Kiama Farmers’ Market is preparing for a temporary move from its prime location at Surf Beach to allow Kiama Council to rehabilitate the damage done by tidal storm surges in early April.
“The park was a mess of sand, debris and fish on the morning of our first market in April, which was heroically cleared away by a great team of volunteers,” says the market’s manager, Tricia Ashelford.
“The eastern side of the park is still covered by sand, which is killing the grass, so Council wants a few months from sometime in June to be able to fix it properly before Christmas.
“It will all be well-publicised and signposted, and we are hoping that people will understand the need for the move.”
At time of writing the temporary location hasn’t been finalised, but nearby Chapman Oval overlooking Kendalls Beach is looking likely.
As the market heads into its 12th winter season, Tricia says the cooler days don’t lessen enthusiasm for farm fresh produce.
“Winter is often a time for hibernation, so there is something special about rugging up to enjoy some time by the sea with the rest of the community.
“There is no nicer way to support local growers and producers who are here rain or shine.”
Amongst the stallholders is Orange-based Yuri Hulak, who has been selling produce from a collective of growers since the market first started.
He says winter is all about citrus, with the mandarins followed by the navels and Valencias.
“We get the citrus from a farm at Peats Ridge designed by permaculture pioneer Bill Mollison, which is now run by a relative,” says Uri.
“That’s where we also get our avocados and quinces at this time of year.”
On the veggie front, expect cabbages and caulies from Uri’s cousin at Canowindra.
Guy McPhee of Egans Farm Runnyford, near Mogo, also comes up to Kiama each week. He says that his supply of eggs from pasture-raised chickens will slow over winter, but there will still be plenty for the market.
The beginning of winter will, however, see the tail end of the Robertson potato season.
“The frosts get us in Robertson, so we can’t plant over winter. Our season is from January to July,” says Nicky Hill of Hill Family Potatoes, a multi-generational farm that grows about 20 varieties.
“We stagger the varieties throughout the season and bring them all down to the market for people to try something different.”
She recommends giving the Royal Blues, Russets or King Edwards a try in a mixed bag, or you can stick with the classic Sebago throughout the whole season.
The potatoes they sell at the market are dug up that week and will last for a couple of months.
Michaela Dimassi’s family farm in Tahmoor, Wollondilly Fresh, also comes to the market each week, topped up with produce from neighbouring farms.
“In addition to cauliflowers and cabbages, our winter produce will include tomatoes, zucchini and capsicums which we grow in big greenhouses with heaters,” she says.
While the recent rain has affected their outdoor crops, experience has led them to growing a bit of everything in the greenhouses which means supply can be guaranteed.
The market’s homegrown grower, Kerryn McInnis of The Passion Project – located on The Pines Kiama’s Saddleback Mountain farm – has learnt to cope with the torrential rain differently.
“It is still pretty wet, but because I did no-till beds there is so much organic matter in there the compost is holding a lot of water, so everything is still pretty happy,” she says.
“We’ve got Brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower in the ground at the moment.
“They are down the bottom of the hill so they get more sun, with a big crop of leafier veg up higher.”
In addition to the market, her produce and seedlings are still available when The Pines do their pop-up on farm.
The Kiama Farmers’ Market is held every Wednesday. Winter trading hours 2-5pm. Follow the market's Facebook page for the latest info on location and stalls.
