IT’S all change down the organic veg aisle this Saturday as Newark farm take a break for their ‘hungry gap’ (and intensive lambing!) and with beautiful synchronicity, Hotch Potch organics return with produce and vegetable plants.

Produce will be tunnel grown green beans, courgettes and cucumbers (all organic) and he will have a wide range of vegetable plants including tomato, cucumber, courgette, artichoke, cardoon and sorrel and possibly peppers, cavolo nero and herbs (depending on size).

It’s great to have some new season crops at the market with Coleshill Organic having some great lettuce (various varieties), bunches of rocket and loose leaf salad bags; Over Farm with asparagus and a full range of tunnel tomatoes including mini-plum and on-the-vine; Paget with the bunch carrots and all three of these growers also have really great purple sprouting brocolli.

However most of this week’s joyous ‘arm waving of delight’ is likely to focus, not around Julian Harvard’s astonishingly wonderful display of tulips as it has done the last few weeks, but at the Besley Fruit Farm stall which returns this Saturday with the first of the year’s strawberries – hoorah! (I have warned Mike at Jess’ Ladies Dairy that there may be a high cream demand!) Elsewhere we have a fine array of victual delights as Big Horn Biltong are back for their monthly pitch, Phoenix Free Range will have turkey eggs, Simon Weaver Organic Cheeses return with their range of brie, Greek style and mozzarella, and Stroud Brewery will have their great range of bottled beers.

We will also be hosting two new Stroud-based stalls. Goat’s Maid Soaps of Thrupp make their range of soaps, including calendula, lavender and bergamot and sandalwood, vanilla and coffee with the milk from their own goats.

Watson Wright Originals will be selling his range of simple hardwood products all made from local woodland timber.

If you haven’t yet joined the Stroud farmers market Facebook group you may wish to try it.

We put up a few posts a week to keep in touch with our friends and as we’ve nearly reached 500 members it would be great to welcome you onboard.