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Dear Friend of the Farm
It's easy to go overboard on Easter, either by adorning your shelf with too many fuzzy bunnies, or eating one too many of their chocolate equivalents. But overindulging in sweets doesn't have to be the way.
Whether you're celebrating Easter as a religious tradition or just gathering family and friends to kick off the start of Autumn, here are some easy dishes that are stress-free, guilt-free, and gluten-free to boot and you can pick up most of the ingredients - pomegranates, beets, carrots, almonds, spinach, free-range eggs and meats at Market Day this Saturday.
- Honey Roasted Carrots with Thyme: These honey roasted carrots with thyme are a great replacement for those bunnies looking to steer clear of their Easter basket sweets.
- Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Dill: Easter egg decorating can be taken to a whole new level: Upgrade your deviled eggs by pairing them with sharp mustard, fresh dill, and salty smoked salmon.
- Spinach Mashed Potatoes: Feed the whole family on Easter with this healthy spinach mashed potato recipe, made without the use of heavy cream or milk.
- Baked Chicken with Tomatoes, Capers, and Dates: Relieve some stress on Easter Day by marinating this chicken in capers, olives, and dates the night before, then bake right before your family arrives.
Enjoy these guilt-free Easter options that can boost health and offer a feel-good factor too.
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Market Day Saturday 26 March 2016 from 9am to 2pm, Granger Bay at the V&A Waterfront
OZCF Market Day is Three Years Old!
The Saturday Market Day started out as a way to keep the farm going financially. With just a few loaves of bread, gluten-free cupcakes and some organically grown produce from one farmer, the OZCF market was born in April 2012 and it soon became a neighbourhood hub. Working on a heritage site had its challenges, and when a market tent rope pulled down a 300-year-old wall, things got tricky for OZCF. Just as it seemed the market might become history, Twitter intervened: a local resident tweeted Helen Zille, the Premier of the Western Cape. By the next day, Premier Zille had offered the beautiful grounds of Leeuwenhof, the official Provincial residence not far from the farm, to use as a market space. With the added attraction of the premier’s swimming pool open to the public, the market became popular, attracting large numbers of people. It quickly became known as the Zille Villa.
A few months later as the Cape winter began; the ground became too wet to comfortably house the market. By then, the market had proven its appeal and Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront offered OZCF Market Day a space overlooking the Atlantic where we are to be found today.
Thanks to your support, Market Day has grown and now supports 25 organic farmers from Philippi to Tulbagh, hosts over 60 traders each week selling artisanal cheese and crusty bread, creating over 200 jobs. A large part of the mission of OZCF is to support small-scale local organic farmers, and the Market is a conduit between consumer and farmer. Meeting and talking to farmers and food artisans is a great opportunity to learn more about how and where food is produced. The abundance of fresh, organic produce, the interaction with the source of our nourishment, and the fascinating people watching are just a few of the many reasons to enjoy the market.
What's in Season
Farmer Fan Olivier of Houdconstant in Porterville, has sent baby butternut, wonderful lemons, pomegranate arils and Ronde de Bordeaux figs, perfect for tarts and snacking and one of the best figs we've ever tasted for flavour.
Farmer Jan Eksteen of Uitkijk Farm in Voor Paardeberg, Paal has sent us freshly picked boxes and boxes of purple Evita figs.
 Farmers Francois and Henriette of White Mountain in Tulbagh have harvested Easter egg radishes, English cucumbers and baby marrows.
Farmer Eric Swarts has sent the crispiest of green beans. From the dedicated farmers of Abalimi Bezekhaya on the Cape Flats we have brinjals, beets, sweet yellow peppers and spring onions. The innovative farmers of Green Road in Stellenbosch have supplied beets and salad packs; From Skye Fehlmann of Gumtree Farm, who cultivates the land in the Philippi Horticultural Area come golden beets, pakchoi and tatsoi, courgette flowers, perfect for stuffing with ricotta cheese and purple Viking potatoes. From Mark, Tendai, Thomas and Jo at the Oranjezicht City Farm, we have Graffiti Brinjals, loads of spinach, some leeks and basil (green and purple).
Market Information
If you’ve forgotten your own shopper we have locally made cotton OZCF shoppers for R100 and gorgeous woven baskets for sale. We also sell OZCF branded short and long sleeved shirts, caps and safari style hats, and linen aprons unique to OZCF, available in stone or sage green.
We're happy to offer you a simple, easy, convenient and free payment solution as an alternative to cash payments. SnapScan is a smartphone app that lets you use your phone to make secure payments. It’s free to use and free to download so it’s perfect if you don’t want to carry cash. Read more here.
We're also able to offer credit card payments, and we accept cash.
Entrance: There is no fee to enter the market. Pedestrian entrances are open directly from The Lookout and on Beach Road, and cyclists, joggers, dog walkers and others are most welcome.
Public transport: The MyCiTi 104 route stops opposite the market on Beach Road and at the main V&A Waterfront stop. The T01 also stops there, as well as on Granger Bay Blvd a block from the market.
