Are you proud of your home grown veges?

Ponsonby News has launched its inaugural vegetable competition to be held at the Grey Lynn Community Centre, home of the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market on Sunday 19 February.

Yates Garden Guide suggests some vegetable varieties which will be ready for harvest in February includes: beans, beetroot, brocolli, cabbage, carrots, courgettes, cucumber, garlic, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes. The Ponsonby News team hope to have enough entries of these to have prize certificates for the best plate of each vegetable (perhaps 4-6 per plate), followed by a reserve champion and grand champion vegetable.

Vegetables will be grouped together where there are not sufficient entries for a separate category.Prizes will be awarded for: Best children’s grown vegetables; Best plate of salad greens; Traffic light trio (perhaps a yellow capsicum, a cucumber and a carrot); Most unusual vegetable (type, shape or colour).

Entries must be brought to the Grey Lynn Community Centre before 10am on Sunday 19 February, the third Sunday in February. (the same morning as the Farmers Market.  Judging  will be at 12 noon).

Local chef Sid Saharawat of Sidart, Ponsonby is one of at least two judges, who will assess the merits of entries for suitable gourmet dishes.We know lots of locals have vegie gardens – don’t be shy -your vegetables don’t have to be the biggest (those have probably had poisonous sprays all over them!), but it is an opportunity to promote healthy home produce, fresh, cut straight for the salad,  with no food miles necessary and good healthy exercise for all family members.It’s all about the participation and we’re certain many of you would love to have  a winning certificate to show the grandchildren.

To enter please email info@ponsonbynews.co.nz by 8 February. To cover hall costs, there will be an entry fee of $2 per family.

Unique to the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market is the community trading table. Back garden growers can bring their excess produce to sell at the table. It works on an honesty box system. Bundle, label and price your produce to leave at the table with a container for coins. Come back at the end of the market to collect your earnings and anything unsold.

The table started at the market in April 2011 as a bit of an experiment to fill the gap left when the Ooooby ended their stall to focus on weekly food boxes. It has become a much loved and popular part of our market that goes beyond just selling home grown veges for extra pocket money. It is a central place to meet, exchange ideas and marvel over the wonders of what can be grown in a back garden.

It is therefore of huge concern that the trading table, as well as the market as a whole, is under treat because of the onerous food regulations proposed in the draft Food Bill. The bill aims to update 30-year-old legislation to better protect consumers and create a new framework for food safety. We  support a review of the Food Act 1981 as it needs to be updated, unfortunately the Bill as drafted:

• Places onerous and potentially expensive compliance costs on small operators. This is particularly worrying for traders at farmers’ markets who already operate within limited margins
• Requires small growers, people who sell food directly to consumers, and those who barter or swap food to have a “national safety plan”. It is unlikely the trading table would be able to continue with these requirements
• Includes seeds for cultivation and food seedlings in the current definition of “food” thereby extending the scope of the Bill to seed exchanges
•  Gives excessive powers to food safety officers to  to enter and search premises without a warrant in some circumstances and use any force necessary, while being immune from civil or criminal liability.

Food safety is a paramount consideration at the farmers markets and we recognise the need to take a best practice approach to keeping our customers healthy. There are many aspects of the Food Bill that improve the approach of the current legislation. However we want to ensure the Food Bill does not have the potential to threaten farmers markets and the unique role they play in encouraging local food production and access to reasonably priced produce.

The GLFM will be calling on the Minister for Food Safety, Kate Wilkinson to respond to the genuine concerns about the Food Bill. There is still time to make amendments to the Bill so we can look forward to keeping our trading table operating within a vibrant farmers market providing fresh, local and seasonal produce to our community.

Pippa Coom, Chair Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market Management Committee

Grey Lynn Farmers Market featured on a Campbell Live item on the Food Bill, 22 November 2011 

Petition opposing the Food Bill

Interested in using the Trading Table? Free for Friends of the Market or $3 per casual user . More details here

Grey Lynn’s last market of the year is a special one- off outside Christmas Market with live entertainment all morning:

• Our favourite sea shanty group, the Royal Fortune from 10am -11.30am
• Grey Lynn Community Choir at 11.30am
• The lovely sweet tunes of the Ukeladies   midday – 1pm

All our regular stallholders will be there as well as a full range of lunchtime food options including the Mexi-Kai truck

Note venue change for this Sunday only:  Carpark of the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office, between the Gypsy Tea Lounge and Nature Baby on Richmond Road.

