A gem of a model for small communities sharing the bounty of household gardens is operating in the nearby Blueskin Bay area. For the last 3 years folks from Purakanui to Seacliff bring their surplus edibles to the Harvest Market, held one Sunday morning a month during February, March and April. The concept is simple: anything edible grown or produced locally (plants, veggies, fruits, honey, chooks, eggs) can be bought, traded, or bartered. It’s all about local food production by people at a grass roots level. The project is an initiative of the Waitati Edible Gardeners (aka WEGies). Secretary Lynnaire Johnston says, “It’s a community market, for the community, by the community. People bring garden produce by the wheelbarrow or car bootful.”
The market is held at The Old Stores, the home of Rayna and Mark Dickson, who own the Taste Nature store in Dunedin. Set up is simple, a few old tables on their verandah and a cup of lemon verbena tea for everyone. It only lasts an hour and a half and those who come to buy, sell or barter are there for that reason. A lot of good socialising happens around sharing the harvest. Local orchardist, Jason Ross, is often on hand with apple samples. Publicity is simple, through the local newsletter, community email lists and word of mouth. With no charge to stallholders lots of people of all ages feel free to set up with their good local food items. Most times there are about a dozen stallholders.
It does seem a great model for other small communities to share seasonal harvests. If you are interested, come along to last Harvest Market this year Sunday, 18 April, 10:30-noon, The Old Stores, Harvey Street (just over the bridge past the library), Waitati.
