There’s something you can get at the farmer’s market in Salt ake City, Utah that you can’t get anywhere else: free advice from an “old coot.”
Now, they don’t guarantee the advice will be good, but they’re willing to give it away nonetheless.
Among the fruits, vegetables, and crafts, shoppers can pick up some questionable advice from a group of senior citizens outside of Tony Caputo’s Market & Deli.
That’s the booth of the store where the group began – with Mr. Caputo leading the charge.
They would simply sit at the same table each week, drink a single cup of coffee, “and proceed to know it all.”
“We solve the problems of the world,” said one member.
Then they thought about what a shame it was that others couldn’t benefit from their infinite wisdom – and an idea was born.
The sassy seniors decided to take their life-altering advice on the road and set up shop at their local farmer’s market every Saturday.
After hanging their shingle, so to speak – a sign that reads “Old Coots Giving Advice. It’s probably bad advice, but it’s free” – they waited for their “customers.”
And it’s true what they say – if you build it, they will come.
People now form a line to hear this so-called worldly wisdom. In fact, the “old coots” are one of the most popular booths at the farmer’s market!
And let’s just say their customers get what they pay for.
One man asked for gardening advice:
“These patches keep showing up on my lawn.”
The advice?
“Get a new house!”
When asked about the secret to happiness?
“Put your money in Bitcoins,” one of the “coots” replied.
They’re not concerned if people don’t find them funny or wise because they do!
When a woman asked for advice about having twins, “eh, good luck” was the response.
The group is eager to point out that most advice columnists don’t have any real qualifications, so why can’t anyone do the job?
Of course, occasionally they get someone who needs a serious answer to an important question, such as “should you stay with a husband who isn’t faithful?” That one threw them for a loop.
A chorus of “no”s rang out from the entire group. A simple answer, but perhaps the unanimous one a wife needed to hear.
The group has been surprised at the earnestness of some of the people who stop by their stand. While it all started as a joke, they do occasionally feel the responsibility to dole out some sort of wisdom.
A young mom who wanted advice on how not to mess up her kid got the amusing but true answer:
“You’re going to mess him up a little bit, and that’s how they grow.”
Not exactly advice you can take to the bank, but a frank acknowledgment that no parent is perfect and they shouldn’t expect themselves to me.
If you don’t live in Salt Lake City – or have a senior of your own to ask for pearls of wisdom – you can still partake in the group’s advice. They have their own Facebook page and podcast!
In fact, you can put your questions for the “old coots” in the comments section when they announce a new podcast and perhaps get your own personalized bad advice.
Or if you’re a proud “old coot” yourself, you just might have a new weekend hobby at your local farmer’s market!
Be sure to scroll down to see a feature on this unique group of seniors.
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