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| The producers themselves also like to taste their own produce and that of others |
Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month and thus it was
time for the Terre in Moto Market at Cox 18.
In contrast to the bad weather of the day before I found an almost clear sky
accompanied by spring temperatures, so I put on my good shoes and headed for a
walk. Up to the underground!
I got to know the monthly market in Via Conchetta – in the south of Milan - thanks to a friend that
sells the bread made by her husband and baked in their own wood oven. Some time
ago he decided to dedicate his time to making bread in their hillside house
just south of Pavia. But since their workshop doesn’t comply to the official
regulations (in Italy you need to have a certain ceiling height to receive the
certificates for hygiene), they can’t sell it via the official canals. That is
why they are ‘limited’ to the markets organized for example by Cox 18.
The mercato dei
prodotti biologici e delle autoproduzione (market with organic and
self-made products) is part of the Terre in Moto network. This network has many (brave) objectives, amongst others
the desire to narrow the gap between consumer and producer, the wish to sell
produce that is grown or made honestly and to make the market again the centre
of the neighbourhood, where people meet and exchange. Seems like they have a
lot in common with the ideas of Food in the Streets.
If you arrive for the first time at Cox 18 - not knowing
that you are in a place that is a social orientated, self-managed building, occupied
since 1976 – you might feel a bit lost. I guess this is what many people would
call ‘alternative’ or ‘underground’. Regular visitors seem open minded, everyone
is every ones friend (or at least they act like it), kids run around without
any parental guidance and smoking cigarettes in the same room as where dinner
is served is still allowed. It is a bit crazy, unique in Milan (as far as I
know) but much fun and full of good intentions.
Back to the producers and the food they sell. If you think
in stereotypes, you might not be very surprised when I tell you there are
producers of vegan cheeses and bakers that bake with henna seeds. Even for a
Dutch girl it is somewhat weird to see this. But a talk with the baker himself
(that is the good thing about this event) reassures me that eating this kind of
pizza will not make you fly or whatever. In this case, the seeds of this plant
add a very nice flavour to the dough, which also makes it possible to go down
on the salt. So nothing to worry about.
Besides the too many ‘unusual’ products on sale, you can
also buy the most delicious breads, good cheeses and local wines. And if you
still can’t your hunger with all the tastings, there is always the possibility
to join the lunch (vegetarian, vegan or ‘omnivorous’) that is prepared by the
people that support Cox 18. As you sit on large tables it is almost unavoidable
to you get in touch with someone and make new friends yourself.
What’s my point? Do not be afraid for that what is different
than your used too. These markets like the ones organised by Terre in Moto have
the best intentions to make the world better, give a chance to small economies and allow you to buy delicious food for
reasonable prices. There is nothing wrong with going underground every now and
then.
