Power, wealth and health

Good news from Skibbereen, in West Cork.

The first Skibbereen Farmers' Market will open on the morning of Saturday 5th May, on the town's Fair Field. The new market, kicking off at 10am, revives an ancient tradition, for Skibbereen has always been a market town, with the first market patent being granted to William Sprigg and Samuel Hall in 1688 with a second to Richard Townsend in 1778. A weekly cattle mart was held in the Fair Field until last year, and a pony fair is held there every summer.

It is almost impossible to underestimate the importance of local initiatives such as the new market. To get some idea of how significant these markets are, let us hear from one of America's great cultural critics, Wendell Berry, on the vital importance of local foods for local people. In his book "Another Turn of the Crank", Berry writes that "What we must do is simple: we must shorten the distance that our food is transported so that we are eating more and more from local supplies, more and more to the benefit of local farmers, and more and more to the satisfaction of local consumers.. We should not be discouraged to find that local food economies can grow only gradually; it is better that they should grow gradually. But as they grow they will bring about a significant return of power, wealth, and health to the people". Power, wealth and health to the people. Well, we'll drink to that!

To date, more than 30 producers and artisans have asked to be able to sell at the market, including some of West Cork's finest, so get there early and get there often and support this brilliant initiative.

Find out more about Cool Mountain Baskets at www.westcorkweb.ie