Autumn Fair

This morning we made an early start and drove down to the Willunga Farmers' Market. We still think it is the best one we have visited. We filled our French cane baskets with lovely fresh organic vegetables and delicious crusty Irish fruit bread. The boys had fun taking in all of the sights and smells and were particularly taken with a busker singing and playing his guitar.

I bought a box of organic vegetable seedlings including broccoli, cabbage, kale and artichoke. After reading Jackie French's book on backyard self-sufficiency I have decided to plant everything much more densely. I have been building up the soil with cow manure I have sourced from a cattle farm in the Adelaide Hills. Whenever I can't get the boys to sleep during the day I bundle them into the car and drive up through the hills to this farm. Within minutes of leaving the city they are both usually asleep. I usually turn Radio National on, pick up a couple of bags of manure and gradually wend my way back down into town by which time the boys are awake.



Willunga Waldorf School Autumn Fair
We went to the Autumn Fair after enjoying it so much last year. The fair is very focused around children so there were plenty of interesting activities for the boys. The school itself is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and emphasizes creativity and self-directed learning. The setting is akin to a little village. All materials tend to be those sourced from nature.

A display from one of the highschool classes.


A close-up of Steiner dolls made by the students. The wool-felt is all hand-dyed.

Small tables were set up for children to try a number of crafts including clay modelling, silk ribbon painting and making wool felt balls.

The boys enjoyed playing with modelling clay and made a turtle and a car. Unlike play-dough they didn't seem to have a need to eat the clay!

Oliver painting the silk ribbon.