farmers’ markets

VICTORIA

Woodend Community Farmers’ Market, first Saturday

One of many projects run by the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group aimed at promoting sustainable living. As an accredited member of the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association, shoppers are assured the goods have been produced by the farmer or maker selling it. You can pick up Christmas cake, whole hams and festive baking ingredients, including fresh walnuts and free-range eggs. There is also a home-produce exchange, where backyard gardeners swap their excess. You can take broken bikes, wooden furniture and even computers and teddy bears to the Woodend Repair Café, which is always open on market day, plus there’s a recycling service for batteries and more. The market is plastic free and welcomes dogs. 9am–1pm. Corner of High and Forest streets, Woodend, 0458 769 258, mrsg.org.au

NSW

Sydney Sustainable Farmers’ Market, every Saturday With only about eight stalls, this tiny inner-city farmers’ market punches well above its weight. Trade is busy from the moment the market opens and all stallholders — Sydney Basin-based farmers and producers in the main — do a brisk trade. Many customers appear to be on first-name terms with sellers, suggesting they’re regulars. Who wouldn’t want a croissant or savoury cheese scone from one of Sydney’s best bakeries, Brickfields, or to stock up on award-winning organic summer vegies from the Kurrawong Organics stall? Peter and Jann Dixon Hughes from Denman travel to Sydney with their Hunter Valley grass-fed beef and lamb and you’ll know it’s Christmas when you see the Kemps Creek Flower van. They are rose specialists but at this time of year they have Christmas bush and Australian native flowers. 8am–1pm. Taylor Square, corner of Oxford and Flinders streets, Darlinghurst, 0416 525 244, facebook.com/sydneysustainablemarkets