Harpenden Sustainability Market is back on the 20th of September. We’ll be joined by many of our market favourites, along with nine new stallholders joining us for the first time. Find out who will be there in our September market roundup and what’s new.
First, coffee!
What better way to start with an organic, fairtrade coffee brewed in Padge’s solar-powered Italian coffee van? A firm favourite at the market, Padge’s is run by Paul, who strives to run the business as sustainably as possible. Remember to bring your reusable coffee cup for a discount on coffees and teas!
Snap up sustainable skincare
Tropic by Joy sells a wide range of skincare products, including plumping lip conditioner, moisturisers for broken skin, hand cream, body oils, hair products, body butters and soaps. Joy discovered Tropic in 2019 when was looking for products without harmful chemicals to soothe her sensitive skin.
Another skincare saviour returning to the market is Makamto Ltd, whose flagship product, Pure Butter Skin Shea Gold, is made from pure, unrefined shea butter to protect, heal and repair the skin. Founder Sandrine Tengwo discovered the power of Cameroonian shea butter after suffering severe burns.
Pick up greener gifts
Crossan Creations will be back with their decorative macrame pieces in a variety of earthy colours. Owner Kelsey will have wall hangings, plant hangers, coasters, napkin holders, keyrings, coasters and centrepieces on sale.
Browse beautiful, fragrant candles and wax melts at Fragrance & Light’s stall. Many are shaped into floral or coastal motifs before being decorated with eco dyes and eco glitter. Unlike traditional paraffin candles, they are made from 100% golden soy or a mix of cocoa and soy. All ingredients are sourced from the UK.
You’ll also have a chance to meet newcomers Oyin Ceramics, with their clay ceramic mugs for tea and coffee and Boardstiff, who sell chopping boards made from timber recycled from a local sawmill.
Shop conscious clothes
Popular stall The African Shop are back, selling tote bags, neckties, purses and jewellery handmade from African wax fabrics. Owner Marilyn sews and beads all items herself from Ankara fabric, which is very durable and doesn’t need to be washed as frequently as other types of fabric.
Independent London-designed organic cotton kidswear brand AOK London join us for the first time, with their modern graphic pieces. Discover their children’s tees, sweatshirts, babywear and matching parent-child designs, which support Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity with every purchase.
Reuse, recycle, rejoice!
The ReVerbs will be back once again to entertain the crowds with rock, pop, jazz and country covers on ukuleles, keyboards, bass, drums, clarinet, and bassoon. They also perform original songs and you can even catch some harmony singing in the mix. Sustainability is core to the band’s values and they enjoy supporting our mission of helping Harpenden’s residents live a more sustainable life.
Have a spot of lunch
Bring a knife and fork to sample The Aroma Artist’s delicious vegan Indian food. You’ll find Indian comfort food with a twist, such as warm chickpea curry served with fresh tomato salsa and accompanied with crunchy Bombay mix, cumin rice and vegetable samosas. Priya Patel launched the business in July 2023 in response to her lifelong passion for cooking and entertaining.
If Thai cuisine is more your thing, then you’ll be pleased to hear award-winning Sala Thai Kitchen will be back with their delicious Thai dishes including Vegetable spring rolls, Thai sweet corn cakes, Pad Thai tofu, tofu green curry and rice. There’s nothing quite like food to bond people, and chef Thippi’s loves chatting to marketgoers about their experiences in Thailand, where they should visit and what they should eat. Sustainability is important to Sala Thai – they source all their supplies locally, including vegetables from the local market, meat from local Asian halal shops and beer from local breweries. For packaging, they are moving towards a zero-waste model.
And for September, we have two new foodie stallholders – award-winning The Daily Dosa is bringing their plant-based South Indian dosa with a choice of fillings and chutneys to Harpenden, and Kim’s Vegan Cakes is joining us with vegan dairy-free muffins, brownies, blondies, brookies and cookies. Gluten-free options also available!
Remember to bring a Tupperware and cutlery if you can – the stallholders will be delighted to cut down on disposable packaging!
Or pick up something to enjoy later
Eat Wholefoods – who have been with us since 2022 – will be joining us again with their treasure trove of nuts and seeds in every size, organic muesli and porridge oats, herbal teas like chamomile and hibiscus and even raw honey from the nearby Ashridge Estate. Although the refill option isn’t available at the market, their packaging is compostable.
Back for a second market is Aunty Satya with their Durban-style home-ground curry masala made from a traditional family recipe. The brand name was inspired by owner Tanuja’s much-loved, feisty, risk-taking aunt, who was passionate about cooking healthy food from fresh. Unlike many cheap masalas you can buy in supermarkets, Aunty Satya’s blends use top-quality spices they blend and grind themselves, and there are no bulking agents such as flour or cheaper spices.
Discover daily care and health essentials
Market stalwarts Jefferson Eco – who have been with us since we began in 2021 – will be back with their selection of eco essentials for the home and greener gifts. Browse reusable items crafted from fabric that would have otherwise gone to landfill including reusable baby wipes, kitchen towels and vegan wax wraps, which are made by the Jefferson team and local, ethical and sustainable businesses.
Urtica Herbal will appear at the market for the first time with their professionally formulated botanical products, including herbal infusions and traditional botanical preparations. All products are made from responsibly wild-crafted or organically grown herbal materials.
Leave with a good book
Browse second-hand books for adults and children at the Harpenden Lions’ stall. The club is part of the national Lions network and supports local and national causes. Recent projects have included managing traffic at the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, funding playground refurbishment at The Lea Primary School and vision screening at Roundwood Primary School.
Thinking about green energy?
The ESME Energy team will be joining us for the first time. Talk to them to find out more about how their green battery system can help you reduce costs, lower your carbon emissions and make better use of off-peak rates. They’ll also be on hand to give advice on your tariff and battery solutions.
Green your pets!
If you’re a cat mum or dad, you might have wondered how green your cat litter is. PurrSustainable Petcare will be joining us for the first time to show you it’s possible. They convert waste by-products from tofu food production into biodegradable cat litter.
Talk to local charities and organisations
If you want to find out more about sustainability projects and campaigns on your doorstep, then make sure you speak to some of the charities and organisations joining us on the day. You’ll meet representatives from:
- The Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
- St Albans Cycle Campaign
- The Green House
- Hornbeam Hedgehog Sanctuary
- St Albans Greenpeace
- and the National Trust Ashridge Estate, who will be joining us for the first time
And of course, volunteers from Sustainable St Albans will be on hand to answer any questions you have about our events, projects and volunteering opportunities.
Join us on the 20th September
We’re looking forward to the next Sustainability Market on Sunday the 20th of September and hope you can join us too! Visit our markets page for the full schedule of dates for the rest of the year.