Market continues to bring community together

CCS Disability Action continues to host the increasingly popular Royal Oak Market at its Erson Avenue site in Auckland. Now in its third year, the market goes from strength to strength – drawing great crowds and stallholders - 50 stallholders took part and just over 1,100 people visited the market in February.


Bridget's Biscuits



The market continues to bring together the ideas of community, culture, healthy living and sustainably. On the day visitors have the opportunity to purchase local organic produce, delicious artisan food and food products, plus fantastic arts, craft and design direct from the people who make them.

Scott Thiemann, our community garden coordinator is also always on hand to share his experience and give tips on organic gardening.

We recently asked a couple of our regular stallholders why they first came to our market, and why they keep coming back:



Silverstone Jewellery



"We are looked after, staff take time to ask how your day has been. It’s run very efficiently and cleanly with rubbish looked over with watchful eyes. We have a busy day every time we attend and I love popping out the back to look at the raised gardens to see what’s growing." – Bridget Gough, Bridget’s Biscuits.

"I love the community focus that the market has, we are involved in a lot of fundraising events and the concept of the market sits well with our philosophy. The local community hugely supports the market – the volume of people that you get each time are proof of how popular it is.” – Lori Trigwell, Silverstone Jewellery.

If you want to be part of this great event, contact Shirin Jayawant on 09 625 9378 or email shirin.jayawant@ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz.

Stallholders confirmed for Sunday

We are very excited about the fantastic stalls that are going to be part of the market this Sunday.  Here's a list of all the stalls that are confirmed so far - I am sure you will agree its a great line-up...

Food and produce stalls

Philippe Chocolate

Paris Berlin Organic Bakery, Over the Moon - cheese and crackers, Char 5 - mussel fritters, Mels Gourmet Preserves, Bridgets Cheese Biscuits, Salash Delicatessan - gourmet sausages, Blackwoods Bakery, South Sea Enterprises - spice and herb mixes, First Peak Honey, CCS Disability Action - vegetables, garden produce and free range eggs, Philippe Chocolate, Dessert Therapies - Baklava and Middle Eastern desserts, RP Solutions - liquorice, Bluebells Bakery - cakes and cupcakes, Hakanoa Handmade - ginger beer and other handmade drinks and Coffee the Monster.

Bellbird Designs

Art, craft and design stalls
Summer 8 - baby clothes, Funky Combs - decorative combs, Verna Portegys - placemats and tea towels, Corrie Hoare and Sandra Van Dewater - cushions and clothing, Naturally 4U - creams, lotions and soaps, Fiona Stewart - handmade cards, Silverstone Jewellery - handmade silver jewellery, Mum Made It - baby clothes and scarves, Kruizey Kids - kids clothing, Fordoun Woodworks - wooden products, including toys and coasters, Elena Ikuia - flax kete and woven flowers, Arctic Ice - soy candles, Muzroom - jewellery, Glenbrook Lavender - soaps and oils, Gwen Mullenger - accessories and toys, Bellbird Designs - jewellery, Jan Shoemark - glass art, Chris Light - photographs, Nuture by Nature - soaps and oils, John Zimmerman - wooden products, Diane Webster - teddys, dolls and mobilies, Julie and Lorraine - aprons, Kylee and Luke - wooden toys, Melina - baby clothes, RJ Photo Art - gift bags and gift tags and BD Photography - photographs.

Also on site will be Rainline Solutions, with equipment and advice on harvesting rainwater, Gail Batten from Hungry Bins with her worm bins, Graham Fields from the Auckland Succulent Society with a fantastic range of bromeliads and succulents and our local Plunket who will be selling second hand books.

There's something for everyone at the Royal Oak Market

With lots of great stalls, gardening tours and activities for kids there really is something for everyone at the Royal Oak Market this Sunday.  While you are there, be sure to check out the following events:


Community Garden Tours with Scott – FREE EVENT

Join Scott on his tour around the community garden where he will focus on food forests (10.30am), tools which make gardening easier (11.30am) and how to create a herb garden (12.30pm). Share Scott’s enthusiasm for all things gardening while gathering tips and ideas for your own garden.


