The Tarana Volunteer Bushfire Brigade is gearing up to host the first farmers’ market on September 27. 

The Tarana Community Farmers’ Market will be held on the fourth Sunday of every month at the fire shed, just below the popular Tarana Hotel. 

It will run from 10am to 2pm to allow everyone a bit of a sleep-in. 

The farmers’ market will also serve as a community engagement activity for the brigade which will have a couple of trucks on display. Members will promote the brigade, offer advice and arrange inspections. 

Tarana Volunteer Bushfire Brigade captain Graham Fletcher said one of the challenges is always to get more young people involved in the rural fire service. 

“We hold a meeting each month, but this will give us a bit more exposure,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“We hope people will come to Tarana from all over and take a look at the markets and maybe even stop off for lunch at the pub,” he said. 

Events co-ordinator Lynne Woods said they will take all their produce from a 100 mile radius, which is the philosophy behind a farmers’ market.

There will be local milk, cream, eggs, meat products, jams and chutneys, alpaca products, crafts, chickens, and fruit and vegetables in season. There will also be a mobile coffee van, the brigade will be cooking bacon and egg rolls, the wineries will be there and the Universal Eatery will be serving its delicious muffins.

The organisers hope some of the producers who attend the Bathurst Farmers’ Market will also make the drive to Tarana. 

A stall at the market will cost $12.50. 

Ms Woods said Lithgow Council has been very supportive and a lot of people have already indicated they want to have a stall.

Tarana gets a lot of visitors on the weekend as people drive around the region taking in the sights.

“There’s already a lot of excitement in the community,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“We’ve been talking about holding farmers’ markets for years and we have made a decision to keep it local and community-based.”

The Tarana/Oberon area has a good mix of farmers and hobby farmers and the organisers hope this will bring variety to the farmers market. 

“More and more people are looking to buy natural products and want to know where the food they buy comes from,” Mr Fletcher said.

Anyone who wants a stall at the Tarana Community Farmers Market can call Lynne on 6337 5867 or email sydmouthvalley@gmail.com.