Yesterday we had the first Earth Market at Monforte Dairy. It’s every Sunday until October, from 10 am to 2 pm, organized by Slow Food Perth County. You can read what makes an Earth Market an Earth Market here.
I arrived around noon with my 6-year-old daughter. Everyone was glowing. We estimated more than 200 people had come by already and many of the vendors had sold out. Everyone was very pleased with the turnout.
Over the next few hours we hung around and chatted while some of the Monforte team grilled David E.M. Martin’s hot dogs, availabe at the dairy store.
One of the vendors donated a bag of spinach and Ruth brought out some Toscano and cheddar. And wine. We grouped around a table laden with the food, sitting on overturned, metal cheddar forms, ate and talked about what worked and what needs to be worked on.
We’re going to fix the parking situation. We’d like more vendors, especially meat vendors – pork, beef, elk, rabbit (don’t tell my daughter!) – and eggs, too.
I bought some of the first strawberries of the season – three-litres worth. It's something we really look forward to. By evening’s end they were gone.
This was also the first day for the Monforte dairy store. The hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. Mary, the store manager, has done a wonderful job of sourcing products. It was good to see cheese in the dairy case. Did you know we've named the ashed goat Midnight Cowboy?
Big surprises are in store next Sunday when the Earth Market hosts Hip Hop Day. No, it’s not a new holiday, just lots of fun.
Hope to see you there.