Val, Ngaire and Frances making everyone feel welcome at the Market.
Story and photos by Lis Bastian
Take a tour of the Gang Gang Farmers Market in Lithgow, meet some stallholders and whet your appetite for their Spring re-opening.
Key Points:
Lithgow’s Gang Gang Farmers Market supports local producers to provide quality fresh food direct to the community.
The Markets are plastic-free thanks to the support of Lithgow Boomerang Bags
The Markets will be closed over winter and will re-open in Spring
I could have kicked myself for arriving late on my first visit to the Gang Gang Farmers Market in Lithgow. Over winter, the Market had been starting earlier, but I underestimated how popular it was and how locals came every week to stock up on the incredible variety of quality locally grown and produced food: mushrooms, sourdough, eggs, meats, cheeses, chutneys and relishes, fresh seasonal fruit and veg, olive oils, honey, warm soups and chai, cakes, alcohol, and lots more.
Nestled in to the side of Lithgow’s Gang Gang Gallery in James St, the Market squeezes a lot into a small space, and felt much bigger than it actually is. As well as the 17 stalls, there was a buzz in the air: a combination of the live music, laughter and many friendly conversations.
I’ve now missed my chance to visit again this winter, because they’ve closed over the bleak months, but they’ll re-open in Spring and I’ve already marked the date in my diary! You can keep track of opening times via the Gang Gang Farmers Market Facebook page.
Sharon Howard (Gang Gang Gallery) and Steve McCulloch (Lithgow Valley Mushrooms)
Sharon Howard, from Gang Gang Gallery, started the Market nearly 8 months ago:
“There’s a large group of Lithgow people that have wanted to have their own Farmers Market for some time,” she told me. With her daughter Ngaire’s help, she began asking around and was surprised at the positive reception from everyone. “The stallholders themselves are really embracing the market. Everyone’s really happy with it.”
The first people she asked to participate were Steve McCulloch and his wife from Lithgow Valley Mushrooms. They are now stalwarts of the market, with Steve making warm soup for visitors over the cooler months.
Lithgow Valley Mushrooms
By the time I arrived at the Market, all the fresh mushrooms had been sold but you could still buy mushroom growing kits and powders.
Locally grown chokoes, potatoes and kohlrabi.
Ngaire Howard says the Market is the highlight of her week: “Every place should have a Farmers’ Market because it’s so good for the community on so many levels.”
She’s particularly proud that they’re a plastic-free market, with carry bags provided by Boomerang Bags. She encourages people to join the members of Boomerang Bags, who meet and sew reusable shopping bags on Fridays from 10.30am to 2.30pm at LINC (Lithgow Information & Neighbourhood Centre).
Karen Purser, from the Lithgow Transformation Hub, tells me she comes to the Market every week: “I love that it’s a great community social space and I like buying direct from the producers.”
Karen Purser from the Lithgow Transformation Hub does her shopping every week at the Market.
Aaron from Harvest Farms at the end of the day.
Aaron from Harvest Farms sees a real demand in Lithgow for organic local produce because there aren’t many other options available. He chats to avid local gardeners who are keen to get advice on growing veg and, he says, “There are a lot of good cooks here! I buy from everyone here too. It’s part of growing a local circular economy instead of just giving money to large shopping chains.”
The Market supports local producers and is held on a Thursday to allow for the stallholders to do markets further afield on the weekend.
Elderflower Mist from Widdenbrook Farm
Darren Baguley from Widdenbrook Farm on Nullo Mountain, Lithgow talked about how he and his wife started Elderflower Mist, which they’re now selling across Australia:
You can sample a wide range of other artisanal produce:
Wilson Family Olive Oil
Rusty Gate Honey
Maria from South Bowenfels specialises in delicious Greek sweets
Take a tip from me. If you want some of the delicious locally baked Greek sweets created by Maria from Delixious Bites get to the market early!
And here’s just a sample of some of the other great stalls:
I’m looking forward to the Market being on again in September.
Take Action:
Visit the Gang Gang Farmers Markets in Spring.
Take your own bags and consider joining Boomerang Bags Lithgow to reduce textile waste.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Today we`re enjoying eating ripe medlars! Medlars are attractive cold climate fruit trees that were popular in Medieval gardens. They`re one of the few fruits that can be harvested in late Autumn and eaten in early Winter when they`re fully ripe. This is a great time of year to plant them for a future harvest. Check out our short video on how to eat them! #coldclimategardens #ediblegardens #medlars #growyourown #planetaryhealth #bluemountains...
We`re thrilled to share that last night @BlueMountainsCityCouncil`s Planetary Health Centre won the Innovative Leadership Award (Population Under 150K) in the 2025 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards. What a great end to World Environment Day! 🌏 This award celebrates how local government can lead transformative change for a more sustainable future. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard with us to make our vision a reality. You can read more about what we`re doing at our website (link in profile): http://www.bluemountainsplanetaryhealth.com.au/ @ph_alliance #planetaryhealth #worldenvironmentday #localgovernmentleadership #nswlocalgovernmentexcellenceawards...
