Comments for PEDAL -> Portobello Transition Town

Comment on Portobello Organic Market by First Portobello Organic Market does a roaring trade!

First Portobello Organic Market does a roaring trade! — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:46:34 +0000

[…] can see more information about the Organic Market and how to book a stall on […]

Comment on Bread Making by Places on Bread Making Course

Places on Bread Making Course — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:15:51 +0000

[…] are still places available on our AMAZING whole day bread making course with Bread Matters’ Andrew Whitley on the 18th […]

Comment on Portobello Organic Market September 2010 by Kyrsta

Kyrsta — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:38:13 +0000

the market was great. A bit neat for space for buggies and wheelchair scooters but the range was excellent. looking forward to attending reguarly.

Comment on The first ever Portobello Organic Market! by Gerry Flynn

Gerry Flynn — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:10:49 +0000

Hi Tom, thanks for the quick response & comprehensive explanation. My comments were spur of the moment (but entirely genuine) on arriving home after my visit to your market. I am a great supporter of organic produce especially bread & cheese. Indeed I had been greatly looking forward to the market after hearing about it 8 week prior to the launch. I feel that this is soemthing that Portobello genuinely needs and had hoped for a successful launch. I do however have some concerns over your percentages. 60% organic seems extremely low and as shown by yesterdays events, can lead to non-organic creep. Thanks again, Gerry.

Comment on The first ever Portobello Organic Market! by tom

tom — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:49:56 +0000

Dear Gerry,

Thanks for your feedback on our first market. I’m sorry you feel that way, the vast majority of feedback we had was positive. However, we would agree with both your points and these were flagged by other people so we will be looking to make changes for the next one. Please bear with us — we are learning how to run a good quality market and this was only or first!

The reason the stalls were so close together is that we were told by the Council we couldn’t have customers trampling the grass, so we were to try to keep them to the paving. We weren’t expecting such huge numbers of people! Health and safety is something we take very seriously and we will speak with the Council about changing the layout for 2nd October to a single line of stalls running further round the park, which should reduce any crowding to an acceptable level.

On the quality of the stalls, we aim to have at least 60% of stalls selling food or drink that is organic or has a majority of organic ingredients. The remaining stalls are open to local people selling arts & crafts in an attempt to support local artists and stimulate local production and sale. We are less strict on the criteria they have to meet but are keen on folk selling goods made from organic, locally produced or recycled materials — and several traders on Saturday met these criteria. We were as surprised as you when someone turned up selling pens and dvds, as they had told us they were selling locally produced arts and crafts. The other stall you refer to, selling toys, was run by a local nursery. We will be reviewing which traders will be invited to have a stall in the future. Some people have suggested we open the market up to sellers of second hand goods as this would help meet the aims of the Transiton movement, but we have resisted this so far as quality is paramount and we don’t want to run a flea market. Please view our stallholder policy here http://pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-organic-market/pom-stallholders/portobello-organic-market-stallholders-policy-v3-2/

We hope you can bear with us during this start up phase of the market and would be delighted to have your custom at future markets. Otherwise, our apologies.

Tom Black
Project Manager
PEDAL — Portobello Transition Town
Project Manager

Comment on The first ever Portobello Organic Market! by Gerry Flynn

Gerry Flynn — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:46:58 +0000

Have just attended the first market in Brighton Park and sadly it will be my last The layout of the stalls were too close together leading to overcrowding and at least a third of the stall resembled a car boot sale where frankly the sale of toys, pens & DVDs are as far removed from organic fair as a generic hamburger. Whilst it may grow and prosper it will be without our support. All in all an opportunity missed.

Comment on Portobello Organic Market by Lisa Douglas

Lisa Douglas — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:38:53 +0000

I am interested in having a stall for tommorow, can you please email me and let me know if I can come along at 9.45am, pay you and set up, are you expecting it to be busy, have you done much advertising?

Comment on The first ever Portobello Organic Market! by Behind the Scenes at Organic Fortnight « Information Officers' Support

Behind the Scenes at Organic Fortnight « Information Officers' Support — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:05:22 +0000

[…] We contacted organic producers and retailers, food groups and environment groups to ask them to promote Organic Fortnight in exchange for us promoting their events. This has been very successful, with a number of organisations promoting Organic Fortnight on their website including Forth Valley Food Links and Portobello Transition Town. […]

Comment on Portobello Organic Market September 2010 by Pete U

Pete U — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:43:14 +0000

Fantastic, just fantastic! Really looking forward to this. Thanks for your hard work getting it off the ground PEDAL.

Comment on Bread Making course by charlotte

charlotte — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:17:59 +0000

Hi David, thanks for your interest in our courses. The next bread making course is on Saturday 18th September at Jewel and Esk College. Please contact us for more details and to register for the course