Skip to main content

farmers market update

I'm feeling very positve this evening, might have something to do with going on holiday this Friday!

Yesterday we held our October farmers market, my fourth since the village hall committee took over running it with a local resident and caterer, Dave Manning. It's been hard work taking over a market that originally started over 18 months ago by another local resident, but it's been a very rewarding experience. Each month I concentrate on contacting existing stall holders, sourcing new ones and marketing and taking the money (which all goes back into the village hall). Because I already write for three newspapers freelance, I can advertise to local people but we also do leaflet drops and advertise in our own village newsletter and local shops and businesses. Yesterday we had people attend from a little further afield, so it's good to know our advertising is working.

I am having to turn away craft stalls because we really need to keep a better balance and offer more food based stalls. We run our own fruit + veg stall with the help of a small group of local volunteers including myself! It's a great way to meet local people and to ask them what they want in the market. We are also very lucky that we have two local farms in Iwade so we can offer very fresh produce, including free range eggs, with the knowledge of where they were grown. You can't get more local than that!

In September we introduced Mighty Meaty, a local group of residents who sell a range of fresh meat and poultry, they even offer a home delivery service. It's working really well and they sell out in the first hour or so! They now sell their sausages in our local farm shop.

For November one of our stall holders will be taking orders for Christmas cakes. Her savouries sell out fast every month and because she makes wedding cakes professionally it's a great opportunity to offer a seasonal service. Her neice runs Cornupocia cakes and she makes the best cup cakes I've tasted, her Champagne + strawberry are delicious. She will also be opening her own tea room later this year in Halfway.

We offer free car parking in the village hall and Dave and his son make fresh bacon rolls + tea/coffee so that visitors can sit down and relax. We have been complimented on the friendly atmosphere and how well run it is. Dave also makes the best game pie (Granny Manning's Pies) and these sell out quickly, his pastry is just perfect!

So if you are in the area please pop along and say hello. Amanda x

Comments

Jo said…
It sounds brilliant, I wish we had something similar near here, I would definitely pay it a visit.
Eight by Six said…
Thanks Jo. It wasn't something I had intended todo but you know what its like you just get involved in everything :) Off on holiday on Friday for a well deserved break :)
Jo said…
Have a great time. I'm sure you will.
Shaheen said…
I like your focus on produce, I am alwys dissapointed when I attend farmers markets and fresh fruit and veg stalls are poorly represented.

Hope your enjoying your break.

Popular posts from this blog

Denim Daisy Granny Square construction

And here it is all finished last Friday, just in time for a heat wave! Seriously I do love this jumper and it fits so well with a white t shirt underneath, jeans and flip flops. Just waiting for the cold spell so that I can wear it out (rather than around the garden when its cooled down in the evenings!). I haven't written a pattern as such just some helpful notes from my pad. If people want to know how to construct one have added some notes below. As you know the Daisy Granny Square is the design of Sue Pinner from her book  Granny Squares published 2013. I do love Sue's book, its packed with so many projects and ideas and the photos are beautiful. The daisy granny square pattern is quite addictive and you soon have a small pile of them in no time! I have an idea to make another one for the autumn in the same Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn but all edged in shade 90 honey, I have enough in my stash. Construction  Notes:  You need to make 18 granny squa

cables without the cables (Birch Trees scarf)

Earlier this year I came across this lovely Birch Trees Scarf knitting pattern over at Hand Knitted Things . Its one of those patterns that you just have to try because its so pretty and very practical and looks far more intricate and complicated than the 4 row pattern suggests. I like to call it cables without the cables, such a clever pattern thank you Julia Marsh.  I'm knitting mine on vintage no. 7 needles (kindly given to me by my mother-in-law) and using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino charcoal out of my yarn stash that was meant to be for Ian's scarf! shh don't tell him! I use DB yarn all the time, picking up bargains in John Lewis and eBay but its the first time I've knitted with Cashmerino, and it isn't going to be the last. It gives you great stitch definition and the softest yarn ever, I love it. So here is my scarf in progress. It has been sitting in my car waiting to be loved again after I accidentally knitted the moss stitch border wrong. I know ho

My granny tee is finished

You might remember this post from about ten days ago, well I've now finished my 4th granny tee and I'm currently finishing off my fifth one this week that I stared last year (oops). Indigo Blue came about when I took delivery of my Scheepjes Skies mini skien box (heavy/aran) and I'm in love with this yarn! I was sitting watching a film when I had the sudden urge to crochet another Granny Tee by Sarah (aka annaboos house) The mini skeins are perfect and I ended up using two boxes plus a larger 100g skein for the sleeves and joining. It has amazing drape and the colours are a subtle shift of indigo that is going to look fabulous over a white t shirt with jeans and flip flops. Perfect partnership and so bang on trend for the tie dye look that's about for festivals for this summer.  The total cost was around GBP35 not including delivery and I think for a custom made jumper that's not a bad price. I measured it as I added rows then I added side slits to my g