Monumento Campesino

A Different Saturday, With The Essence Of Lanzarote

Mercado Autóctono Sostenible (Sustainable Locals Market)

Learn, enjoy, taste … the Casa-Museo del Campesino market is perfect for a family day!

Saturday mornings have changed in Lanzarote. Every Saturday, there is now a market at Monumento Campesino in the heart of the island where you can learn about and practice some of the island’s crafts. In fact, the market is open every day, but Saturday is a great to go along.

You can taste wine, cheese, organic fruits and vegetables, learn how to make Mojo sauces, knead gofio, make ceramics, rosettes and much more. There are loads of possibilities. Each activity costs €3, and lasts about 15 minutes, and you can choose to do some or all of them, and you’ll get to keep anything you make!

Here’s more information on some:

Cochineal, the miracle of colour

Conchi García is the artisan in charge of the cochineal workshop and, around him, everything is colour – fabrics, shirts, scarves. “I begin by telling the story of the cochineal, where it comes from, how it is collected and how dye is made from it.  Next, I’ll mix a sample to create different shades.” The experience lasts about twenty minutes and everyone participating will paint a cochineal dyed postcard, which they can take with them.

Conchi also has hankies, shirts and clothes that she makes and dyes herself.

Rosetas

 

Bordados de rosetas are lace doilies or table mats, created by hand. The expert in this craft is Macarena Arrocha who teaches how to make them in the way our mother and grandmother taught her. Some of her designs have been used in Custo Dalman’s collection at Lanzarote fashion week.

Canarian pottery

The ceramics workshop is already one of the most popular – learning to handle the island’s local clay and shape it into useful utensils. Joaquín Reyes runs this section and he can offer short sessions for complete novices, or those with some experience. He says “Children love handling the clay, and keep coming back!”

As well as the practical stuff, Reyes explains the origin of the techniques of the master craftsman, and he also offers extended course of up to 1.5 hours, where people can make a complete piece.

He also has many hand made pieces for sale.

Almogrotes and cheeses from Lanzarote

This is a tasting experience, where you can try Lanzarote cheese from Tinajo, with malvasía jams. Mario Morales, from Tinache Cheese, runs this one, where participants learn to make almogrote, which is a kind of cheese spread, flavoured with garlic, olive oil and paprika. “We run courses are for eight or nine people at a time, and, of course, everyone takes home the almogrote and the recipe.”

Learning to knit

Using a replica of a traditional wooden Canarian loom, that almost fills a room, Montse, head of the weaving workshop shows people how to make a piece of cloth.

“A session lasts about 15 minutes and costs €3 and everyone get to try making a small piece, Children are fascinated by it, as it is almost a lost art. Interestingly for them it is something new.”

Aromatic salts

Using sea salt to create soaps and aromatic candles, Paolo Marzette, from Mama Pepe runs the salt workshop.

It’s a workshop of about twenty minutes that children love. Moums leave us the children and they have a drink at the cafeteria. The kids leave very happy with some salts they have made themselves “.

You can buy salts, soaps, candles and even compact shampoos at the workshop.

Designer hats and palm hearts

Yolanda Torres teaches those who join their workshops to weave palm hearts with the traditional technique of braiding. “Those attending the workshop, which lasts a half hour, often make a bookmark or a wristband. Many tourists come and families with children enjoy it a lot. I also offer traditional and modern headgear which you can buy.”

Headpieces and all kinds of ornaments with artificial flowers occupy a large part of the shelves. Yolanda also takes commissions for designs for special events and celebrations.

Mojos and gofio workshop

Nothing beats learning to make mojo or gofio while on holiday in Lanzarote.

Estefanía González, responsible for teaching both workshops turns both experiences into a fun time. “The two activities have a similar cost, three euros, and last more or less fifteen or twenty minutes. When they finish they take home what they have prepared. In the case of the kneading gofio workshop, we use gofio from the mill of José María Gil, usually from millet, so that the celiacs can eat it, with water, sugar, raisins and oil. We make it sweet because it’s easier for tourists to try it that way 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 at home and teach their friends and family.”

Cooking, tasting, enjoying

Manuel Peláez, from Finca Tres Peñas, offers tomatoes, carrots, pomegranates, potatoes and oil from the island, all one hundred percent ecological.

Visitors can also try juice or a shake made on the spot, with a wide variety of local produce. And then there are the cookery courses – black canary pork with rice, lentil stew or Lanzarote style salads. And of course, you can eat what you learn to make!

“We find it very interesting because, when tasting what they’ve made, everyone is amazed the quality of the produce we offer.” 

It’s a fantastic day out – a chance to really get under the skin of Lanzarote arts, crafts and cuisine, not by “watching” things, but by “doing” them.