Talking Artisan with Brasserie Bread

Brasserie Bread has had an incredibly long association with Organic Food Markets.  Can you enlighten us as to how this "introduction" came to be

Brasserie Bread has been actively involved in farmer's markets in Sydney for the past 7 years.  It's a very important part of our wholesale business.

Farmer's Markets obviously attract locals keen to source fresh local produce, they also attract large numbers of enthusiastic "foodies".  Both these groups of consumers are keen critics, and they're never shy about giving us direct feedback.

Farmer's Market shoppers also share their experience with lots of other people, both good and bad!  This certainly keeps us on our toes and gives us invaluable insight for future product development.

Dom is without a doubt one of the most engaging people on the planet and with this magic touch is able to strike up a conversation which will ultimately end with a result that all stallies want: a sale.  How difficult from your point of view is it to be a stallie at a market as opposed to a retail outlet (eg: Brasserie Bread's Bakery location and on sellers at cafes)

We can only assume it's difficult because you can't control the weather, transporting the goods and keeping them in their optimum condition, as well as the limitations on how you can present the products (eg: not being able to heat the bread in an oven).

From the perspective of the Riversider's we can attest that Dom keeps it together like a pro.  Always the optimist, always remembering every person's name and preferences and always sold out by end of day so there is absolutely a magic touch about him!

Your bread is known for winning many medals at many Easter Shows which is a testament as to how good your products are.  What would be your best seller at any given time

Definitely our organic sourdough which is made with organic unbleached flour, Murray River salt and our 18 year old sourdough starter.

Our Quinoa & Soya Sourdough also have a big following.  It's packed with nutritious soya beans and five seeds including quinoa.

Rain, hail or shine our markets are on.  Rain, hail or shine Brasserie bread is at every market.  Do Brasserie Bread deliver to market sites or does the stallie collect from the bakery (which would then mean an extra early start for the stallies for sure!)

They pick up from our Banksmeadow Bakery

How would you sum up the world of Brasserie Bread in 5 words

Honouring traditions of artisan baking

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With thanks to Brasserie Bread for sharing a little piece of their baking world with us and if you haven't already then you must.  Dom will share with you the delights of these amazing products every Saturday so make sure you DON'T be a stranger!

Dom rocking it on 2RRR

Spending some time with 2RRR and Liza Harvey

Can you give us a little bit of history about the origins of 2RRR

2RRR started broadcasting in 1984, but many volunteers and eager local community members have been working on getting the station on-air since 1976.

Since we first went to air, the station has developed a legacy as a niche broadcaster catering to countless scenes, subcultures, musical tastes, ethnic communities and social groups.

As with many community stations, 2RRR started as a response to a broad community frustration at the lack of grassroots communication foundations in the broader area.

2RRR plays a broad range of roles to different sub-communities within our community of interest.  To some we are place for new local music; to others we provide community information and services.

Currently 2RRR has 12 ethnic language programmes, assisting in providing information for new arrivals to the area as well as providing the opportunity for sub-communities to have their own voice.

As 2RRR is a community station you must rely on volunteers quite a bit of the time. For those who are yet to become familiar with the process, can you briefly outline how more folk can become involved

Anyone can get involved at 2RRR and there are so many areas within the station to learn from and be involved in!  One of the greatest assets of community radio is that we run nearly completely on the back of volunteers.  

There are some really amazing dedicated people in our community who are passionate about 2RRR.  As a station, we give back by providing a training ground for the community to learn new skills in a variety of different focus areas.

This includes programming, presenting, music directing, tech-assistance, marketing, promotions, administration and bunch of other areas and interests.

To get involved with 2RRR, you can get in touch with us via email (office@2rrr.org.au) and we will send you a Volunteer Application Form.

This helps us find out what you are interested in so that we can place you in an area where you are more likely to develop the skills that you want and need and are able to use outside the station environment.

We thoroughly enjoy it when you broadcast from Riverside Markets (even if it rains!).

Organic Food Markets OB @ Riverside June 2013

From lugging in to lugging out, setting to going on air: how long does this process usually take and what are some the logistics involved.

Outside Broadcasts (OB's) are a really great way for 2RRR to get involved in the community.  With current technology, this process is a whole lot easier than it used to be!

We use a software programme that allows us to send the signal back to the station over the internet for it to then go on air.

The trickiest bit of the whole process is the lugging in and out of heavy equipment like our PA system, mixing desk and metres and metres of cables.

Our OB team usually takes about half an hour to set up the equipment and then take another half hour to sending test signals back to the station's studio to make sure everything is working OK and is ready to go to air.

There's something very satisfying about getting all right!

What does "community" mean to you as the individual and as 2RRR

"Community" is a very broad term and at 2RRR we try to explore every element of the word.  

As an individual "community" embodies the world around you that you actively participate in.  The people you hang out with, the street that you live on, the cafe's you go to: these are all the elements that make up your community.

If you draw a mind map you'll most likely find that you are part of more than one community, that each part of your life involves a complex spider's web of small intra-communities.

This is the approach that 2RRR takes when defining our own community.  There are so many sub and intra-communities within our broadcasting area and 2RRR tries to touch on and be relevant to most of these where can and are able.

If you could sum up life at 2RRR in 5 words what would they be

Local collective voice & sound (good question!)

For those who missed you can listen here Riverside Markets 2RRR Podcast and while you're listening why not jump on to their Facebook page "here".  Even better why not check out their website page here and become a volunteer!