There's something magical about the Farmer's Market held on the grounds of the Pioneer's Museum every Saturday from 05:30 to 09:30, come rain or shine. And I suspect it's exactly these ungodly hours that gives it its charm!
To get parking within a decent walking distance to the gates, you need to get there really early, which, during these shortening autumn days, means arriving along with scores of others and strolling through the myriad of stalls in near darkness for close on an hour before the sun leisurely shows up. Many stalls sport their own ingenious methods of lighting in the twilight zone, ranging from all manner of lamps to small generators powering electric light, but as the day dawns, the incredible abundance of all things natural and hand made and gorgeously wholesome spill into view and my senses do somersaults in my still rather sleepy body.
A little boy scoops handfuls of rose petals from a bucket his father is carrying and throws it up into the air, creating a trail of blazing colour to their cut flower stall. We walk through wave on wave of fragrance: freshly brewed coffee, boerewors and sosaties on the coals, home baked bread. One could easily have a hearty breakfast just by trying everything being eagerly offered for free sampling!
Sweet agony! To choose which of the many delicacies to buy and savour sitting down under the shade of the huge birch trees. My friends settle on vetkoek and mince, while I cannot resist a traditional roosterkoek (griddle cake) smothered in a tomato and onion sauce. And coffee of course: strong and black, mine Blue Mountain, theirs Hazelnut.
All along, I'm almost frantically clicking away with my camera not to miss a moment of the glorious early morning light which makes for beautiful pictures, capturing just exactly what my eyes are seeing and the rest of me are experiencing, while also choosing and buying what I simply cannot resist!
On my shopping list I have exactly one item: Unsalted butter to be acquired from Hijke Cheese.
I arrive home with:
- Butter, cheese and yoghurt from Hijke;
- A bunch of proteas;
-A loaf of sweet potato bread;
- One frozen, free-range chicken from a dark haired boy farmer whose enthusiasm reminds me so of my own farmer son;
- Fresh ginger root and a sachet of mini butternut;
- A tray of mixed lettuce seedlings, to be planted out into the tub next to the lemon tree;
- A bottle of preserved orange peel;
- Two pairs of lambswool socks;
- Two giant muffins from the Baker Boys (one pumpkin and cream cheese, the other pecan nut and carrot) which I intend to try and keep to spoil George and his dad with tomorrow;
- a small bar of geranium scented goat's milk soap;
- One perfect cut rose, still in bud and wrapped tenderly in a cone of brown paper.
I valiantly resist:
- Second hand book stalls;
- Potted herbs;
- Many, many other cheese, meat and confectionary sellers;
- Spices sold by weight in huge bags;
- Crafters of all sorts;
- Bonsai, Rose, Orchid and Succulant growers;
- Melkkos and pancakes;
- Beautiful leather work;
- Wooden furniture.
I see:
- many dogs, mostly in coats and with people on tow;
- small sleeping children drawn in quaint little carts;
- many down to earth looking people;
- many very stylish people;
- many couples, usually with dogs;
- hardly any irritated looking people;
- hardly any hurried people;
- cheerful stall keepers I take my hat off to.
I'll be back. One could get addicted to getting up early on a Saturday morning if this is the high it gives.
Matilda
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