Sustainable Autonomous Market, a different Saturday with the essence of Lanzarote

Mar Arias Cauce Learn, enjoy, tasteâ,¬ the Casa-Museo del Campesino housesan indigenous market where experiential workshops are offeredto enjoy an entertaining and particular family day

Can you imagine a Saturday morning, sitting in front of a coffee or a beer, in the very heart of the island? While you enjoy your moment of rest, your children performworkshops as fun as cochineal dye, ceramic, learn to make rosettes or make aromatic saltsfor a reduced cost of just 3 euros per person. The possibility of enjoying such a different morning is much closer than it might seem. In fact, it is in the Casa-Museo del Campesino, in San Bartolom, where the Sustainable Autonomous Market has been launched.

Rosettes, ceramics, looms, hats, salts, tasting of cheeses and wines, making mojos and gofio kneading, learning all about cochineal and its possibilities, buy handmade gifts and return home with an important assortment of organic fruits and vegetables from the island ... The possibilities are many and entertainment is assured.The price is unique, 3 euros for each workshop, whose duration ranges from 15 minutes to half an hour, depending on the activity and say of the craftsmen themselves, the initiative is turning out to be quite good.

Cochineal, the miracle of color

Conchi Garca is the craftswoman in charge of the cochineal workshopand, around it, everything is color, fabrics, shirts, scarves ... "I start telling you the story of the cochineal, where it comes from, how it is collected and how the dye is prepared, and then I make a sample with a plate , and we mix the mordant to create different shades, "he explains. "The experience lasts about twenty minutes, more or less, in the end, they paint themselves a postcard that they take as a souvenir".

Of course you can also buy some of the handkerchiefs, shirts and tinted garments made by Conchi herself. "Fortunately the initiative is working very well and the people leave happy".

Rosettes, tradition and fashion

Next to her isMacarena Arrocha that teaches, to those who sign up to their workshop, the rosettes elaborationin the same way his grandmother and his mother did, from whom I learned. In their workshop, they discover that the tradition is not at all reigned with modernity, since their rosettes are part of the Custo Dalmau designer's collection for the latest Lanzarote Fashion Weekend.

Cerámica canaria

One of the busiest workshops is the ceramics, maybe because of what the island's mud and the work of shaping it have in terms of theraputics. The artisan Joaqun Reyes is in charge of it. "We offer several courses and experiences, these last about 30 minutes and cost only 3 euros, and involve a first contact with mud," he explains. "Children love them, many repeat".

Along with learning,Reyes explains the origin of the technique and reveals many of his tricksof master craftsman. "Not only do we give these workshops, it is also possible to do a more specialized course of up to an hour and a half, for ten euros, where it is possible to make a complete piece".

Of course, all the exhibited pieces are for sale and it is also possible to make orders to give as gifts.

Almogrotes and cheeses conejeros

Another of the most demanded experiences is thetasting of malvasa jams Lala volcanic and Tinajo cheese, a possibility that is causing real furor between tourists and residents. "Not only that, we also propose the realization of a workshop for the production of almogrote, also for three euros, with our cheeses, garlic, olive oil and pepper," explains Mario Morales, from Tinache Quesera. "The courses are for eight or nine people and, of course, they take home the almogrote and the recipe."

Learning to knit

Ahuge wooden loom, replica of an original traditional Canarian loom, occupies almost a complete stay. Next to,Montse, head of the weaving workshop."It lasts about 15 minutes and costs, like almost all, 3 euros, and consists of experimenting with a loom and making a small piece," he explains. "Above all, there are many children who are very curious because it is an art that is practically not practiced anymore, interestingly for them it is something new, and my intention is to start teaching longer courses in the evenings, for people who want to learn how to weave in the traditional Canarian way ".

Aromatic salts

Surrounded by aromatic soaps, salts and candles, thisPaolo Marzette, from the Mama Pepa soap company."We impart an experience in the elaboration of aromatic salts, since to make a soap it will take much longer, but we offer the possibility of making aromatic salts, orange, cinnamon or aloe vera.a workshop of about twenty minutes that children love", explains." The moms leave us the children and they are going to drink something from the coffee machine, it's the perfect plan, and then the children leave very happy with some salts they have made themselves ".

In addition, of course, you can buy salts, soaps, candles and even compact champs that are in sight.

Design Hats

Yolanda Torres teaches those who join their workshops to weave hearts of palm with the traditional technique of braiding palm hearts. "Those attending the workshop, which lasts a half hour, often make a marcapginas or a bracelet, which is what gives time in half an hour, they decide what they want to do," he explains. "Many tourists come, but also people from the island, and families with children who enjoy a lot, I also offer a traditional and modern hatbox, which, of course, they can buy if they like it."

Headpieces, hats, hats and all kinds of ornaments with artificial flowersThey occupy a large part of the shelves. It is not strange that many people, who already know Yolanda, go up to the market to commission designs for some event or celebration. Once again, it is demonstrated that the tradition is not based on fashion.

Workshop of mojo and gofio elaboration

Nothing more original than returning from your holidays in Lanzarote knowing how to make your own mojos or gofio pellets. Estefana Gonzlez, responsible for teaching both workshops, knows it and makes both experiences a fun time. "The two activities have a similar cost, three euros, and last more or less the same, fifteen or twenty minutes, when they finish they take home what they have prepared," he explains."In the case of the kneading gofio workshop, it is made with gofio from Jos Mara Gil mill,usually of millet so that the celiacs can consume it, with water, sugar, raisins, oil and a thousand palm. We make it sweet because it's easier for tourists to try it for the first time. "

"As for the mojos, we teach them how to make both green and red, we give them the recipe and, if they wish, they can buy a pack already prepared with all the ingredients so they can do it in their homes. Tourist is the protagonist of this workshop, but when he returns home, he will become the teacher for his friends and family. "

Cooking, tasting, enjoying

The options are not over,Manuel Pelez, from Finca Tres Peas, offers tomatoes, carrots, mangas, pomegranates, potatoes and oil from the island, all one hundred percent ecological, so you can return home with the purchase made. In addition, and in the meantime, you can enjoy a delicious juice or shake made right there with a variety of fruits and vegetables, or make a workshop to make Lanzarote dishes as good as rice with black canary pig, lentil stew or a salad and, Of course, taste your preparation, for only three euros. "We find it very interesting because, when tasting the elaborations, the public can already realize the quality of the product we offer," he says.

When you're finishedcoffee, beer or wine, sitting in front of the incredible landscape of La Geria, you see your children arrive with a clay bowl, a marcapginas, a small pot of mojo, a bottle of salts or a rosette, satisfied and fun for the good time enjoyed. "Next week we can go back?"