You can tell the people who visit Northey Street Organic Markets regularly – they come prepared with a trolley or big baskets to carry their freshly harvested, organic produce home. Lots of people seem to know each other, waving greetings and chatting together. It’s got a slow, pleasurable atmosphere – the food is appreciated and no one is trying to flog it off at bargain prices. It’s not the cheapest place to buy but things in season are reasonable. Plus, you can always get more information from the friendly stallholders about where and how it’s grown.
Apart from fruit and vegies, you can also buy organic and fair trade grocery items, fresh juices and tofu, dairy products and artisan bread. I arrived at 9am to find that my favourite bread had already sold out so I’ll have to get up earlier next time. There aren’t stalls selling craft or giftware, it’s purely food.
It’s nice to walk under the large shady trees and it’s not a large market so you can easily walk around it a few times to check prices and browse. It’s a mellow crowd of shoppers. There’s coffee, a fundraising (organic) sausage sizzle and the popular, relaxed open kitchen of the Chai Café.
The markets are next to Northey Street City Farm (one stall is stocked with produce grown 20 metres away – now that’s local!). Walk from the market into the city farm where it’s fun to show the kids the chickens, sit in the sun with your chai tea or coffee and take home some seedlings or other garden supplies from the farm’s nursery.
What do you like about Northey Street Markets? Add your comments below.
When: Every Sunday from 6am to 10.30am. Best to get in early for the best produce.
Where: Northey Street, Windsor on the northside.
Parking: Lots of free parking under the fig trees or in nearby streets.
Public transport: Many people ride their bikes to the markets as it’s close to the bike path through Downey Park. But Windsor Train Station is 10 minutes walk away and buses stop on nearby Bowen Bridge Road. Check on TransLink.
What do you like about Northey Street Markets? Add your comments below.
