dotheyarravalley.com.au

On the second Saturday of every month Mont De Lancey holds a unique country market. Having around 20 stalls, it’s not on the scale of the Healesville Craft Market, however the goods on offer are top quality and the setting and atmosphere make this market well worth putting on your market list.

As well as the market stalls, there’s pony rides, face painting, Blacksmiths, and wood turning.  To get a feel for what this market has to offer, watch the Web TV epsiode below, as Tania from Do The Yarra Valley takes a quick tour.

As well as the market, Mont De Lancey is host to a Blacksmithing group who meet every weekend at the authentic Blacksmith Shop. Their aim is to keep this ancient craft alive by sharing their knowledge and skills.  According to Fritz, a Blacksmith of 50 years, belting the living daylights out of hot metal is also “very therapeutic”. For those interested in this type of therapy they offer a four-week course and no experience is necessary. We will be devoting a full story to the Blacksmithing Group in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Most market days you can also watch the historical re-enactment group practicing in the paddocks around the property. The sight of Scottish, British and French soldiers being charged at full gallop by the cavalry, always makes for spectacular viewing.

The market is open from 9am to 1pm on market days (2nd Saturday of each month).

Entry is by gold coin donation.

For more information call the Country Market Co-Ordinator on 5964 2088. Or visit the Mont De Lancey website:

The first Gourmet Greenhouse Farmers Market at Ferndale Farmgate was a smashing success!

On a perfect sunny day a steady stream of people wandered through the market sampling, organic jams, spreads, wines, and vegetables. The quality of organic produce on offer was outstanding.  The Yarra Valley Gourmet Greenhouse is a two person operation run by Meagan Bertram and Steven Briggs, both of whom have a background in horticulture. To get a feel for the day watch our video below:

Live music added to the atmosphere as did the cooking demonstrations from two of the Yarra Valley’s top chefs,
Dale Prentice Executive Chef at Stones of the Yarra Valley and Mathew Macartney Executive Chef at Chateau Yering.

This market is not all just about eating and drinking and swanning around to pleasant music. There is a very serious side to this market. As Martin Cheney, Managing Director of Australian Harvest Fine Foods explained, “the single biggest way to reduce climate change is to eat organic food. According to a 30 year study organic practices can counteract up to 40% of global greenhouse gas output. A trial of organic and conventional farming practices has proved that organic practices can be the single biggest way to mitigate climate change.”

For more details on the Yarra Valley Gourmet Greenhouse and Ferndale Farmgate visit www.yvgg.com.au/

	100 Ferndale Road, Silvan 3795
	Meagan’s Mobile: 0425 794 167 Stephen’s Mobile: 0419 003 704 Telephone: (03) 9737 9895 Facsimile: (03) 9737 9043

If you like your craft markets BIG…then this is the one for you!

With over 320 stallholders spread over the length of a racetrack you need to have a few spare hours to get around this market. The Healesville Market is one of the six craft markets run by Craft Markets Australia.

According to the Craft Markets Australia website, “It’s been the careful selection of stallholders with high quality crafts, wares and produce that has given these markets the reputation they richly deserve.”

After having visited quite a number of markets over the years we take our hats off to the team at Craft Markets Australia for ensuring high standards are maintained. For a quick visual sampling of what’s on offer watch the Do The Yarra Valley video below.

Louise Gamon – from Craft Markets Australia told us, “there is pretty much something for everyone,” and she was right. There’s everything from apples to zoo. – That’s a petting zoo for children, of course. Ah, yes, the colour, friendliness and quality makes this market not only what shopping used to be like, but what is should be like.

isn’t it amazing how strolling around looking at stuff makes you hungry. After a couple of hours I could have eaten a horse, fortunately they don’t run the market when the races are on! Anyway after perusing the delectable foods available a horse definitely lacked appeal. As we waited in line for a serve of the The Flying Calamari Brothers crumbed calamari rings, I heard a small child saying to her mother, “I wish this market was on every week Mum!” We had to agree with her. We highly recommend a visit to the Healesville Racecourse Harvest & Craft Market… you won’t be disappointed.

It seems there are almost as many markets in the Yarra Valley as there are wineries.

Well….not quite, anyway the Farmers market at The Barn at Yering Station is one of the best. It’s not the biggest, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in quality. All the goodies are from Yarra Valley locals and there’s nothing like having a chat with the people who make the produce.

According to Frances, the Market organiser, this market is the longest running and only one of its type in Australia. Watch the video to see the interview and full details of the market.

	The market is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 9am – 2pm.
	The Market is held in The Barn at Chateau Yering, 38 Melba Hwy Yarra Glen.

With farmers produce markets becoming a popular feature of the Yarra Valley region, we visited one of the newest, the Lilydale Farmers Produce Market to see what’s on offer.

This market has been running for about a year and although it is relatively small in comparison to the Healesville market the quality of the produce on offer makes it well worth a visit.

The market is organised by the Rotary Club with all money going to charity including, the very worthwhile, Wheelchairs for Kids program.

The Market publicity says there are over 50 stalls. However, the day we visited there weren’t quite that many – 32 to be exact. OK, so it’s a small market, but if you are looking for top quality produce you won’t be disappointed. We wandered, sampled, sniffed, tasted and chatted for a couple of hours and came away with some beautiful wine, strawberries that tasted like they should, mouth watering custard & gin tarts and some spuds sold literally off the back of a truck by a couple of charming Aussie characters.

Market organiser, Bill Sutherland says, “the goal of setting up the market was twofold. To help support the regional producers and at the same time raise money for charity. In fact, money used from the market was used to help rebuild after the “Black Saturday” bushfires.”

	Bellbird Park Swansea Rd, Lilydale VIC Melways – 38 G8, Next to Lilydale lake.			Next Market 3rd Jan, 2010 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
	Admission  – Gold coin donation			More information Contact Bill Sutherland Ph (03) 9727 0037