5 Questions with The Farmgate by Nashdale Fruit Co.

How long as Nashdale been part of the OFM family

About 4.5 years now.  We started out at Marrickville Market first and then joined Orange Grove Market about a year later. 

Your A-frame would have to be up there with one of the singularly most photographed items around the organic universe!  How did the initial design/use come in to play: was it something that was put together as a "make do for now and we'll deal with it later" or was it deliberately planned.

original A-frame

We are always looking for exciting ways to display our produce.  We take great pride in not just how our product tastes, but how it looks as well.  Setting up your stall at each market is an important part for us.

We are always on the look out for different things and came across the A-frame at Marrickville Markets about 4 years ago.  After a month's use it was a bit worse for wear so we decided to build some ourselves.  These are the A-frames we now use.

You are relatively new-comers as producers.  How difficult was the transition from city to country.

Farming has been in my background for generations.  I grew up spending most of my holidays on one of my grandparents farms. My Dad (John) started orcharding when I was about 5 and is still an orchadist today 25 years later.

I started working at the markets with him as soon as I could see over the tables, but they weren't farmers markets back then, just craft-type markets.

Beau and I worked with Dad and ran markets for him on our weekends for about 10 years before Beau decided to give up his "day job", move to the country and try some markets on his own.

Because of the background we already had with the markets and the guidance that Dad gave Beau when he first decided to make the official "tree change" to the farm, it was a much easier transition for us than it would be for many others.

As idyllic as many people think farming looks, it's a lot of hard work and we have definitely had our fair share of issues as well.

What has been one of the record sales of any item at one market

Hmmmm...I'm not sure, after 20+ years of being involved in markets there are many stories!  But we did have one customer come back 5 times to market before Christmas last year.  Each time she came back for more cherries!

The first time was for her household.  She then came back for her neighbours after sharing some over the fence with them.  

Then, after some visiting some relatives went home taking the ones out of her fridge, she came back to restock again....and it continued.  

It was great and such a nice way to end last year.

What has been the most fulfilling part of market life for the Nashdale mob

It would definitely have to be some of the amazing relationships we now have with our customers and other stallholders!  

It is a pleasure to be able to help educate them in what we do and how we do it!  The feedback we receive from our customers and their appreciation is incredible (especially when they show up rainy days to support us) and it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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No arguments here!  From punters to stallies, everyone loves the Nashdale crew and we thank Katie for giving us a little insight in to life on the land and from where we stand, the love that they put in to their crops is reflected not just by the quality of their produce but by returning customers they have week in, week out.

Best bit?  As their branding says "100% Australian Owned and Grown"...read it, live it, love it.

AND we couldn't resist sharing this gorgeous new "employee" making his first appearance at market

We continue to share the love of your love of loving our Orange Grove Markets!

Shannon

Amber

Lisa

Rosa

Dani

Kathleen

Brona

5 Questions with Judi & Mulapa Aboriginal Art

How did you originally become involved with Mulapa Aboriginal Art

"Mulapa" means 'really' or 'true' in Pitjantjatjara which is an Aboriginal language.  This is why when I started this business in 2010 I named my business "Mulapa Aboriginal Art" to highlight my number one principal: that I sell "really true" ethically sourced Aboriginal art.

I knew I didn't want to open a gallery to sell the art but I wanted to sell from home. Once that idea was in my mind, I needed somewhere to advertise my business.  I decided to sell on a stall at Orange Grove Markets because they are my local markets and I had been going there weekly since they started.

Also my home in Lilyfield is close to the markets, so it made sense to attract people from the local area or who were familiar with the area around the markets.

Part of your ethos is "Mulapa Aboriginal art is a signatory to the Indigenous Art Code and Australian Indigenous Art Trade and Fair Trade".  For those who may not fully understand "Indigenous Art Code" and "Indigenous Art Trade" could you explain in layman's terms exactly what this means

As a dealer in Aboriginal Art being a member of both organisations lets people know that I believe in and support the practise within the industry.

Membership of both organisations is voluntary. (nb: if you would like to learn more about Indigenous Art Code click "here" and for Indigenous Art Trade click "here").

The Indigenous Art Code ensures that artists are treated and paid fairly by dealers who work directly with them.  Australian Indigenous Art Trade Fair also makes sure that art works sold (usually through galleries) have been ethically sourced and that dealers behave at all times in an honourable manner when dealing with artists, communities and clients.

Not all galleries are members of both bodies, so if you do got to a gallery to buy, please check to see that they (the gallery or auction house) are members or if not, ask them why!

It would be difficult to say, hand on heart, that there are some pieces you fall hopelessly in love with and really do not want to sell them at market.  What is the process behind selecting exactly which pieces you do take to market to be sold

You are right!  Sometimes when I return from a buying trip a few pieces never make it to the markets...it's usually because my partner or I have fallen in love with the piece and we don't want to sell it.

