Model & Local Action - Farmer’s Market Newsletter, December
Posted in Events, Models by Ferne Edwards on December 10th, 2007
Below is the Farmers’ Market Newsletter for December by Miranda Sharp, Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets Freelance Food Writing, www.mfm.com.au.
MELBOURNE COMMUNITY FARMER’S MARKETS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2007
Joy to the world, the rains did come! Buoyed by the downpours in November and the prospect of more to come, December has brought real cheer and hope for Victorian farmers. So let that be the spirit for the end of 2007…
There are two distinct ways of handling this end of year madness; one with absolute planning and the other with complete abandon and spontaneity so, with weekly farmers’ markets you can get organized and put your orders in ahead, or mooch along and go with the seasonal flow. At all the markets this month you’ll find fabulous quality apricots, nectarines, strawberries, early raspberries and cherries in full swing and, in vegetable matters, revel in snow peas, avocadoes, new season spuds, lettuces & mixed greens, beans, asparagus, garlic, zuchinni & leeks.
In essential holiday grub you’ll find Di’s rhubarb cakes, Eric’s pistachios, chutneys and relishes, falafel, lentils, olives and oils, dressings, biscuits, hazelnuts, chocolates, chilli sauces and pastes, muesli, fruit cordials, spice mixes, ginseng, pasta and sauces, wines, tempeh, pickled asparagus, juices and honey.
In global perspective this Christmas, Australian Conservation Foundation will be at Gasworks and Abbotsford Convent bringing fresh vanilla pods for sale in support of an community initiative in PNG where the Simbukanam people of Mandang Province have turned a decimated logging area into a Conservation Area. In order to create an income for the community, pesticide-free vanilla is now being grown, and a more sustainable industry secured for the future. The result is highly concentrated, beautiful quality fresh vanilla direct to you.
And again this year OXFAM will again be promoting ‘unwrapped gifts’ that puts our local good fortune into global context. The project means whilst giving to a person who has everything here, your gesture directly benefits someone who has nothing somewhere else. Check out www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au info and get involved!
A final, complex issue has landed on our collective plate in the last gasps of 2007. Whether you agree or not, this week’s announcement to lift the ban on genetic modified crops in Victoria is an irreversible decision and will change our agricultural landscape permanently. If there’s any chance of review and you want to have your say about what you eat, you have to do it NOW… http://www.geneethics.org
So here’s to another year… Simply, thank you for your support of Victorian farmers’. Onward and upwards in ’08.
Veg Out Farmers’ Market
1 December & 1st Sat every month 8.30am-1pm.
Chaucer Street, St Kilda, Melways 2P B9. Free Entry
Xmas treats: Indigenous foods such as finger limes and pepperberry, Romsey Roses, Spice Bazaar, Monique’s nougat, Green Egg’s meringues, Rita’s antipasto, and honeycomb.
Collingwood Children’s Farm Farmers’ Market
8 December & 2nd Sat every month 8am–1pm
St Heliers Street, Abbotsford, Melways ref 44 G5
Entry $2 adults, stay all day.
Xmas treats: Yumm Dressings, Michel’s Bix, Splitters Creek Cordials, Cocoa Rhapsody, 3 pud makers, Gerald’s gerberas, Spice Bazaar, Boola Boola lemocello.
Gasworks Farmers’ Market
15 December & 3rd Sat every month 8.30am–1pm.
Graham Street, Albert Park, Melways 2J H7 Free Entry
Xmas Treats: Burrowes Park new aioli, Paddymelon’s Turkish delight, Michel’s Biscuits,
Camelia Cupcakes, Greg Brown’s handmade bread, Miris Produce condiments, Cannibal Creek, Badaginnie
Run & Avonmore Estate wines.
Slow Food Melbourne Farmers’ Market
22 December & 4th Sat every month 8am–1pm.
Abbotsford Convent, St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Melways 44G5.
$2 adults entry & carpark to restoration & maintenance.
Xmas treats: Jamie’s Fine Dressings, Tea with Alice cupcakes, Avonmore Estate BD wine, pates, 2 pud
makers, Hilltop Roses, Neerim Hazelnuts, Burrowes Park meringues and lots more last minute edible gifts!
Please don’t forget all the markets are plastic bag free so get into the swing and BYO!
For more information or if you’d like to receive the monthly newsletter….. contact Miranda Sharp on
0429 146627 or mfm @vtown.com.au or www.mfm.com.au.