By Donna Klease

With over 55 different stall holders the monthly Mapleton Country Market has grown significantly under the auspice of MADCA, with all moneys raised by the market funding the MADCA Community Grants Program. 

The Mapleton Country Market is held every fourth Saturday of the month in the historic 1899 Mapleton State School carpark who recently celebrated their 125th anniversary. The carpark is where the original residence was built in 1917 for the first male head teacher Mr Francis Watt and his family.

Artisan stallholders offer a huge range of diverse products including body and face products, soy candles, incenses, books, plants and vegetable seedlings, bee hives, bird feeders, timber, toys, handmade soaps, leather and art and crafts.  You can even get hay delivered from Chris, taste test some awesome gins with Andrew or pick up some quirky gifts that you will only find at our market.

Council will have a stall on invasive plants with helpful brochures and information on the introduced plants that have posed significant threats to Sunshine Coast’s biodiversity and agriculture.

Council works closely with Biosecurity Queensland to manage and eradicate exotic pest and disease incursions with weeds (invasive plants) costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually. 

Detailed lists will be available of invasive plants and some great suggestions for planting native alternatives.  Everyone can play their part in correctly identifying, reporting to council or removing and replacing invasive plants to minimise the impacts that the plants can have on our beautiful environment and ecosystems.

Pick up your honey, homemade conserves, indigenous sauces, avocados, fruit and vegetables, pineapples, pizza bases and pestos.  At the Waffle Stall get in early for your sourdough breads, tarts and pastries as well as their delicious strawberry or banana waffles. 

The Veteran Youth Xperiences Coffee Van (VYX) will be onsite for your coffee fix with all the money raised funding troubled youth. 

The Blackall Range Lions Club will also have you sorted for breakfast or brunch with their egg and bacon rolls, kebabs and sausage sizzle.

Catch up with your friends and family on Saturday 28th September from 8am to Midday and follow the welcoming volunteers’ directions with car parking onsite.