And extended hours: Sunday 18th December 9am to 1.00pm

This is our last market of the year.  The Grey Lynn Farmers Market will reopen on Sunday 15th January 2012

At the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. FREE for Friends of the Market ($2 everyone else). 11.15am start in the Oval Room of the Grey Lynn Community Centre

Chickens at Home Seminar – Sunday 6th November

If you’ve ever wondered about whether you could have chickens at your place, this is the workshop for you.  Susie from Chickens at Home will introduce you to the basics of keeping chickens in your backyard. She’ll cover their food and care requirements and look at some different hen house options.

Composting in the City Sunday 13th November
with the Wilton St Community Garden Composters

Is your compost heap a little smelly or unbalanced?  Learn the secrets to amazing sweet smelling compost that deals with your kitchen and garden waste and improves your soil at the same time.  This workshop will be lead by the expert composters from the local Wilton Street Community Gardens.

Dirt Doctor: Bringing Life to your Soil Sunday 20th November

The Dirt Doctor’s philosophy is about building healthy soil that will in turn grow healthy and nutrient rich plants.  Dirt Doctor presenter Pania Robinson will give this introduction seminar that will cover bringing life to tired soil and growing lots of food in small spaces.

Yes this weekend is all about the RWC final (go the ABs!) but here is a great reason to keep it local as well with the Spring Festival at our fabulous market on Sunday. 

FOOD: ENTERTAINMENT: FACE PAINTING: MUSIC – and all the regular stall holders including masses of seasonal spray free produce at great prices

Outstanding in their Fields- grass roots cooking on 10am -12pm

2011 Culinary Fares Chef of the Year David Schofield will be conducting cooking demonstrations with fresh Farmers’ Market ingredients.  David will be cooking out of the mobile kitchen that has been touring Farmers Markets all over New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup as part of the Outstanding in their Fields event for the REAL New Zealand Festival.

The programme
9am  Lucia and Clare from from the Grey Lynn Ukeleles

10am Outstanding in their Field cooking demonstration

10.30am Story telling with Phineous Phrog

midday  The Royal Fortune is a fun-time ballad sea shanty group will be entertaining us

Our MC for the event will be Thomas Watts, media-personality, guitarist from Viillainy and Grey Lynn Farmers Market regular shopper. A born and bred Grey Lynner, he’s swapping his guitar for a microphone to entertain us between music and cooking demonstrations.

Specials for Friends of the Market
Farmhouse Freedom Farms bacon is going to be on a permanent special for Friends of the Market!
Friends will receive 10% off any purchase of bacon at our new Farmhouse bacon stall from now on

Blackwoods Bakery on going special for friends is 3 breads for $10

Salmon Man 10% off (this market only)

Spring Festival

9am-2pm (extended hours)
Sunday 23rd October
Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road

Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market Spring Festival
9am-2pm (extended hours)
Sunday 23rd October
Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road

FOOD: ENTERTAINMENT: FACE PAINTING: MUSIC

Outstanding in their Fields- grass roots cooking 

2011 Culinary Fares Chef of the Year David Schofield will be conducting cooking demonstrations with fresh Farmers’ Market ingredients.  David will be cooking out of the mobile kitchen that has been touring Farmers Markets all over New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup as part of the REAL New Zealand Festival.

Waitemata Local Board members will be joining council staff on Sunday 9 October at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market (9am- 12.30pm) to answer questions and provide information on the draft Auckland Plan.

The Roadshow is part of the consultation on Auckland Council’s Draft Auckland Plan which currently underway.  The Plan will have a major impact on Aucklanders lives over the next 30 years.  The Auckland Plan and its related plans will shape where we live, work, study and play.  They will also transform how we use transport over the next 30 years. 

The related plans are:

• The Draft Economic Development Strategy
• The Draft City Centre Masterplan
• The Draft Waterfront Plan 

Through the four plans the council has identified priorities for Auckland’s development, which aim to make it the world’s most liveable city by 2040.

The Waitemata Local Board is very supportive of the draft Auckland Plan and its related plans. They are aligned with the priorities and initiatives in Waitemata Local Board Plan which reflect the aspirations of the central suburbs of Auckland (to be finalised by the end of October). 

How to find out more:

A copy of the full draft plan is available on the Auckland Council website

The Auckland Plan Home -  or at any library. 

