In line with Earth Fair’s overall vision of changing the way people shop and supporting small local producers, we are thrilled about the growing number of shoppers at the market. Many who used to come for lunch and the buzz are now dedicated market grocery shoppers and this excites us a lot! It is wonderful to see the combination of tourists, judges, reporters, office and council workers and even some celebrities frequenting our market every week. We couldn’t ask for a better backdrop than the beautiful historical buildings of our city.

Another factor that makes the market so special is that in many ways it is a return to our roots. The Company Gardens originally provided fresh fruit and vegetables to passing ships and Greenmarket Square was somewhere where farmers could sell their produce. That’s why upper St George’s Mall in the historic heart of Cape Town is the ideal location. We are very proud and grateful to be included in our beautiful city centre in such a way.

We have many people to thank for getting us to where we are, including the Cape Town Partnership/ City Centre Improvement District, Cape Town Tourism and the Upper St Georges’ Mall Forum comprising a number of city centre companies, including urban developers Eurocape and the Taj Cape Town. The Forum’s objective is to promote the Cape Town CBD as one to rival that of other popular city centre experiences around the world.

A special thanks also to Aoife Macken, Andrew Currell, Danny Diliberto and of course all the talented and dedicated traders.

Rain or shine we are at St Georges Mall every Thursday from 11-4pm. (When it rains we move inside the Mandela Rhodes Place.) Join us this Thursday to enjoy the sound of the Marimba Band and to celebrate with us!

We have swopped the roses for the daisies and the commercialism for good ‘ol fashioned hippie values of self love and expression. Join us for live music, a love hamper giveaway, free hugs and to support our earth lovin ethical traders!

Whether you are a hippie or not, the guiding principles are so cool and in line with many philosophies to make the world a better place…. We found some of these on wikihow.com

• Be open-minded and liberal
• Listen to hippie music
• Be organic
• Don’t pollute
• Wear colorful clothing
• Protest against violence, weapons, racism, unfair laws and minority discrimination
• Grow your hair and be natural
• Learn a martial art such as tai chi, but remember you are doing it because of the eastern philosophy behind it, it is not to be exploited for harming others
• Just be yourself! Have any religion and believe in anything you wish. There’s no ground rules or regulations on being a hippie that you must follow.
• Becoming a hippie does not restrict you to the steps above. It is a general guide on how hippies were in the past generations. You may stretch and experiment with your own style(s), for example, wearing earrings, lip gloss, and creating your own food diet.
• Try to make peace in any arguments. Be the mediator for issues and see if you can help people by listening and giving advice.
• Just because past generations of hippies have smoked marijuana doesn’t mean you have to; while it may cause short term memory loss, it is also illegal in most countries and could possibly send you to a state prison.

Join us this Saturday at Tokai for lots of loving fun!

Tokai will reopen on Saturday 7th January 2012 and St Georges will reopen on Thursday 12th January.

We thank you all for your amazing support and look forward to seeing you in the new year. Have a blessed Festive Season and remember you deserve some time out!

Liz and emerging farmers

Liz has been at Earth Fair from day one and she is a tireless and dedicated organic farmer. We would like to share her story…

Liz Eglington is the Farmer and owner of Buffelshoek farm in the Klein Karoo which she bought 15 years ago as a dusty and destroyed piece of earth, through over grazing and chemical fertilizing.

Using organic, permaculture and biodynamic farming practices she planted olive trees and breathed new life into this land. She then witnessed the miracle of nature healing the ecosystems and bringing
vibrant life where there was none. In 2001 the farm became the first certified organic olive and chilli farm in South Africa under the trade name “Blue Sky Organics”, and now has a range of 24 products, the latest being olive leaf tea.

The farm became the catalyst for sharing with hundreds of farmers who went to learn how to farm sustainably and ethically.

