You Can't Predict the Weather!

Today, of course, it's bright and sunny.
Yesterday, when the Fairtrade group were supposed to be (wo)manning a stall on Hay Market, we had Storm Doris, and the Fire brigade had to be called to dismantle the stalls before they blew away!

Here's hoping the olive oil evening - in Cusop Hall on Friday 3rd March at 7pm - goes smoothly!

Planning for Fairtrade Fortnight

Plans are being finalised for the events of Fairtrade Fortnight, which this year will be 27th February to 12th March. The theme this year is Don't Feed Exploitation.

Here in Hay, there will be a tea stall on Hay Market on the 23rd February, on a Take a Break theme, where leaflets will be handed out to publicise the following week's events on the 2nd and 3rd of March(we're starting early!).
On the 2nd March, there will be no tea stall, but there will be volunteers at the Market.
On the 3rd March, Taysir Arbasi, Director Zaytoun Palestine, and Cathy Porson co-founder of Zaytoun and their Communications Officer will be at Cusop Village Hall from 7pm to 11pm. Zaytoun is the label for Palestinian Fairtrade goods such as olive oil (which is very good!), za'atar which is a Palestinian herb mix, maftoul and freekeh which are types of wheat grains, almonds and medjoul dates.
Wine will be available for donations, and there will be a tasting session.
Jo and Julia will also be doing a workshop at Hay School on 3rd March.

Christmas Fair

Here's the Fairtrade Group, justly proud of their achievements at the eighth Fairtrade Christmas Fair, as Hay-on-Wye's certificate to renew the Fairtrade status arrives.
As usual, there were lots of different Fairtrade goods to choose from, music from the Black Lion Singers and Hay Primary School Choir, and the Fair was officially opened by Hay's Mayor, Fiona Howard, with the help of George the Town Cryer.

Hay's Fairtrade Status Has Been Renewed!

Good news just in time for the Christmas Fair! Hay has now been a Fairtrade town since 2007 - and this will be the eighth Christmas Fair.
Everyone has worked hard to achieve this, especially Louise from Eighteen Rabbit.
There's more to do, of course - it's surprisingly difficult to find Fairtrade coffee served at any of the cafes in Hay at the moment (and Hay has quite a lot of cafes).

Christmas Fair

Planning for the Christmas Fair

....is well under way!

Fiona Howard, the current Mayor, will officially open the Fair, and George the Town Cryer will be in attendance.
The Hay, Brecon and Talgarth refugee group will be doing the refreshments this year.
Chris Armstrong will have some Christmas trees available again.
And of course there will be the usual mix of interesting stalls selling Fairtrade products.

The last meeting of the committee also discussed the fact that it is no longer possible to get a cup of Fairtrade coffee in Hay, despite the large number of cafes. Out of 14 cafes only one met the requirements to be listed as Fairtrade, by providing four different Fairtrade products. However, there are ten possible bed and breakfast establishments that can be listed.

In October, it's time to renew the Fairtrade Town accreditation, which went very smoothly two years ago, and hopefully will go smoothly again. Hay has now been a Fairtrade Town for eight years.

The next Fairtrade meeting will be at 6pm on Sunday 16th October at Tomatitos.

Africa Market

The Hay Festival is coming up at the end of this week, and once again an Africa Market has been organised at the Parish Hall on Sunday 29th May. Fairtrade Hay will be there, and so will Love Zimbabwe and other stalls and activities, including drumming.

Then on Monday 30th there will be a Refugee Market, again with activities including Syrian calligraphy - and a Paddington Bear picnic (bring a teddy!).