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The One Planet Market is a monthly local market held at the Payneham Community Centre. Organised by Sustainable Communities South Australia, other organisations also collaborate to make this a true environmentally friendly community market.
One Planet Market is quite different from most other markets in Adelaide and country areas that I have visited. Perhaps the most obvious distinction was the lack of overt commercialisation - in fact some of the stalls were offering things for free!
Whole Orange Muffins
The market aims are to encourage local production and local economy, and to foster community relationships, resilience and self-reliance. The stalls reflected this approach with many selling local garden produce, and goods made by local people.
Free native Plants at One Planet Market
As I entered the Community Centre I was offered a selection of free native plants as found growing locally at the scenic
St Peters Billabong.
Organic Sourdough Bread
Inside, I found a selection of tasty home made orange muffins, organic sourdough bread, and jams and preserves for sale.
Garden Produce From Urban Orchard
Garden produce was also readily available, and even hard to find duck eggs - I never realised that they are a different colour from hens eggs.
Freecycle - Giving and Accepting Free Goods
The Freecycle stall had second hand music CDs for the taking, while a craft stall offered for you to pay what you could afford. Both are unusual concepts in today's consumer society.
Sustainable Communities SA Brochures
Sustainable Communities SA seems to be largely based on small local groups, which each organise their own activities and participate in local events. For example at the recent
Voices of the Village Fair there were two Sustainable Communities stalls from the Mitcham area. At the One Planet market there were many brochures available promoting local groups' activities.
There are also free educational presentations at the market - in August the topic was
Setting up and maintaining a worm farm, while in October it was about
OzHarvest by Rosemary Cadden, author of
Making a meal of it.
Inside the One Planet Market
The One Planet Market has strong links with
Freecycle Adelaide,
LETS and
Seed Savers, and the
Urban Orchard who are also active in the
Clarence Park Community Centre. All these groups focus on using environmentally sound practices to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
Jewellery & Crafts - Pay What You Can Afford
The market operates on the third Saturday of each month - take a look at that's on offer, you may find it a life changing experience. You certainly won't blow your budget here!
