Local Produce Stall - Blackheath
Blackheath Local Produce Stall - In Focus
A conversation with Lis Bastian Coordinator of the Blackheath Local Produce Stall.
When was your local produce stall established? It was established in December 2006.
Why was it established? The market and stall was established to encourage local people to grow local produce, support the local economy and to recycle (first market focussed on children recycling their toys in time for xmas). The theme of the whole market is to reduce food miles and create a place (people's backyards) as a place for food production in the mountains.
The market was initiated out of Blackheath Community Action Network Inc to increase food security for the mountains. We currently rely on produce from outside the mountains. The market and stall provides the opportunity to focus on backyards as spaces for producing food. The Blue Mountains is generally not an agricultural area. Establishing a local produce market for people to sell, buy or exchange produce gives people opportunity to save money by growing their own food, supplementing their income. The stall only takes a $2 contribution and the rest of the profits go back to the grower.
Most people don't have enough produce to run their own stall. This stall provides the place for people to sell their surplus regardless of the size (i.e. 2 pumpkins or bunches of parsley).
Produce at this stall hasn't been transported large distances and cooled so is much healthier as it is fresher.
Who runs or manages the stall? The Coop Stall is run by Deb Hurley and supported by members of the community.
What assistance do you currently get either financially or in-kind support from within the community? Blue Mountains Council has supported the stall by providing promotional flyers and posters and newspaper advertising.
The Market provides profit or assistance towards the school. It raises funds for the school which includes supporting and developing the kitchen garden at the school and the P&C.
What do you enjoy the most about running your stall? Encouraging people to get inspired to grow their own food. The social networking aspect.
Is there a brief story or anecdote you like to share? It is exciting to have been able to provide the space and forum for people to be inspired to start kitchen gardens that produce surplus food. Encouraging people to do things. People are now providing the local Coop with surplus food and preserves. Flowers for Afghanistan is another initiative. It's a relatively new project to collect flowers from upper mountains to provide for fruit trees in Afghanistan.
Inspiring other coop stalls to establish, food swapping programs in the mountains, created awareness of food in the mountains. Encouraging foragers. Saffron milk caps (pine mushrooms) which are unusual and rarely seen in supermarkets are being supplied at the stall.
Anything else you like to add? Share your surplus. Grow one for yourself grow one for the community.'
The Blackheath Local Produce Stall operates at the Blackheath Community Market at Blackheath Public School on the 1st Sunday of the month.
For more information please contact Marina on, 4782 1181 or email
This item was posted in February 2010 and updated in August 2011.