Bug hunt - FREE EVENT

Join CCS Disability Action as we lead your kids on a hunt for bugs around our Community Garden. Kids will get the chance to learn about various bugs and why they are beneficial in the garden. The bug hunts will take place throughout the day.

Quality stallholders wanted for our next market

With over 50 quality stalls and 1,500 vistors the Royal Oak Market is definitely an event for your calendar, and we are currently seeking stallholders for our next market, which is happening on Sunday 19 February. We are looking for stallholders who make their own quality products - so if you make delicious hot food, or artisan food products, funky art, craft or design we want to hear from you.



For more information about how to become part of this event, please contact Shirin Jayawant on 09 625 9378 or email shirin.jayawant@ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz

Market continues to draw a great crowd

The Royal Oak Market has enjoyed another successful year – with four markets held, and nearly 5,000 people attending during the year. The last market, held in November, drew a record crowd of 1,526 people and 56 stallholders. With a fantastic variety of stalls and a lovely sunny day, everyone who attended would agree that it was our most successful market yet.

It takes a huge amount of planning and organisation in the lead up to and on the day for each market and we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of all the volunteers – a big thank you to all, and we hope to see you back again for our next round of markets in 2012.

The next market will be held on the third Sunday in February, so if you haven’t made it along on the day, be sure to pop this date in your diary and come and see what all the fuss is about!

Market day is fast approaching and we have another great event planned for you!

Whether you are interested in doing a spot of Christmas shopping, enjoying some tasty market treats and a hot coffee, or are keen to hear a few tips on how to make your diet a little healthier, this season's market definitely has something for you!

Once again we have a fantastic array of fresh food stallholders selling delicious treats to be enjoyed on the day - like Baklava and other tasty desserts, French pastries, hot mussel fritters and bbq sausages or other delights to take home and be enjoyed later - such as award winning olive oil, handmade pickles and preserves, Mediterranian dips, gourmet sausages and fresh organic bread.  And then there's the tasty homemade ginger beer from Hakanoa Handmade and freshly brewed coffee on site too.

If a spot of shopping is your thing, we have some great art, craft and design stalls for you to check out, including wooden kitchen products, handmade cards, jewellery, natural soaps and oils, beautiful soy candles, funky childrens clothes and lots more! 

If you are interested in hearing some healthy living tips then be sure to join Keith from Keith's Wheatgrass at his free presentations on the health benefits of this wonder-grass and Rebekah from Hakanoa Handmade, who will be talking to us about the her handmade ginger beer and the health benefits of this delicious product.

Its all happening on Sunday 20 November at the Royal Oak Market.  14 Erson Avenue, from 10am - 2pm.  Hope to see you all there!

There's something for everyone at the Royal Oak Market

With lots of great stalls, healthy eating demonstrations and activities for kids there really is something for everyone at the Royal Oak Market on Sunday 20 November.


Keith Delaney, Keith’s Wheatgrass – FREE demonstration

Join Keith at 10.30am and 12.30pm and learn about the health benefits of wheatgrass, enjoy juice tastings and learn how easy it is to grow wheatgrass at home. Keith will also be demonstrating the popular and affordable manual wheatgrass and fruit juicer by Lexen. Wheatgrass growing kits will be available as well as organic New Zealand wheatgrass seed.



Rebekah Hay, Hakanoa Handmade – FREE demonstration

Be sure to catch up with Rebekah Hay at 11.30am and 1.30pm when she demonstrates the benefits of freshly fermented foods and the benefits of ginger. A regular at the market, Rebekah will also have a stand on the day selling her very popular handmade ginger beer. Visit www.hakaona-handmade.co.nz for more information.



Treasure Hunt - FREE EVENT

Join CCS Disability Action as we lead your kids on a treasure hunt around our Community Gardens. Kids will get the chance to learn about various plants and vegetables and will take home a small prize. Treasure Hunts will take place throughout the day.