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Foraging the Markets

  • Thread starter Thread starter harborne
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harborne

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I've heard tell of people who waited for the Bullring market to finish and then went round collecting the cabbage leaves etc that had been dropped, to put them in a stew; poor things. We have so much these days and take it all for granted. We don't know the real meaning of poverty.
 
This happens regularly in our local street market in Croydon today. According to some of the stallholders, whom I know quite well, it's not just just poverty, it is a way of life. Some people just want to get something for nothing. In any case the fruit and veg on our market are far cheaper than the supermarkets, and often fresher too.
Peter
 
I suspect it was more to with poverty in those days, Peter. For people who could afford it but just want something cheaper, I have no sympathy because the markets are a good source of cheap fruit and veg.
 
Because I worked the markets I can give you a different slant on things
You had kids comming in for the leaves for their pet rabbits
and people who owned pet shops always sent the kids and for them it was a good way to make a few bob
and at the end of the day everything went cheap.....that was not scavenging at all but being carefull.....but stories get changed and altered
OAP's could get the stuff for nothing if it was felt they was hard up
One chap and the end of the day bought a shovel and broom and had everything because he was a pig farmer but he always give us a bung (a tip) and we was chuffed because we d'aint have to clear up
 
Thanks Crom, I hated the thought that people had to do that in order to eat.
 
Markets

I used to work in the wholesale market way back in the 60s at James Baragwanath's and I remember people doing what you all say and I used to try to give them stuff surrepticiously until I was caught and was told that they were doing it to sell to other people.I was only 16 at the time so I suppose I was a bit gullible.
 
Nothing in particular

What a great site.I have only been on for a few weeks and I can't stop using it.The things you find out and the things you can put on,brilliant.Thank you.
 
I used to work in an office where the window faced Safeway's loading bay. Every day there would be at least two couples sorting through the skip and taking 'out of date' food away. I often wondered if it was being repackaged and sold on - or maybe they thought they were liberating stuff that was still good to eat even though past it's supermarket 'sell by' date. I doubt they were too poor to buy at reduced (or even full) price.
Lots of people want something for nothing these days, sadly.
 
When we lived in Newtown Row Mother & Gran used to go at closing time to the Market Hall to get cheap Meat and & Veg and often had things given to them.

In the early 30s my Grandad (he died 1933) would do the same and Gran said he often picked up enough Pennies and Half Pennies to keep him in Bacca for his Pipe to last him the week:)
 
Markets

When my kids were small and money was tight (no change there then, pardon the pun) in the sixties, I used to always go to the Indoor Market in the Bull Ring and join the crowd around City Butchers when the meat was being sold off on Saturdays.
I stopped going after my bum was squeezed by some dirty old s*d behind me!
There's cheap meat and then there's cheap meat..........;)
 
My Mom tells me that Nan used to go down to the Market at the end of the day to get the meat cheaper. With 7 kids to feed and a husband who liked his ale it was necessity rather than trying to get summat for nowt. If it wasn't cheap enough they couldn't have it, simple as that.
 
I've taken to foraging around the markets myself lately, they take a lot to beat. In fact I've never known a market as good as Brum's. Really good quality make-up, fruit and veg, and meat. I go with my sister sometimes and we just go round looking, there are so many different things to see, but now and then we treat ourselves. Some of the lipsticks are brill!
 
Harborne, I am with you on this one I love the markets and always have. I buy all my material from the rag market. I have just made new curtains for our caravan in Wales. I made a Victorian dress about 3 years ago (posted on the Victorian Album thread) all the material was purchased from the rag market. I love to go for a mooch around.
 
Now thats where I have spotted ya, as my wife works in the market...(on a Saturday)
 
Roughly the same place but soon to disappear as the license is not being renewed and their is talk it Will move out of town with the other markets as the land is wanted
 
Oh Cromwell I didn't realise thats where she worked, now I know I wll pay her a visit. I have always loved the markets and I have some great bargains!
 
I do quite a lot of knitting when the mood takes me so I like a look around haberdashery, too. I've seen all the different materials though and have often wished I could 'dressmake' because some of them are so nice. As for shoes, I should need a pair every week the amount of walking I'm doing lately!
 
Flower sellers in Bullring.

Can anyone remember Joe Caffery and his family who used to sell flowers in Birmingham Bullring 1930's 40's 50's ?
 
Its nearly a year ago but I think his pitch was taken over by Graham Fitzpatrick
 
I had a friend, (no doubt she is in heaven now,) she was much older than me, but as a young girl she sold flowers at the Market in the Bullring. I have no idea what her maiden name was, but she told me that her father sat in the pub whilst she sold the flowers and in the winter months it was so cold that she used to stand inside the basket to keep her feet warm. how sad...Cat
 
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