Through her experiences and lessons on this farm Liz was drawn to share these experiences in the following ways:

• Training and workshops: Liz has given extensive talks and held workshops on organic farming and sustainable living practices all over South Africa. For Country Life over a period of 6 years, the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch for 3 years, various garden clubs in SA, and many farmers groups. There is an enormous need for
  information and assistance to farmers, smallholders and consumers to
  understand the harm that our broad agro-chemical corporate farming
  practices have had and are having on our eco-systems, the quality of our
  food and water and the impact on our health and environment.
• Director: SAOSO (South Africa Organic Sector Organisation). Mission: To establish South African standards for organics. To regulate the industry and all role-players. To promote organic farming in SA and educate the media, retailers and the consumer about the importance of healthy, nutritious and ethically grown food. To assist emerging farmers to get back onto the land, to grow their own food, and to become economically empowered and
  independent. To ensure there are affordable and equitable certification systems on all levels to satisfy local and export needs.
• Director:
  PGSSA (Participatory Guarantee System South Africa): Mission:  To establish and provide an alternative and affordable certification system for farmers and producers in SA. Our present formal certification system is very expensive and onerous in
  resources required and effectively prevents small producers and farming enterprises as well as emerging farmers from participating and benefiting
  economically. We have succeeded in including the PGS system in the Organic
  Policy document and there are already 6 PGS systems in operation in SA
  with many more applying.

Awards:

• Woman Farmer of the Year (Sept 2005 to Aug 2006)
• Finalist 2009 Most Influential Woman in Agriculture
• Finalist 2011 Eco Angel awards

Media exposure:

• Radio slot with Soli
  Philander on Cape talk. (4 sessions)
• SABC TV programme
  slot on “The Power Within”.
• SABC TV programme
  slot on “Me Time”.
• Top Billing slot
  • Several articles in
    magazines about Liz and the farm in Farmers Weekly, Landbou Weekblad, Odyssey,
    Simply Green, Longevity, Country Life.

Workshops and Journalism:

• Past 6 years doing
  workshops and lectures for Country Life on different aspects of organic and
  olive farming.
  • Regular contributor
    for Simply Green and Odyssey magazines.
  • Regular workshops for
    different groups of farmers on organic farming and sustainable living.
  • Regular lectures for
    various groups, horticulture institutes, Dept Agriculture and
    organisations on sustainable living, organic farming, nutrition, climate
    change.

Chic Mamas Xmas Crackers

It is very important to us to give back to the community and this year Earth Fair Market will be making handmade Xmas crackers containing delightful treats and vouchers donated by traders at the market. All the proceeds from the sale of the crackers will go to Chic Mamas Do Care which is a Non-Profit Organization. They are an amazing bunch of ‘Mamas’ who are extremely concerned about the children of South Africa and their future.

They have created a chic, fun and ethical way of fundraising, to support education and educational projects in underprivileged areas of this beautiful country.

The crackers will be on sale at the markets leading up to Xmas as well as at the Xmas Market on the 16th Dec… but first we have to make them! We need your help please. Join us at the Tokai market every Wednesday and Saturday where there is a table set up and help us make the crackers. We also love you to bring bring toilet rolls, buttons, bits of fabric, feathers, shells or anything that we could use to decorate the crackers with. This is a fantastic way to get to know us, to become involved in your community and to do your bit. For further info, please email info@earthfairmarket.co.za

Many people are seeking more eco friendly ways of living and also (at the risk of sounding…airy fairy) to feel their connection to the earth. On a recent trip to Crete to visit my mother, I discovered that in many parts of Europe growing your own veggies is very much a part of day to day life. The pride in watching your butternut squash grow to maturity or your tomatoes run rampant is something that cannot be underestimated.

There seems to be a very encouraging explosion of intrerest in urban farming and grow your own in Cape Town and around the world. Matt will give practical tips on how to start and establish your own edible garden and will be able to answer any questions that you may have after the workshop. The workshop will be held at Earth Fair Tokai at 10am - under the stretch tent at the front entrance. All are welcome. See you there!

To celebrate our Heritage we will be firing up the braais outside the market. Pick your choice of special sossies from Rudi’s Deli and bring them to the fire. Add salads from Saladlover, chutneys from Amelia’s and chilli sauces from More, real beer from the Laughing Crocodile and life is good. See you there!

PS Kiddies, don’t forget the Mad Hatter Tea Party!