November 25th, 2023To market, to market… foray into a Clunes fav
Words and Image: Eve Lamb
One fun feature of the monthly Clunes Farmers & Makers Market is the number of folk and their four-legged buddies who can reliably be seen roving about, soaking up the vibe.
It’s a colourfully assorted and sociable spectacle that means young local entrepreneur, 12-year-old Daniel Whitehead is one busy lad on market days.
A while ago Daniel started up his own natural baked dog treat businesses, accordingly named Daniels Doggy Delights. With a little help from his mum Del Whitehead, the enterprising young local has quickly built up a legion of loyal followers who eagerly sniff out the Daniels Doggy Delights stall every market day.
Daniel says the product range is thoroughly taste-tested by his family’s dogs including his dog Spot.
“I think Spot will probably eat everything except the tuna treats and the banana, blueberry and peanut butter bones,” Daniel says.
“I just wanted to make my own business and my Mum thought it was a good idea. The first market I did I sold absolutely everything so I thought I might just continue it.”
Daniel says that besides the handy boost to his personal finances, he especially enjoys the social aspect of the Clunes Farmers & Makers Market that happens on the second Sunday of the month.
“Mostly I enjoy meeting the new people and chatting with other stallholders,” says Daniel, not one to pass up a useful opportunity for a little market research.
“I’d just like to ask my repeat customers if they have any ideas for any new products.”
Market media spokeswoman Daniela Palumbo has lived in Clunes for 12 years and is also a regular stallholder along with her mother Yolanda. Together, mother and daughter operate their stall selling tempting traditional Italian treats that they bake.
“The market’s growing. We used to average 18 to 20 stalls and we’re now averaging 30 plus,” Daniela says.
“I think the word has gotten out that we’ve got a pretty good market and in the last 10 months or so we’ve been really getting the word out on social media.
“In the earlier days mostly we were getting local people but now we’re reaching out to Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong and the market’s been growing a little bit bigger every Spring to Summer.”
Live music is part and parcel of the market that transforms the little town’s main shopping strip with the evocative historic facades that have long made it a favourite among filmmakers.
“Four or five months ago Daniel told us he was interested in having a stall and we said ‘Yes. Absolutely’,” says Daniela whose dog Bobbin numbers among the Daniels Doggy Delights fans.
“I have to hide them from Bobbin,” Daniela says. “There’s been a couple of months where he’s been totally sold out.”
Market chairman, Clunes local Graeme Grigson says Daniel’s stall is one of several new additions to join the market over recent months.
A professional beekeeper who also has a honey and bee product stall at the market, Graeme is encouraging more local residents to get along and enjoy the monthly attraction, including next month’s pre-Christmas market that’s all set for Sunday December 10.
Walking their dog Louie, Clunes’ Sue and Doug Jeffreys are among the market regulars who routinely stroll along to just about every monthly market to snap up some quality produce.
“We love the fresh veggies,” says Sue. “The garlic is fabulous.”
The range of regular stalls is diverse and products include all manner of desirables like herb and vegetable seedlings, live poultry and eggs, boutique chocolates, wines and gins, and hot food and coffee stalls. Another interesting new addition is the stall of Bowenvale resident John Wright who’s been doing some pretty amazing things with old timber pallets.
John upcycles the otherwise discarded pallets, turning them into unique items of folksy furniture, each creatively adorned with assorted recycled metal objects.
“I’m not into it to make money. It’s about reusing and recycling – and the creative aspect,” John says.
Graeme says the market has now been running since April 2015 and those who make it happen each month are feeling pretty pleased with the direction it’s heading as they look ahead to it entering its 10th year of operation.
