Having had good professions in the past, our primary motivations to grow organic produce is:

Every gram of chemicals not used does not have to be produced, does not end up as residue in our environment, waterways, bodies. Every mile not transported, produce not cooled down for long, does not use extra resources.

Why are there so few organic stalls at the Bellopy, and also other markets?

Not many are prepared to put in the necessary hard work into an organic market garden, only to achieve less than minimum wages for the time picking, washing, bundling, getting things kitchen ready to bring it to the market.

In the 16 years of doing this, prices and yearly income achieved have hardly improved, while costs, general wages, real estate, have more than doubled.

The public has gotten used to the prices achieved by mechanised, on chemicals and synthetic fertilizers reliant agriculture, reliance on cheap backpacker labour, and last but not least price pressure by supermarket chains. But this does not reflect the true cost of production.

Why is the variety of organic produce at the Bellopy market limited?

The produce is local and seasonal, and weather conditions of late have been very challenging indeed. First a long dry spell, an outbreak of insect pests, and now constant re-occurring heat waves. We do our best. One might point the finger at climate change, and our belief and experience is that it is so.

That is why it is all the more important that we all have to make an effort to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. We are all sharing this precious planet, unless we learn to live in the virtual world all together. We all can make a contribution and an effort however miniscule in the scheme of things, be it what we are doing, be it supporting what we are doing, recycling, minimise consumption. Only this way we have the chance of a turnaround.

Concerning the market, especially the Bellopy, it is the question of what comes first, the chicken or the egg. Without a great choice available, customers don’t turn up. Without sufficient customers, if we have to take things home again and achieve little income, it is very discouraging. Persistence and support from all sides is necessary to make this so valuable project work.

Having said all that, we have some very dedicated customers who believe in what we are doing is the right way and support us, and we thank them for it. It is the only reason we have not given up long ago.       

Susan Weil – Bellopy Market Update: As a result of public feedback we have decided to move the bellopy markets from fridays to saturdays commencing on March 18 at the Anglican Church from 8-12. It will then run every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. We hope that this move brings in more people and more stalls. We will have Bondy from Nymboida joining us again after Mayfield Farm retired from markets and he has beautiful certified organic beef, pork and whole chickens as we try and provide a full range of organic products for our customers. We hope the community will come along and support us as we try and protect our market and our livelihoods.