Marrickville Organic Food & Farmers Markets

This market without a doubt is the mecca on a Sunday for inner-westies and beyond. Unfortunately I can't get there as often as I would wish so have to at times, visit vicariously via fibre-optics through bloggers I absolutely adore such as Bizzy Lizzy, Inner West Lifestyle, The Adventures of Miss Piggy and so many more.

When I first visited I was struck how immediately at-home I felt with the boho vibe, the chillaxed scene and how many were not in a hurry to leave, in fact stayed all day. It's where alternate meets current and once again Organic Food Markets have managed to reach that balance of the demographic and maintaining it's root of being all things natural and good for you.

The community spirit is alive and kicking and it's easily seen by the street entertainment, the curiosities and oddities, the kids absolutely loving and being part of something that is "alive" and tangible where you rarely hear "oh kids don't touch that please" being uttered.

Whatever they are doing, they are doing it right and for that we and the entire community that love them thank you Organic Food Markets

Orange Grove Organic Markets

Each Saturday Orange Grove Public School comes alive with the sound of organic food, hidden delights, entertainment and all round village-vibe which is something that Sydney so sorely requires.

Too often we are bound to the fibre-optics and tend to lose a sense of reality, so to be able to get to a place where people talk, share, laugh, shop and simply enjoy life and all it has to offer, is a blessing.

What impresses me about this particular market is that no matter what the weather the ever-faithful are there not only to satisfy their inner-organic-fix but probably most importantly to support local producers and as Henry (who is but one of the BHP'ers ....the quiet achievers) says "they expect us, they appreciate us, why wouldn't we be here".  A sentiment that should be echoed and deemed a mantra.

Whether it's a food trail you're after or simply taking time out to watch the kids have some fun riding the ponies, jumping on the castle or twirling away to the music, you would be hard pressed to NOT find at least one thing you fall in love with here.

Orange Grove Market on Facebook

Orange Grove Market Pinterest

Orange Grove Markets Google+

Double Bay Festival 2012

Last year I was lucky enough to not just attend but be part of the Double Bay Festival.

The sun was out, we were there exceptionally early and by end of day was completely and utterly exhausted but in the best possible way.

We arrived and there was but a few sounds of birds tweeting to greet the day, gates and witches hats being put in to place, meeting up with co-workers, setting our walkie-talkies to the correct channel then playing with them liked kids (breaker breaker...are you there) and at last the most important activity occurred : coffee!

Once duly scoffed or quaffed it was ON.

Directing stallholders to their positions, ensuring safety measures were in place at all times, repeating ourselves to the point of tongues being swollen, coordinating with all other parties involved like the important porta-loo (which I might add were incredibly clean and continually cleaned after each use! not that you will EVER convince me to use them) and finally getting to use our toys: the walkie-talkies.

Set up done with only one or two minor hiccups and before we knew it in came the crowds and by that they kept a-coming and a-coming and even at end of day they still meandered through.

We sought refuge on the odd occasion

We danced, pranced, kept using those walkie-talkies (what can I say? it was like a TOY i tell you!) and whilst frantic had a fantastic time. My personal fave was grabbing a few of the stallholders and we danced to the Zumba

spotted some incredible sights

met some fantastic people

had some fantastic food

saw some of the cutest face painting

there were even some big toys for big boys

but the crowds kind of summed up how 

BIG this day was

it's on again this year (3rd November) so if you didn't last year, then you MUST this year, cause I will and I can't wait!

(ps: if you want to be part of this festival contact Organic Food Markets)

Like many of you I am what could be deemed a market deamon.  Whether it be to browse or shop it makes no difference.  I felt I had died and gone to organic heaven when i found that my favourite market crew had another EIGHT locations in Sydney!

Naturally I had to go to each (which I did over quite a few weeks but when you're as determined, as I ....well...what can I say, I'm a Taurus!) and see what was the drum was for each of them and I am delighted to announce there was absolutely no disappointment in sight.

The crew in question are Organic Food Markets.

Each location seems to be magically in tune within it's specific area and while some aren't as busy as others, sometimes it's nice just to sit back in a quiet little corner, share a coffee with friends, have a chat with the producers and escape from it all.

I will be doing a blog per market to not only "share the love" but to show visually and by using the written (or in this case typed) word exactly WHY Organic Food Markets are playing an essential role in promoting sustainability, buy-Australian and in a world where we are dominated by rectangular objects containing many pixels, it's just nice to get back to old-fashioned one-on-one communication in the real world rather than cyberspace.

I previously made an entry on my Tumblr about Double Bay Markets, but as with many good things, this particular market has evolved and grown in to an absolute "must do" on Thursdays so will be given it's rightful place in a separate entry.

But for starters here's a recent OFM Ad which summarises where you can find them