Ten times more

According to Michael Pollan, farmers’ market shoppers have ten times more conversations than those at the supermarket.

I can vouch for that. The Farm Gate Market is one big talk fest. And I love it. We're five weeks in now and things are going well. Getting better at the bump in and and out. Figuring out the quantities. What sells, what doesn't. We've got a new blog. And working on a new website.

But what I love the most is the atmosphere. And the talking. People start arriving by foot with their prams or their dogs or both at around 8.30am. They fill their baskets with greens and apples and sourdough loaves then maybe some gammon or goat sausages or sheep milk manchego. Or honey, tea leaves, coffee beans, jam, garlic, fresh herbs or sprouts, there is so much to chose from! Then some dash home but most linger. Standing in the aisles or sitting at the tables having a coffee and a chin wag.

I get in my fair share of talking to customers and other stall holders. The stallholders have such wonderful tales. Sometimes funny. Sometimes touching. Like the apple grower who says this market will save his orchard from the bulldozer.

Yes, I can see all the conversations happening around me. And I'm so happy to be there. It's like a mini-culinary holiday, every Sunday. With the added bonus that knowing where your food comes from, and the people who produce it, is healthy for you and your community.

And that is something to talk about.

Saturday hike

Now that we have Mabel, we've been on the lookout for some dog friendly walks. We found this great booklet published by the local council, Kingborough's Tracks, that outlines over 30 dog friendly trails through paddocks, beaches and bush. On Saturday we tackled the Picket Hill Track, which while steep in parts, took us to a lookout with spectacular mountain and ocean views. We stopped here at the top for lunch, and Mabel kindly hoovered the crumbs.

I'm joining in with the delightful Chantelle's Point and Shoot. Go see what others got up to on the weekend here.

Hidden gleaning

Gleaning. A word I had never heard of until yesterday, and coincedently, today we were generously given an opportunity to glean. At a cherry orchard no less. That is, to collect leftover cherries after the paid pickers have been through.

Some trees had nary a cherry left, but others had some extremely well hidden ones. If you stuck your head right into the tree and looked up you could see, hiding amongst the leaves, large, dark, juicy orbs just waiting for us to pick. Like the most delicious treasure hunt. I even found a couple of white cherries, which are super sweet and juicy.

After gleaning two or three rows of different varieties : Stella, Vans, Lapins, we had all filled our buckets. With plenty of quality control testing along the way. We also had a tour of the packing shed, to see where the cherries are washed, sorted and packed before flying off to the mainland. A huge operation, with up to 400 people picking or packing during the short cherry season.

Now, what to do with 3kg cherries? I will bottle some, to eat in the winter, perhaps try to dry some, but mostly, they are delicious just as they are.

And gleaning, there is more later this week, with a friend inviting us to glean at their black currant farm. I'm going to try and make cassis with those.

And that, dear reader is what I love the most about summer in Tasmania, all the delicious fruit. And it's even better when it's gleaned! Cherrio!

Twenty ten

Just thought I'd check in and say hello. Christmas was gorgeous, loads of delicious feasting, backyard cricket, walks through paddocks and lounging on the verandah with a glass of something cold.
The new brick oven was a triumph and got a thorough workout. There was up to three meals a day for twenty seven people to prepare. The family split into cooking and washing up teams so everyone had a chance to pitch in. And an entertaining wood splitting competition between the teenage boys resulted in a lovely neat stack of wood to fire up when needed. Yay team!

The Taste, whilst not the frantic bake-a-thon we expected, was enjoyable nonetheless. We opened a wee Pop Up bakery and had lovely people dropping in to buy cakes fresh from the kitchen. Here's our first sale :: a big one!

And this new year, well, we've been relaxing, visiting my favourite beach at Cockle Creek, eating loads of cherries. Roadside stalls sell a juicy selection of summer fruits and it's such a short season, you've got to scoff while you can.

Which means it's about time to wash the empty jars for some jam making sessions. I preserved some lemons today, an easy recipe out of my Christmas present book. Strawberry jam tomorrow I think.

Hope you're having happy days.