Blocking out a couple of hours a week to step off the treadmill and give ourselves time to nurture our relationship with the earth and ourselves, is one way to keep our creative spirit and ‘lust for life’ alive. If you haven’t done so yet, one opportunity over the next week is to spend some ‘slow’ time in the 2024 Wynne Prize exhibition at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre before it closes on 15 June. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/the-2024-wynne-prize/ @bluemountainsculturalcentre @artgalleryofnsw #wynneprize #landscapes #bluemountains #katoomba #artexhibition #planetaryhealth...
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With an extra day up your sleeve this long weekend, it`s a great opportunity to give nature a hand to regenerate and provide more habitat for our fellow species! Join our fabulous all ages Planetary Health Bushcare Group from 1.30pm and then participate in the Forum on Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo at 4pm, followed by drinks and nibblies! You can also start the day with a fabulous Tai Chi session at 8am. Visit our Planetary Health Pluriversity website to book in and learn more (link in profile): https://bmpluriversity.org/program/
Or ring 0407 437 553 for more information. #planetaryhealth #bushcare #katoomba #bluemountains #glossyblackcockatoos #landcare #biodiversity #habitat #wearenature #togetherwecan...
In this inspiring interview with Medlow Bath resident Amanda Foxon-Hill she talks about her work with Mid Lachlan Landcare, why Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo is so important, and why she loves her work so much! Read the full story in Blackheath Area Local News here: https://blackheathnews.com/connecting-landscapes-for-glossy-black-cockatoos/
Book in for the Growing Connected Landscapes Forum at 4pm this Saturday 7 June here: https://events.humanitix.com/growing-connected-landscapes-for-the-glossy-black-cockatoo Register your interest for the Community Tree Planting Day in Goologong here: https://events.humanitix.com/glossy-black-cockatoo-community-tree-planting-5
In a world that increasingly feels out of balance, we’re thrilled to be offering Saturday morning Tai Chi and Qigong at 8am this Saturday 7 June (and the first Saturday of every month on our Skill Share Saturdays). Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art and moving meditation for body, mind and spirit. It is ideal for learning to keep calm amidst chaos but also has health benefits to increase longevity. Harvard Medical School has reported that this gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life. It`s particularly popular in Hong Kong, where residents have one of the highest life expectancies in the world! T`ai-Chi has also been found to improve brain function (like memory and mental flexibility) faster than other exercise and, in a recent study, comparing T`aiChi to brisk walking, the martial art was found to be significantly better at reducing blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease, like blood sugar levels and cholesterol. If you’d like to try it out, you can reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3FxWPgR
Learn how to Grow Connected Landscapes for the magnificent Glossy Black Cockatoo at 4pm on Saturday 7th June. In our first Planetary Health Forum we’ll be hearing from Amanda Foxon-Hill from Mid Lachlan Landcare, Jayden Gunn from Birdlife Australia and Samantha (Pongi) Bowden from Glenbrook Public School, to learn more about the Glossy and how we can all help improve its habit from the Lower Mountains to Central NSW. We’re also launching a Community Tree Planting Day on 5 July in Goologong (near Cowra) to which we’re hoping we’ll get a large group of volunteers to help make a difference for this beautiful bird (and lots of other species as well!)
Habitat connectivity is essential if species are to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by our changing climate.
Join us as we imagine life as a Glossy Black Cockatoo. We`ll make our way through the temperate eucalypt forests of Dharug & Gundungurra land here in the Blue Mountains before leaving the Great Dividing Range for the Wheat & Sheep belt of the Central Tablelands. Our journey ends on Wiradjuri Land, North West of Cowra in the dry scleropyhyll forests of the Conimbla & Nangar National Parks, the start of the Western Woodland Way
Jayden Gunn is an adept wildlife photographer, ecologist, and environmental educator, with a deep passion for Australian birdlife. Through his lens, he captures Australia`s unique wildlife, using digital storytelling to connect people with nature in meaningful ways.
Links in profile to book in.
Book for the Forum here: https://bit.ly/43FzamP
Register your interest for the Community Tree Planting Day here: https://bit.ly/3HwYHa5
Watch an interview with Amanda here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77y2jrCzINo&t=52s
Read more about Glenbrook Public Schools work for the Glossy Black here: https://lowermtnslocalnews.com/glossy-black-cockatoos/
Our newsletter is now out! View our video of Dr Keith Suter on "Making Peace in the World Today” and read about Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo and the 2024 Wynne Prize exhibition at the Cultural Centre. You can also book in for our Mushroom Cultivation and Tai Chi workshops, and our Planetary Health Bushcare on Skill Share Saturday, 7 June. And PS. We’re a finalist in the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards. Read the newsletter here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4dEFL5u
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Lis Bastian is the Senior Lead for Blue Mountains City Council’s Planetary Health Initiative. She is the editor of the Local News Platforms and has been a writer, editor, news presenter and teacher/lecturer covering both cultural and environmental issues for over 30 years. She has been pioneering Solutions/Constructive Journalism in Australia since 2012.
The story of Lithgow Environment Group is a saga spanning nearly two decades of their heroic struggle against fire, local habitat destruction, weak government legislation and in particular, irresponsible mining practices.
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