"Durango is so totally trained that it's OK to bring dogs anywhere, but we just can't have them," Redford said, not relishing her impromptu promotion to canine control officer. She said the farmers market board of directors decided to ban dogs because of the number of small children and amount of food at the market, but word has been slow to spread.

"I guess we need bigger signs," Redford said.

She expects pet owners will quickly adapt to the no-dog rule, allowing her and her volunteer staff to concentrate on running the weekly open-air bazaar at the First National Bank of Durango parking lot on Eighth Street.

On opening day Saturday, a robust crowd of several hundred was nearly in mid-season form, but only 27 of the 52 available vendor booths were occupied. Notably absent was much of the fresh bulk produce - broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes and the like - which Redford attributed to an unseasonably cool and dry spring. While the vegetables are expected in coming weeks, there were plenty of locally grown, raised and crafted items for sale, including more eggs than ever before.

"It used to be if you didn't get here by 8:30 you didn't get eggs, but not this year," said Holly Napier at her Napier Family Farms booth.

Napier said she knows of at least five other groups selling eggs, which won't hurt her business - she expects to sell out her 50 dozen each week - but it will prevent latecomers from being shut out this summer.

Some regulars, including Margaret Cozine, have become such loyal customers that they have made their patronage official.

Cozine buys eggs and other produce from Napier through a Community Supported Agriculture subscription. Through the program, Napier reserves the produce for her CSA members who pay in advance and pick it up at the market on an agreed-upon schedule.

"This is a great way to buy produce, and she's a great chicken-and-egg lady," Cozine said of her personal farmer.

Not everything for sale is meant to be eaten, although the market's role as an alternative grocery store is secure with its selection of meats, cheeses, fudge, herbs, produce and baked goods. There's also pottery, candles, clothing and the most recent edition, bird houses - not just any bird houses, but bluebird houses - handmade by LaVern Nelson.

The retired Nelson has been making the unique bird houses for about seven years. This is the first time he's put them up for sale.

"My kids told me, 'Dad, you need to sell these at the farmers market.' So here I am," Nelson said.

The size and depth of the feeding hole, as well as subtle extensions and additions, are custom-tailored just for bluebirds. A growing crowd around his table lent credence to Nelson's rosy sales outlook.

"I didn't expect this, but I think it could be a busy summer," he said.

The Durango Farmers Market will be held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 25.

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