I select paintings that appeal to me and that I would be happy to hang in my own home.  When I am packing the stock to take to market, I try to select from several communities and I certainly try to take different paintings each fortnight.

I take a variety of sizes and prices because my goal is to entice prospective clients to my home to view and select from the 300+ pieces I have there.

How often do you return to the local areas to select new pieces

Over the last 4 years I have been to Alice Springs and several remote communities in the Central & Western Desert at least once every year and sometimes twice a year.

This year in May I went to Yuendemu (350kms North West of Alice) for several days as a volunteer. 

Judy Watson Napangardi (in centre wearing red) painting one of her amazing masterpieces

This was an amazing experience: watching artists paint, cleaning paint and brushes, priming canvases, making teas for the artists, toasties for their lunch and generally helping out when needed.  I chose to do this because I wanted to get an idea of what exactly was involved in getting this amazing art out into the world.

I will be back in Alice in September for a week participating in "Desertmob" which is an annual event where all the art centres converge into Alice for meetings, exhibition and a market place where they sell the art!  I have never been but will be there this year! (you can read more about Desertmob 2012 "here")

We always ensure we ask permission before photographing items at market out of respect to both culture and artists.  For you personally, what is the most satisfying aspect of selling these incredible pieces at market and what has been one of the more profound reactions by a customer

My goal is to sell ethically sourced Aboriginal Art at fair and reasonable prices.  As a home-based business the overheads are minimal, so my prices are very affordable.  I am a firm believer that you should not buy a painting unless it makes your heart sing, so I am always encouraging people to take the painting home for a few days to check if it's right before making a purchase.

Mulapa has a not-for-profit philosophy of "giving back" to the artists and their communities as an act of reconciliation.  This year, the local high school has already received $375 to provide some extras for the Gifted & Talented Aboriginal students.  I will also be working with a local school to raise additional funds.

In fact, Mulapa's goal for the next year is to raise $5,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation from sales of art works (to learn more or in fact become involved click "here").  As a retired Early Childhood professional, this organisation is close to my heart. I do this because I want to do something personally towards reconciliation outside of membership of a group or an organisation. 

Selling ethically sourced art allows me to follow my two passions: Aboriginal Art and Reconciliation.

The most profound reaction to a painting at the market came from a woman who stood in front of a painting with tears in her eyes.  She stood like that for several minutes before even asking anything about the painting.  I told her a little about the artist and showed her the story of the painting as documented on the Certificate of Authenticity.

When I told her the price she was so relieved that she could afford it and bought it on the spot.

The following day I received an email from her thanking me and telling me the painting still brought tears to her eyes every time she looked at it.

That makes me feel good!

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Judi recently featured in Ciao Arts and we thank them for allowing us to reproduce this article for our blog

Ciao Mag

We thank Judi for sharing some insight in to her world and what Mulapa is all about. As the photographer for Orange Grove Markets can attest, the works are truly beautiful, deceptive in their "simplicity" and each with their own story.

5 Questions with Sonoma Baking Company

Can you give us a little bit of history as to Sonoma and its origins

Sonoma was born from humble beginnings in 1997 in Bellata, a small country town located in north-central NSW.  It was here that we first set out to create traditional artisan sourdough loaves, baking in a restored abandoned wood-fired oven.

The hard work, integrity and commitment it takes to create each one of our Sourdough loaves followed us here to Sydney, where we continue to bake in the tradition of the Artisan bakers of Northern California that inspired our journey.

Your bread is available at quite a few of our markets both as a stallholder and supplier. Is there a type of bread that is a "best seller" irrespective of the demographic, or in fact is it determined by location, age and season

Both our Soy Linseed and Country White Sourdoughs are definitely staples in professional and home kitchens alike.  We also cannot overlook our signature loaf - the Sonoma Miche.

With its deliciously caramelised crust and moist, malted open crumb it's perfect for sandwiches!

Where do you source your ingredients from, and can you explain how wheat/flour is certified "organic" for those who do not understand fully

All flour used is organically grown, which means the wheat has not been exposed to synthetic pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers.

What has been the record number of loaves sold at a single market day

1,400 Sourdough loaves

Early starts for bread baking equates with the freshest and that lovely intoxicating aroma.  How early does the baking process begin for it to be ready in time for market

We begin our baking process early evening to ensure each and every loaf is stone hearth baked to perfection, ready for the morning markets.

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An enormous thank you to Sonoma for sharing their time with us and allowing us to include some of their incredible photos for this piece! 

The logo is easily recognisable so make sure to grab a loaf and we reckon that you too will be wholly in love with the loaves once they are tasted : perhaps to the point of raising that incredible record number of sales in one market sitting!

nb: you can also find their bread at Chatswood Market in a Saturday (click "here" for details) and on Sundays at Frenchs Forest Markets (click "here" for details)

It's July so it's time for the shoutout!

@amandaaaaaa

@sally_veer

@thangngo

Hannah

trish

cute as a button

@hellojb