EIGHTEEN months ago, Adam Staples moved from Melbourne to his new life in Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time in a very, long time, I wasn\u2019t living in an apartment. I suddenly had a big backyard that was like a blank canvas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cVisiting the monthly market, I decided to give gardening a go, and started to grow my own veggies, also getting a couple of ducks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the market was fabulous, and exactly what I\u2019d been wanting to access for years, so in November last year when the Bendigo Community Farmers Market called out for people to be on the executive, that was my idea of heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also a senior lecturer in education at La Trobe University, who is passionate about visual arts and creativity, Mr Staples has been recently appointed as the BCFM\u2019s new president.<\/p>\n
He values the market\u2019s role in helping people access fresh, organic produce. For him, it promotes a healthy way of eating, and unites residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got this entry point and touchpoint for the community, in the sense that it provides an opportunity to come together, even if only for a few minutes,\u201d Mr Staples said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a producer, you can come and sell your produce, but you\u2019re also putting forward a way of life to buyers who can understand where their food comes from, and meet the farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cStallholders and customers can have a laugh, and they remember each other\u2019s names. These relationships are what life is all about, and these unique interactions are something our committee wants to retain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still fairly new to Bendigo, there\u2019s nothing Mr Staples doesn\u2019t love about the town. From the minute he drove in, he felt welcomed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much to do, people are incredibly friendly and open, and it wasn\u2019t long before I found my little gang, so to speak, because my neighbours have become my absolute best friends in this town.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a diverse town, and there are challenges here as well, but it\u2019s a town that provides strong community and connection for a lot of people, so I absolutely love it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Thursday Mini Markets are held at The Good Loaf Sourdough Bakery & Caf\u00e9 from 3pm to 5.30pm, while the major BCFM is held every second Saturday of the month at Bendigo Pony Club, from 9am to 1pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
EIGHTEEN months ago, Adam Staples moved from Melbourne to his new life in Bendigo. \u201cFor the first time in a very, long time, I wasn\u2019t living in an apartment. I suddenly had a big backyard that was like a blank canvas,\u201d he said. \u201cVisiting the monthly market, I decided to give gardening a go, and […]<\/p>\n