The Good Life
Advertising enquiries: adcopy@echo.net.au | 6684 1777 Editorial enquiries: goodlife@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au/good-life
Happy Birthday New Brighton Farmers Market By Sandra Haslam The New Brighton Farmers Market turns 10 this week and there is much to celebrate! The farmers markets are the best shopping experience anyone could have. The lighting is natural, the air is fresh and breezy, the shelves are stalls which are largely beautiful artful arrangements, you are served by actual people, and the produce is super fresh and locally grown or made. As well as the quality produce and artisanal food products, another, almost better, feature is the stories you can come home with. The stallholders are mostly the growers themselves and might offer an anecdote about the food: that it was just pickled at night by the family, or that this is the first batch, or how they kept the possums off, or what is ripening to be ready for next week. They are quite passionate about their food and can offer great preparation and cooking tips. Other customers have been known to join in giving encouragement and information on how to get the most delicious results. It makes you eager to run home and try the new tips. Advice can go both ways. I have heard a young stallholder listening to advice about love from a more senior customer;
the conversation ended with chuckles! Love is in the air at the farmers market; one mature stallholder is always charming and the women leave his stall sweetened by his attentions – it makes them happy and I’m sure that happiness spreads beyond just them. The conversations can continue over a fine range of coffee or smoothies and breakfast or snacks, sitting down, taking in the relaxed, visual feast and listening to music
– live music, not the wallpaper music you have to bear in supermarkets. As well as fresh organic and conventional produce, you can pick up artisanal products – everything from bread and pastries, pickles, soaps, candles, flowers, plants and more. One mum says that, as well as the shopping, she always gets a weekly treat for the family and finds the markets a good place to pick up flowers or a simple gift when the occasion arises. Having stallholders who are genuine people serve customers brings humanity back into the shopping experience, they might throw a couple of free things your way or round down your total out of the blue or just wish you a lovely day. There’s a benevolent conspiracy underlying the whole farmers market phenomenon; you always come out better than when you entered. Whether you duck in briefly or lay back there for a while, observe the goings on or join in the conversation, the farmers markets are a wonderful immersion in produce and people. More info: River Street, New Brighton. Tuesdays 8–11am. www.newbrightonfarmersmarket.org.au
Different markets New Brighton’s sister market the Mullumbimby Farmers Market takes place on Friday morning in Mullumbimby. These two markets are run by a separate body from Byron Farmers Market (Thursdays) and Bangalow Farmers Market (Saturday).
Market culture The New Brighton Farmers Market was established in 2007 and takes place every Tuesday at a beautiful riverside location just metres from New Brighton’s pristine surfing beaches. The market is a meeting place for the area’s arts-loving community, who come to shop, socialise, chat with the growers and soak up the laidback north coast lifestyle. The New Brighton market has reached its capacity: 30 farmers and food producers who offer the region’s best and freshest produce: seasonal fruit and vegetables, sourdough bread, chicken, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheeses, tempeh, macadamias, olives, spices, coffee, honey and more. The market is a not-for-profit organisation, with the funds going to support farmers, community gardens, the local community such as the Brunswick Life Saving Club, sustainability and local fundraisers. A major focus is school kitchen gardens. In one program, ‘Grow your own lunchbox’, schools are encouraged to use their own garden plots, and then create a healthy lunch primarily from their own produce. Market manager Allie Godfrey says it was fun to visit local schools and see them educating children about the growing and cooking of food. ‘Wilsons Creek School had a glut of carrots when I visited. They were making all kinds of carrot-related food in their kitchen, including carrot jam and fermented carrots,’ she said. ‘Ocean Shores School comes and buy food from the market, take it back and cook it.’ The market did not have an easy start, with Kate Thompson from Organic Avocados saying that it seemed to rain almost every Tuesday in the first six months, but customers still supported them. The enduring popularity suggests that people ‘get’ the idea of buying food that is produced as locally as possible. The early people who established the markets have certainly created a legacy that is of great benefit to the community. ‘A special mention and thank you must be made to market founders Ian Cameron who passed away in 2015 and Judy MacDonald our founding market manager,’ said Allie.
THE
ROCK & ROLL COFFEE COMPANY Big Celebration Day this Tuesday This Tuesday 3 October is a special celebration day at New Brighton Market. If you are thinking, is this really a suitable thing for my kids to attend, the answer is YES. The markets are great for families, and this Tuesday will be an extra special one. From 8am till 11am there will be: • Aboriginal didgeridoo and storytelling • Bollywood dancing • Live music with maybe some dance-related surprises • Craft van to make your own tenth birthday hats • Circus people on stilts and performing chair balancing and juggling • Face painting • Young magicians – you won’t believe how talented these young kids are • A yummy homemade birthday cake. See you there, River Street, New Brighton.
OPENING ON
IGHTS DAY N SATUR M B E R! G 30TH SEPTE STARTIN
Breakfast & lunch Mon-Sat 7.30am-3pm
Dinner Wed-Sat from 5pm Bookings recommended
3/55 Burringbar St Mullumbimby Ph: 6684 4224 Find us on Facebook
Yotam Ottolenghi recognition for local chef Belinda Jeffery Local Mullum chef Belinda Jeffery is getting further well-deserved recognition on the international stage at the moment. Two of Belinda’s recipes from her book Mix & Bake have been adapted by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh and appear in their new book ‘Sweet’ with the appropriate and admiring acknowledgement to Belinda, who was of course very pleased to receive this
sort of recognition. Belinda is a Mullumbimbybased cookbook author, teacher and former TV personality and is the awardwinning author of seven cookbooks of her own. The two recipes featured were Hazelnut Crumble Cake with Gianduja (or Nutella) icing, and Belinda’s flourless coconut and chocolate cake. More info: www.belindajeffery.com.au
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
The Byron Shire Echo September 27, 2017 27