The unofficial capital of the Loddon Shire has snaffled the last Sunday of every month to showcase northern Victoria’s abundant food bowl.

It’s helping a host of small growers, makers and producers connect with their community, like Mincha resident Genevive Trice.

Genevive will join stallholders for the first time this weekend, to sell her jams, chutneys, sauces and butters. She’s been perfecting her tried and true recipes at a commercial kitchen in nearby Pyramid Hill for the past 18 months.

“I’d always made my own jams and preserves, which I kept giving away as presents. My family said I should start my own business,” she said.

While tiny Mincha was once a powerhouse of production – Genevive’s Facebook page features a historic photo of the old Mincha Butter Factory – today it’s mostly farmland and around 10 houses.

Genevive said while many of the services and businesses had gone the way of so many country towns, it was the close-knit community that characterised Mincha.

She’ll join stallholder Rob Ashley, with his quirky collection of live chooks.

While the hens are off the lay this time of year, Rod will be taking orders for the likes of silver wyandotte, golden laced wyandotte, coronation sussex and the “Aussie chook” australorp.

“They’re bred for the Aussie conditions,” Rob says.

“They’re just a cross breed but they were found to be good layers, as well as good meat birds. They’re big and black and they’re a real nice chook.”

Rob is building up his free-range brood from his small holding at Boroung. He said at his first farmers’ market last month sales were strong, with most chickens going to families for backyard egg production.

Market organisers are working with producers to gain Victorian Farmers’ Market Association accreditation for the event, which was established by Wedderburn Community House with the help of a Regional Victoria grant. Community House co-ordinator Jude Raftis said there were around 20 craft stalls and 12 farmers’ stalls booked for this Sunday.

“We have honey, apples, homemade preserves, vegetables, wines, garlic, olives, live poultry, eucy oil, homemade chocolates, hot food, the potato man, a coffee vendor and of course all the craft and art stalls as well,” she said.

“We also have quality entertainment to get people to come along and make a day of it. They can sit and listen to great music, have lunch and wander around the large variety of stalls.”

Take the scenic drive to Wedderburn tomorrow to find the market, and meet the makers, from 9am until 1pm.