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5 Questions with LIzzee and One Tiny Bite

When did you first discover and became art of the now infamous Sunday experience aka Frenchs Forest Markets

I discovered Frenchs Forest Markets late September this year.  Being the middle of Spring, the weather was perfect, also the seasonal fruit & veg were bright and delicious!  I love the energy - it was really buzzing!

Someone was collecting signatures for a petition.  Someone else was playing music. Children were everywhere, sampling fresh produce, talking to farmers.  Friends and acquaintances stop to chat.  It was a very wonderful experience.

Can you tell us a little bit about One Tiny Bite Soldiers and how you first became involved with it

One Tiny Bit is a team of "Soldiers" who report on the latest health news from Australia and around the world, as well as tips and information to help you improve your health and wellbeing.

It was founded and created by Lisa Brown, Author of "One Tiny Bite At A Time".  Lisa is an amazing, inspirational lady who shares her story on dealing with Multiple Sclerosis in her pursuit for a fabulous life.  One Tiny Bite is actively involved in raising awareness about the disease and stem cell therapy.  We have a tremendous enthusiasm about the potential stem cell therapy which Lisa received in Panama City twice.

I accompanied Lisa on her second trip to Panama City recently, not only as her support for stem cell therapy but also as One Tiny Bite's "On Tour" Reporter.  I was responsible for recording, documenting and blogging events with a strong focus on building community support and sharing the experience to achieve a loyal and dedicated following.  I now continue to work as a One Tiny Bite Soldier.

Lizzee & Lisa downing a Big Green Monster at Frenchs Forest Market

(please feel free to check out our "being well, hug and tell website "here" or via our facebook page "here")

Do you have a fave stallie and if so, who and why

My fave stallie is Ready 2 Plant Organics.  They have an amazing range of organic fruit & veg, smoothies, herbs and more!

read our interview with Bec and Ready 2 Plant Organics "here"

I had their famous "Big Green Monster" green smoothie, which is dairy and gluten free as well as 100% organic....it's delicious!

What is one of your all time recipes made using produce bought at market

I have access to many fantastic, healthy recipes through my job with One Tiny Bite. Lisa is a fabulous cook and I upload her recipes to our website weekly.  I like the recipe below because it's easy, super healthy, uses only organic ingredients from the markets, and it also incorporates my love for juicing!

I'm a big juicing fan because it's enormously beneficial for your health.  It supercharges your nutrient intake by providing your body with pure micro nutrients, vitamins and enzymes - with none of the bad stuff that constitutes processed food.

By putting the most nutritious fuel into your system as possible, you can kick start your metabolism and give your body a break form all the strange chemicals you've been challenging it to process until now.

Juice Recipe: Magic Green Potion

• 2 bunches of kale
• 1/2 bunch of celery
• 1 bunch silver beet
• 1 carrot
• 1 apple

But wait.....have a look at what can happen next!  All the leftover pulp that usually serves no purpose can be put in a freezer bag, then make the decision to add a little bit of it in everything you cook.  It is still rich in fibre and magic stuff after it's been juiced.

Recipe: Organic Chicken Superfood Balls

In a bowl add:

• 500 organic chicken (minced)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of nuts (cashews, walnuts, macadamia)
• 100g (1/2 a box) Amaranth seed
• 1 mashed avocado
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• season with chilli flakes, tumeric powder and salt
• Add 1 cup of the "magic green potion" pulp

Method:

• Roll the balls and gently fry in coconut oil in a fry pan
• Move them around a little so they don't stick
• Serve with salad or vegetables

From your stance, what is important about shopping at markets like ours and how do they form an integral part of the community

Markets like Frenchs Forest not only offer consumers the opportunity to eat fresh, locally grown food, they also provide the opportunity for the producers and consumers to get to know each other on a personal level.

There's a lot more going on in them than the exchange of money for food.  One sociologist calculated that people have 10 times as many conversations at the markets than they do in the supermarket.

Socially as well as sensually, the markets offer a remarkably rich and appealing environment.  Someone buying food may be acting not just as a consumer but also as a neighbour, a citizen, a parent, a cook.  In many cities and towns markets have taken on the function of a lively new public square.