Uber to the Market: Proud to announce that OZCF Market Day has partnered with Uber to get our customers to and from the Market safely and in style. To get you started, Uber will give you a first free ride up to the value of R150. We'll also reward you by giving you a 10% discount for purchases in the OZCF Veg Tent on sales of R200 and more upon sight of your Uber receipt. Sign up on: get.uber.com/go/ozcfarm to take advantage of this offer.
Cycle or Walk: Cycle or walk to the Market, or as many have been doing - enjoy a walk along Beach Road and take an Uber home. Hire a cycle from Up Cycles on the Sea Point Promenade and ride to the Market. Rent a bike from Up Cycles at their station at the Sea Point Promenade and take a leisurely ride along the coast all the way to the OZCF Market Day to claim your reward. To get 10% off your smoothie from The Shakedown, simply show your Up Cycle rental slip to Richard and Corina who will reward you with 10% off the price.
Parking: Parking is a pleasure - either on site at The Lookout (R10 for the entire day), in one of the many V&AW parking garages, at The Grand Cafe and Beach with a short walk up the wooden steps to the market, or you can park for free along Beach Road, opposite the Somerset Hospital and Fort Wynyard – the gate on Beach Road into the Market site will be open on Saturdays. Map and further details on the website.
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What do our traders and farmers have to offer you this week?
 David Rothquel of Klein Namaquasfontein farms with citrus and olives and nurtures a beautiful almost untouched farm on the West Coast, near Redelinghuys. Says David, "I believe that food production on a small scale is the only way of saving our nation. It is possible for every small community to grow enough to feed themselves. We need to learn to eat what is in season in order to preserve our resources." This Easter David and his partner Charlene will be bringing a chemical-free, unfiltered, single varietal olive oil, Favolosa. This olive oil produces a delightfully spicy sensation throughout the mouth and in the back of the throat. Grassy and slightly herbaceous with flavour notes of creamy artichoke, green olive and herb and well balanced with a peppery finish. Extremely high in polyphenol antioxidants. David's olive trees are in their 3rd year and are chemical free.
 Harvesting takes place in the coolest parts of the day to ensure freshness before pressing. Pressing is done within 24 hours of picking. Says Charlene, "We leave it to malaxate (in olive oil extraction, malaxation (Greek meaning "soft") is the action of slowly churning or mixing milled olives) for approximately 45 minutes before spinning the oil out of the mash. We do not filter the oil as we believe this action removes flavour and balance. Filtration is necessary to extend shelf life, but we prefer selling the oil in its purest form. Our oil is fresh and full of wonderful chlorophyl."
The oil is kept in a stainless steel tank for 4 days, to ensure the settling of sediment. The oil is sold in 500ml dark green bottles, as this protects the oil from getting into contact with light. Shortly the couple will be harvesting their Frantoio Olives and will be offering customers this mono variety as soon as bottling has taken place. Their Coratina is a late cultivar and after harvesting the oil will be available in a blend.
One of our favourite hot cross bun fables is the idea that the gifting a hot cross bun guarantees ongoing friendship for the coming year. HogHouse Head Baker Dave, has baked amazing naturally fermented Hog Cross buns for Easter – together with the best Pastéis de nata - egg tarts. originally created in the 18th century by Portuguese monks. Get some for yourself and buy a few more to give away.
 Had enough of sweet smelling hot cross buns, full of sugar? There must be an alternative. Well there is. Lucy Marston of Lucy's has gluten free Hot Cross Bun Macaroons (yes you heard right) and some other Speckled Easter Beauties. Get this…hot cross bun macaroons taste exactly like hot cross buns. Lucy also has Jersey Cow Raw Milk.
Heine of Moro Gelato will be scooping special gelato flavour, Colomba. In Italy, it is tradition to have Colomba on Easter - a wonderful cake named for its dove-like shape - in celebration of peace. Its yummy flavour reminds us of almond croissants, infused with vanilla, sprinkled with caramelised almonds and candied orange peels.
 Scrumptious cookies, cream cupcakes and millionaires gingerbread for Easter this Saturday from Tina Bester of Queen of Tarts.
If that's not reason enough to join us this Saturday, then try local, artisanal cheeses from Around Cheese, pasture raised chicken eggs from Happy Hens, smoked fish and pate from Delifish, a selection of sublime olives from Chrisna’s.
Village Gardens are are on site to answer your autumn gardening needs and will be giving away Easter eggs for every purchase.
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Thanks to volunteer Craig Adams, this Saturday you can meet the Environmentally Friendly Easter Bunny, supporting local produce and hosting activities for children who love colouring and fun. Kids of all ages, come dressed up as an Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs amongst the stalls; fill your baskets with love from Oranjezicht City Farm. Starts at 10am.
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See you at Market Day at Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront or at the Farm in Upper Orange St, Oranjezicht.
Remember to Eat Your Greens - and your Easter eggs in moderation.
The Oranjezicht City Farm Team
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