diligent search, the flea market offers up quality merchandise.
For gardeners, the market can't be beat. Tons of vendors bring their homegrown plants to sell. Some peddle off the back of their trucks; others have elaborate spreads. Regardless, the plants are nursery quality, making them healthier than the foliage found in gardening superstores like Lowe's and Home Depot. Best of all, they're considerably cheaper since a hefty monthly lease isn't part of the business expense.
"This will do great in Mobile's climate and should bloom for quite a while still," one vendor told her customer, indicating a Dwarf Gardenia. That particular plant stand had more than a few interesting selections including fig and magnolia trees.
Many people go to the flea market for the fresh produce.
"Strawberries," one vendor called out. "$3 per carton, or two for five." His strawberries could be the best in the county, but seeing as the other half of his booth was selling used power tools, the buyer is taking a chance.
For the best bet in fresh produce, most visit Sandy's Produce located at the front of B row. The stall consists of an entire corner lot filled with fruits and vegetables. The yellow squash and tomatoes are looking good, and as the summer rolls on, Sandy's crates will eventually be filled with peaches and corn.
Customers can take home endless hours of lazy summer day entertainment after a visit to the market. The aisles offer booth after booth of used DVDs, video games and compact discs. Mostly Books, a virtual labyrinth of 7-foot shelves piled high, takes practically half an hour to sort through, that is if the sorter doesn't get lost in the maze.
More often than not, the flea market offers something a bit out of the ordinary.
Pets and livestock abound, including any breed of puppy imaginable, reptiles, chickens, ducks, geese and pigs. All of these, however, are typical flea market sights and sounds, but one particular vendor breeds the unusual.
Sweet as Sugar Gliders is run by mother Catherine Verstuyft and daughter Inge Luiten. The cute, little mammals attract large crowds with their odd appearance.
"Is that a flying squirrel?" one costumer asks.
"No, it's a sugar glider," Verstuyft answers, smiling. "They're kin to the kangaroo." The sugar glider, like the kangaroo, is a marsupial, meaning the mother carries her young in a pouch on her stomach.
Verstuyft and Luiten have 35 breeding males and sell the tiny animals every weekend at the flea market, "if we have babies," Verstuyft said. They typically sell them between 10 and 12 weeks old, and they grow to be about 6 inches long.
"They sure sleep a lot," one man said, regarding the snoozing babies.
"They're nocturnal," Verstuyft said. "But if you play with them during the day, they'll sleep at night."
"How long will they live?" a woman asked.
"They have a 10 to 15-year lifespan," Verstuyft answered. "But they're social animals. They like to be with you. If you just put them in a cage and give them food and water, they'll die much sooner." The sugar gliders cost $225.
The flea market is always worth the trip, but there are a few flea marketing ruled to remember.
First, don't be foolish. Anything claiming to be designer is more likely designer-imposter.
Second, stop and look around the junk tables. A dingy piece of glassware or an ancient-looking lamp could be a diamond in the rough - it just needs to be taken home and cleaned up.
Third, take cash. Not all the vendors accept credit and debit, and using the onsite ATM will cost a fee.
Flea market days are back again.

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