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And this is exactly why we love doing interviews with people like Lizzee.  Educational, insightful, inspiring are a only few adjectives that spring to mind when reading.

We thank Lizzee for being a One Tiny Bite Soldier and for taking part in our blog.  We love Lisa for sharing her world via her website (remember you can see and read more "here") and hopefully triggering something in all of us to not only follow her on her quest for goodness but most importantly making a conscious choice of making organic not merely a weekly shopping event but incorporating it in to your everyday life.

Sharing a little bit of Frenchs Forest love with Inge

When did you discover Frenchs Forest Markets

I researched organic markets before we even moved to the Northern Beaches, so I would say about 5 years ago.

From shopper to stallie: was that a difficult transition

Hmmmmm...not really!  I still did all my shopping, even when I was a stallie.  There is such a great sense of community and camaraderie amongst the stallies and I loved being part of that!

Ask the Cappuccino Afloat crew if they miss our weekly dance sessions!  Dancing to funky music towards the end of market day....GREAT FUN!

Cappuccino Afloat

The masses obviously loved your fantastic gluten free goodies (ourselves included!). How long from start to finish would it take to prepare for market day

The would start at 4am with us packing the car to get to market.  It required careful and strategic planning to fit it all in!

By the time we got back home and unpacked it would be around 3pm.  So the whole day would amount to 11 hours!

Although now retired from a market life as a marketeer, you obviously still enjoy coming up and having a wander, buying organic goodies and catching up with people. What is it about these markets that attracts folk, from your point of view

The vibe, the vibe, the vibe! It's SO much fun!  

I still really enjoy catching up with our stallie mates!

Can you sum up this infamous "vibe" of the Sunday Institution known as Frenchs Forest Markets

Amazing range of organic and interesting foods that you just can't get anywhere else. I've always loved going to these markets.

The feeling that even though you don't personally know the others shoppers, you are having a shared experience.

Plus I often just talk to random people about what we're buying...it's more like the European way of village living.

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With that we thank the lovely Inge not only sharing some time with us, but giving us just that little bit more of an insight in to the stallie world as well as the shopper world at Frenchs Forest Markets!

 bet you didn't realise they had won had the Gourmet Gluten Free award!

TOLD you their products were yum, and we are thankful we got to sample and share before they became "citizens" once more!!

5 Questions with The Farmer's Wife

It's only been in recent times that you have been the "face" of The Farmer's Wife (which we adore!).  How long as The Farmer's Wife been part of the Frenchs Forest Market community and when did you take over the reins

preparing for her close up

I've been "The Farmer's Wife" for nearly 3 years, since September 2010.  The Farmer's Wife has been part of Frenchs Forest Markets for many years with the original Farmer's Wife being from Mudgee.

What is it about market life that makes it all worthwhile

I love coming to markets and seeing all my lovely customers (young and old) enjoying our produce, especially my jams and chutneys which are all home made by moi!

I love working with other stallholders. Ensuring that the customer is happy with my produce is a fantastic experience and when the sun shines there is no better way to spend a morning!

What has been one of the biggest or bizarre orders of any product you have had to date

I make in total approximately 45 different products and am amazed at the requests for something I don't have/make

With your mum in tow, you both always with a smile and love to share despite/inspite early starts.  From start to finish, how long does it take to stock up/load up and get ready for market day

I try to cook 4 to 5 jams and/or chutneys every day otherwise I can't keep up.  Once a week I collect eggs from the markets and once a month Mum and I drive to Mudgee to pick up the best honey you will ever eat!  

It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to Frenchs Forest and 1 hour to set up, but only 30 mins to pack down.  But the drive home?  90 mins....Sunday traffic.

If you could sum up Frenchs Forest Markets in 5 words, what would they be

Great food, atmosphere, customers and parking!

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We love the, we know YOU love them so huge thanks to Wendy for spending some time and giving us a little bit of insight in to exactly how that Farmer got the Wife!

Shout out!

We love it when we find photos of our markets.  So this is not just a celebration of all things Frenchs Forest, more importantly all things fanwise of FF!

Jada Andersen

Imoan

Ellie King

Robin Frost

Chris Peters

Janie D