That revered Sunday market has finally created an offspring, what seems a very small but healthy infant which you can visit just across the road from the proud, old and wise parent market, from where this new infant at the present gets most of its nourishment.  

The good news is that the newborn is growing by the week, and that it will soon cut loose from its parent and consequently expects to be a strong alternative place for a Sunday visit. It is already developing into a healthy personality and shows signs of independence with its own special ambiance, produce and products.

And herein lies the difference. If you want to be a stallholder at the new venue with a food product, you have to show that it is locally grown and preferably organic. And that is not all. As a special part of this young market, the organisers thought it would be a good idea – since the town has a huge number of diversified craft workers – to create a craft and artisan section as part of the overall idea, displaying locally created work. The work needs to be of top quality so visitors can be assured that what they obtain is of excellent value.

This new market is situated in and around the place known as the woodshed, and thanks to Gary Thomas' generosity of spirit it exists alongside his excellent food catering headquarters of Spade to Blade.

Wandering around, you start to understand why there is something so special about a truly local market. A place where you personally know, or soon get to know, the traders. It is not unlike a Sunday visit with family. This arrangement usually results in a trusting relationship with the traders. If you want to put up a stall in the new market, contact Gary Thomas, Laurel Freeland, Vasko Drogriski or email joinus@sundayfarmersmarket.com.au and put ''attention Laurel' in the subject box.

On a recent visit, I found a stall with delicious shiny apples from Daylesford Organics, a stall of freshly baked fragrant loaves of sourdough bread and the just-picked freshest of vegies at Florien's stall. There were  honey stalls, stalls with eggs, with meats, with olives and more. Go and explore. Last Sunday, another generous spirit, Patrick Jones, was giving an impromptu talk and demonstration on mushrooms, in the centre of the market, to a captivated audience. Go and enjoy.

And when you are through walking around the markets, you can wander just down the road to yet another excellent local place as old as the market, Cliffy's Emporium. Some of you, dear readers, may remember the original Cliffy. I remember him with his produce displayed on square hay bales arranged in the side street, with his cash register a roll of money, held together with an elastic band, in the pocket of his grey dust coat. I vividly remember the time when I was looking for seed potatoes. Upon my request, Cliffy emptied out a bag of spuds into the gutter and told me to pick out the smallest ones. Oh, for the simplicity of that past. This same business, known simply as Cliffy's, after a number of changes, has been taken over by two young and talented people. Sam Mackley and Liam Thornycroft who have given the place a facelift, without damaging the “Cliffy” ambience. They have breathed new life into the place, which now makes the best coffee. A coffee which can be enhanced with a slice of beautifully decorated cake from the talented Amy Manning – the queen of sweets and amazing birthday cakes – who is in charge of that department. Sweet. This makes having a coffee, with a something sweet, at Cliffy's, a treat worthy of celebrating Sunday.

Unforgettable Daylesford.