Collingwood Children’s Farm – Farmers Market

I’ve been coming to this market for 6 years although I prefer the food market at The Convent next door.
The quality of the items is very good and I love that it’s locally grow. They sell anything from raw honey, various meat, fish, cheese, fruit and veg.
However what I come for is the traditionally made bread by «Hope Farm» which is delicious, fresh and preservative free. Sadly they don’t attend any of the other slow food market.
It cost $ 2 per person and you can have a look around the children’s farm too and this means it’s packed with families and that’s why I prefer the one at the Convent.

Farmers Markets are my favourite way to spend a Saturday morning. Wake up, throw on some clothes, grab a coffee and a pastry to be consumed in the car, and head off to the farmers market. Perfection.
It certainly helped to have some beautiful winter sunshine on our backs as we gingerly stepped our way through the muddy grounds of the farmers market this weekend. It’s a perfect venue — a little country oasis in the middle of the bustling city. It makes me so happy. The air is clean, there are hens and dogs wandering around everywhere, and there are usually some happy-​looking goats and ponies to pet on your way to the food.
The food is usually great quality, and usually good value as well. But honestly, I’m willing to pay a little more when I know where the food has come from, and am able to meet the people that grew it.
I can’t recommend this highly enough. Check it out!

This farmers market makes you do a double-​take. The venue makes you feel as though you are in the country… except that you’re just a few kms from the CBD. Grab a wheel barrow as your trolley and roll along to a huge selection of stalls.
You’ll be rubbing shoulders with a mixed bag of peeps from posh Kew/​Hawthorn types to inner city hipsters and crusties. The common ground is incredible super fresh local grown produce that tastes like it used to — you know, before Supermarkets kept it in a warehouse for months before selling it to you. All the stallholders are accredited, which means the person selling you food at the stall is the same person that grew or made the produce, or someone in the family.
So what is there? For a start there’s over 70 stalls. Everything is locally produced, from ice cream to potted herbs to grow yourself and free range meat, seasonal nuts, fruit and vegetables, fruit juice, handmade cheese, organic dairy products, artisan bread, freshly cut flowers and eggs that are fresher than in any shop. Most of the produce is chemical free too.
Known as «Australia’s favourite farmers market» it gets very busy. Hardcore fans arrive at 8am when the gate opens. But I’ve got in the habit of contacting my favourite farmers in the days preceding and having them put things aside for me, because some stuff sells out by 10am. That way I get more time to sleep in.
If you have a family it’s a great morning out for kids with plenty to do and there is music and a breakfast stall, along with all kinds of treats. And with a $ 2 entry fee it can be an economical way for the kids to meet the animals around the farm.
It’s held on the 2^nd Saturday of every month. Get to know the people who grow your food, ask them how to cook it and feel good that there’s no middle man, your money goes straight back to the source.