Council staff will be available at the following public roadshows to discuss the plan and answer questions:  Draft Auckland Plan Roadshow

Local Board members will be joining the roadshow at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market on Sunday 9 October 9am – 12.30pm and at Parnell Farmers’ Market on Saturday 15 October 8am – 12pm

How to make a submission:

Submissions to the Auckland Plan and its related plans can be made in the following ways:

• at the public roadshow
• online submission – Give your feedback through our online submission form
• download a printable submission form and
  • scan and email to theaucklandplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
  • drop off at any library, council service or local board office
  • post to:

The Auckland Plan, Auckland Council, Freepost Authority 237170, Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142

Grey Lynn 2030 plans to circulate a draft submission in time for the deadline of 25 October 2011.

Kids are encouraged to be creative at the GLFM this Sunday (9am – 12.30pm)

Sand saucer competition 9.30am

Kids and adults can make creative sand saucers using flowers & sand at the art table.  The finished sand saucers will be on display for all to see from 10.30 am. 

At 11 am, after Phineas Phrog, there will be a judging for children and adults- with a prize of two delicious cupcakes up for grabs!

Please bring some of your own flowers from home if you can- little flowers work the best in the sand saucers.

Story telling with Phineas Phrog 10.30am

$3 per child or $2 for friends of the market

Kids trading table

Kids can bring ANYTHING they have to sell or trade and pop it on the table- jewellery, jams, lemonade, old toys or clothes.

School Art Display
There will also art  from Richmond Road school and Western Springs College  on display in the Grey Lynn Community Centre  lobby

Part of Grey Lynn Creates and the Spring series at the GLFM

Greylynncreates.co.nz
celebrating creativity and sustainability in our local community

We’re turning two! Celebrate the Market with food, wine and entertainment.

Special guest Angela Redfern from Ripe Deli

Wednesday 14th September 7.30pm

Garden Room, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road.

**Drinks and Nibbles Provided**

Please RSVP by Monday 12th September for catering purposes to glfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Spring Series at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market

All events a start 11.15am

Cost is gold coin donation or free for Friends of the market. (Cheesemaking class is $10).

4 September Spring Planting Workshop

As the weather warms up, it’s time to get your seedlings in the ground for ready for the spring and summer harvest. Murray and Rob from Heirloom Organix will cover everything you need to know about spring planting, as well as answer any questions you may have, from what plants to choose, when and how to plant them and how to protect them from pests.

 11 September Cooking “Under the Pressure” Cooker

Pressure cookers save time and money, and require less power than regular cooking methods.” Local food writer and vege grower”Lisa Loveday will demonstrate how to use a pressure cooker easily and safely to

prepare soups, bean dishes, casseroles and other one pot meals. Her book will be for sale on the day for $30 (normally $34.99).

 18 September Sauerkraut for Everyone

Sauerkraut is alive! Discover this fantastic natural probiotic and superfood that has been a staple in European diets for centuries. Fermenting fanatics Bella Mayana will teach you how to prepare and ferment your own sauerkraut at home without any fancy ingredients or equipment.

 2 October  Grey Lynn Creates Market

The week long Grey Lynn Creates festival (www.greylynncreates.co.nz) “comes to the market for a morning of creativity and sustainability. Sand art competition, creative fun, face painting and story telling for the kids.

9 October Cheese Making at Home

Learn how to make your own cheese at home with Sue Arthur, owner & director of Over The Moon Cheese Dairy and the NZ Cheese School.”"The class will cover all you need to know for making halloumi in your own home – the basic equipment needed, hygiene requirements and cheese making process.

Cost $10 or $5 for Friends of the Market. No booking is necessary, but be on time to secure a spot.

16 October Organic Pest and Disease

Management in Home Gardens

Landscape Architect and Organic Grower Carl Pickens will discuss how to protect your garden from pests and diseases using organic methods.” Topics include companion planting, physical barriers, biological controls, soil husbandry, creating habitats for pest predators, and organic alternatives to chemical spraying.”

 23 October  Spring Festival

Come join in the biggest event on the Grey Lynn Farmers Market calendar – the Spring Festival! Special guest David Scho!eld, 2011 Chef of the Year, will be doing gourmet cooking demonstrations using fresh Farmers Market ingredients, in a travelling mobile kitchen. There will be music, entertainment, an MC and food, food and more food. Come on down and join in the fun!