MORE than 80 stalls are set up every Sunday at Wayville Showgrounds as part of the Adelaide Farmers Market, but there is one that shoppers consistently flock to.
Patlin Gardens has been a mainstay at the Market for near-on two decades, and owner Pat D’Onofrio (pictured) is the stuff of legend.
As punters line up to purchase some of Pat’s organically grown produce, he will often rattle off what’s in season and even dish out some tips on how to utilise the veggies in recipes.
The D’Onofrio farm is located alongside the Gawler River in Penfield Gardens where the family has farmed since the early 1960s.
Originally Pat had planted olives on the land in the 1990s after taking over operations from his father.
At the time, Pat worked the farm part time as his landscaping job took most of his attention.
Today Pat and his wife Lina grow more than 100 different varieties of seasonal produce, all using organic methods, across their 20-acre property.
Pat said previous health issues were the catalyst which sparked the switch to growing vegetables organically.
It was discovered that he had lingering pesticides in his body including insecticide DDT and Glyphosate, otherwise known as Roundup.
“I started looking as well, at what are we doing to our bodies,” Pat said.
“…I started fiddling around with lots of different ideas (like) composting, done a little bit of research into microbes, and all that sort of worm activity and all that sort of stuff…
I stopped using all pesticides and eventually I even stopped using Roundup after a year or two.”
Approaching the age of 70, Pat said he felt “better now than I did at 50” and attributed that to shifting to an organic diet.
Patlin Gardens has been pesticide free for about 17 years.
However, the farm still has its problems with pests, which are dealt with by using integrated pest management principles.
At the time Pat and Lina made the switch to organic farming in the early 2000s, it was a niche market.
But over time the demand for organically grown produce has continued to rise.
Produce is consistently sold to first-time customers who later return and point out a noticeable different in taste compared to that bought in a supermarket.
Pat said he has “hundreds and hundreds” of customers who love their vegetables.
They tell me all the time that they really can't see themselves going back into the supermarket anymore, because (the vegetables) are not the same,” he said.
As well as being organically grown, all of Patlin’s vegetables are seasonal.
Each time you visit the stall you will find something new and even some varieties not likely to have been seen before.
Jerusalem artichokes, Romanesco cauliflower, kohlrabi (German turnip), purple broccoli, fennell, leek and spring onion were just some of the vegetables in season when we spoke to Pat in July.
Some of the niche or obscure vegetables that Pat grows at various points in the year included purple asparagus, trumpet squash, red onion of Tropea (a variety from the south of Italy) and mini melons among others.
Marinated olives and olive oil is produced from Patlin Gardens’ 2000 tree grove, and fresh pickled vegetables are also sold.
The Patlin Gardens stall can be found at the Adelaide Farmers Market at the Wayville Showgrounds every Sunday from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
