Success!

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

On Wednesday night myself and family, Kelli (who works with me at the markets), and other stall holders attended the Council meeting to show our support and speak for Deputy Mayor Lisa Intemann's  motion to return The Real Foods Market to a 12pm market start.  Thanks to the representations you made to our Councillors, and thanks to the community we have become, her motion that The Real Foods Market be considered an exception under the poli...

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Starting Over

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

I am sure we have all had the experience of starting over. Sometimes starting over is cause for great excitement, and sometimes great sadness. In the garden we are constantly starting over as one crop becomes less fruitful and is pulled out to make way for another. Sometimes the decision to start over can be a hard one like when we get a bed of poor germination in our carrots and we have to sacrifice those few that did germinate (and the work and time that went into the planting of them) to...

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People Power

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

Congratulations to everyone who contacted Mayor Pinson to express their concern at the impact of Council's Market Policy - your efforts to turn this trade-restricting policy around made it onto the front page of the Port News newspaper today! The article (in part) reads:  "Mayor Peta Pinson has presented councillors with emails she received from market supporters and correspondence from Port Central owner Gowings Bros about the positive impact of the markets for Port C...

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New Market Arrangements

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

Options for this week: Pre order your vegetables (instructions below) and meet me up at the Port Central Hub (next to the carpark door in the upstairs Food Court) between 1pm & 2:45pm to pick them up Come to the market to purchase your veggies as usual - just don't come before 3:20pm (we are out the back this week) Order your veggies via email or text (instructions below) and have them delivered to your work or home on Thursday. Contact me if none of these opt...

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Real Foods Market

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

Port Macquarie Hastings Council forces our market to start after 3pm. The news is disappointing. Despite your overwhelming support for the Real Food Market, and despite 80% of surveyed community members wanting the current arrangements to continue, Council has voted to impose a 3pm set up time on us, beginning in February. This severely limits our trading to just 2 or 3 hours, and, limits your opportunity to purchase the best fresh produce from local farmers...

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Hot Enough For Ya?

6 years ago by Rod Bailey

With most of Australia in the grip of a record heat wave, in the midst of a (possibly) record making drought, we sure are living up to our "sunburnt country" natonal identity. Spare a thought and a prayer for those already struggling with the drought... In spite of pouring on the water, many of our crops are struggling in the unremitting heat, especially those that thrive in cool weather. Some like Kale are struggling and don't taste so sweet, some like lettuce have shot to flow...

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Holding the Fort

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

Jack, our young inventor son (left), has been keen for some time to go and visit with 'Curly' - his not as young, but still young - inventor mentor. Curly (right) lives in QLD and finally Jack and Rod have made their way north with our friend Silas to visit Curly and his wife Marta. They have been spending their days in Curly's workshop making 'stuff' such as these broad forks pictured above, and dining on Marta's Basque hospitality.  With Ella...

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Corn is Coming!

6 years ago by Rod Bailey

Last week Desley let you know of her plans for The Eastward Garden Open Day coming up in March. Great idea, but I'm under a bit of pressure because of it. For you see, she says it can't happen without SWEETCORN! I guess I'll need to keep the sequential plantings going! We were late getting corn into the ground this year, but it's on it's way! The first bed of it is 7 feet tall and has flowered (far right), and the ears are starting to fill out. I'm hopin...

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Renewed Perspective

6 years ago by Desley Bailey

In the past week we have been priviliged to have Ben and Leila, and then Heather, Steph & John visit us at The Eastward Garden. Now while John was definitly focused on checking out the tractor, the real purpose of our visitors making the long treck out to the Garden was to purchase veggies. And purchase veggies they did, but they accompished much more.  Let me explain. There are times in life when we need an 'ousiders' perspective. When w...

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New tricks

6 years ago by Rod Bailey

Living in the garden gives us many opportunities to learn new things - expanding our capacities, making us practical thinkers, and keeping us invigorated. New problems that arise and demand answers develop new neuropathways and mind plasticity as we search for solutions. New opportunities make us think of ways to accomodate them in our current system, or may cause status quo to be turned on its head so we can move FORWARD! This week was Ella's turn. She can finall...

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