Page 88 - Port Douglas Magazine 32

UNDER THE RAINTREES

MOSSMAN MARKETS

WORDS by Jamie Jansen
T he sound of a child playing the Djembe, friendly chatter At the stall next to Kate, craftsman Richard Mustchin is busy weaving
bamboo baskets. He has been selling his baskets underneath
everywhere and the smell and bright colours of exotic
Mossman’s shady raintrees for about 10 years.
tropical fruit triggering your senses.
This is the Saturday Mossman market, a place that revolves
around nature, local produce, healthy organic food and creative Before that, he travelled all over Australia selling baskets out of the
back of his bus. “I love coming to this market every Saturday because
artisans. of the relaxed vibe,” he said. “There is a wide diversity of people so
Underneath the shady canopy of huge, ancient raintrees and next everybody can be completely themselves at this market.”
to the historic St David’s Church, you’ll find a group of local farmers, Lesley Shorten, who sells all sorts of homemade jams, chutneys,
nature lovers, healthy foodies and creative crafts people. breads and cakes, agrees with Richard. “It is a very genuine market
Market coordinator Joanne Vico took charge of the Mossman market and there is a strong and friendly community,” she said.
28 years ago. “It started off in 1988 with only two stalls selling local Lesley’s homemade products have been popular at the Mossman
fruit and vegetables. Now there are about 40 stalls with a great market for more than 12 years. “Some people even come to my
variety of the most flavourful fruit and vegetables, including exotic, house during the week because they have run out of one of my treats
hard-to-come-by produce and organic treats,” she said. and can’t wait till Saturday,” she said laughing.
“Other than fruit and vegetables, we have spices and cake stalls, Stallholder Penelope Wiltshire also sells homemade food, all raw
alongside clothing and handmade jewellery, plant and craft outlets, vegan. She makes fermented food like sauerkraut and kimchi and
the biggest range of books and even a massage lady.” with the greens out of her garden she makes a delicious ‘garden
According to Joanne, the main reason people visit the Mossman pesto’.
market is because of “the social and friendly atmosphere and the “I love making beautiful food out of the variety of produce that is
beautiful setting with the unique lighting of the raintrees.” grown locally,” she said.
She adds: “Someone that really stands out on this market is Kate, our “The health benefits I experienced in going raw vegan and eating
plant lady and environmentalist. At her stall called ‘Bees Trees’ she fermented food have been phenomenal. It has changed my life and
gives away plants for free and she makes bats on a stick made out of I haven’t been sick for seven years.”
old fabrics for the kids to play with.” When asking her about the atmosphere of the market, Penny said
Stallholder Kate said she wants to teach people about nature. “In she loves its compactness. “It is nice and small, and visitors spend
my opinion we need more plants and trees, so I try to encourage all morning here. They don’t just run in and out, but they really take
people to plant as many plants as possible,” she explains. “Look at their time to have a chat with the stallholders. I think that creates the
the beautiful trees above us for example, we are right under nature.” atmosphere and that is why tourists come and enjoy this market.”

88 tourismportdouglas.com.au