OUR FIRST WEEKLY SPRING MARKET WILL BE SAT. JUNE 1st, 9:30-12:30!
image courtesy of Mike Schmidt (www.canimage.ca)
WEEKLY MARKETS START ON JUNE 1st.
LOTS of fresh local eggs; canned and fresh tuna, seeds and plants and veggie starts; crafts, preserves and baking (Pain au Chocolate!! Organic gingerbread!!); local organic meat and poultry products; live music and vendors old and new. Here's the list of vendors and products we expect to see at our May market:
GROWERS: Tina Baynes and Ashley Stelck of CORNER FARM (veggie starts, growing boxes - the easy way for you to start your own veggie garden! - seeds and preserves); Bernadette Green's brother Paul of SOMETHING GREENE (frozen organic free run chickens, lettuce mix, mesclun, lettuce heads, and arugula); HAZELMERE FARMS (beets, onions, potatoes, leeks, celeriac, squash); Denis Hoddinot of BEAUFORT GARDENS (organic cider vinegar, mint/herb tea, parsnips, and Blue Skerry seed potatoes); Lorea of COUNTRY WOOLS (lamb products: chops, ground, sausages; wool products: slippers, sweaters, lambs'-wool rugs); Jessy of RAVENHILL HERB FARM (seeds, herb starts, herbal teas, and herbal infused honeys); Lynn of BOUGHNEATH FARMS (local beef products); NEW VENDOR: Karen Halkett and Karen Redden of KAREN & KAREN (moss basket arrangements, potted plants and planted planters); RETURNING VENDOR: Evan and Christina of MAYNELY FISH (Northwest Albacore Tuna: there'll be tuna loins, canned and smoked tuna as well).
BAKERS, PRESERVES: Kathy and Jane of FLOUR POWER (scones, brownies, flatbreads, granola and the rest of their customers' favourites as well as some new seasonal items and a new bread...a beautiful Levain Boule!); Charles and Gillian Cunningham of WILLOWTREE BREAD (organic baguettes, rustic sourdough wholemeal loaves and multigrain boules, pain de campagne & pain au chocolate!); NEW VENDOR: Nicole of SPARE TIME JAMS AND JELLIES (Tayberry Jam, Blackberry Jam, Blackberry Jelly, Strawberry Jam, Strawberry jelly, Strawberry Peach Jam, Grape Jelly, Apple Jelly, Applesauce, Cranberry Sauce, Cranberry Syrup, Cherry Preserve, Cherry Blueberry Preserve - all the fruit is either from local farms or their backyard (sometimes friendly neighbour backyards). The exception is the cranberries which are from Yellow Point in Nanaimo); Coleen Virag of GRANNY'S GOURMET GINGERBREAD (organic vegan pet treats along with her outstanding traditional and gluten-free gingerbread)
FOOD: NEW VENDOR: SOOKE SEA SALTS (formerly Salish Sea Salts) (Natural Gourmet Canadian Sea Salts handcrafted from the Salish Sea. They have a selection of flavours ranging from smoked sea salts to infused flavours and ones that are blended with spices. They also sell Natural Beauty Sea Soaks made with local sea salt, epsom salts and essential oils)
CRAFTS: Chris and Marilyn of FABULOUS FROCKS (beautiful dresses for little girls, quilts, crayon bags); LLOYD WEBBER will be back with his cedar planters, chairs, benches, trellises, etc (just in time for planting season!); NEW VENDOR: SEASON with a wide variety of products, including rubs/marinades, dried peppers, herb blends, as well as spring scarves, current fashion jewelry, knitted headbands, etc - AND: dried, packaged wild Chantrelles from Shawnigan. They also have a great line of soaps and bath products that they make from flowers and herbs from the garden; LISA TONKEN (jewelry - bobby pins, rings, necklaces, earrings); CHRISTINE RICHARDS (beaded jewelry)
COMMUNITY TABLE: lots of fresh local eggs from Hess Farm and Pennell Palace; Christine Davidson, Woodturner - art pieces include lidded boxes, small bowls, "Weed Pots" and toy cars
*Sadly, Marquis Mushrooms is undergoing a reorganization and we don't expect to see any shitaki or oyster mushrooms at the market this year.*
We'd love to see our market grow this year, so if you're thinking about the possibility of becoming a vendor, please contact us (info@northsaanichfarmmarket.ca) for suggestions of fruits and vegetables that will happily grow in our area but are in short supply locally. We're also looking for bakers, healthy food vendors, cheese makers (!)... anything that shows off the variety and glory of local foods. We'd also love to have you join us as a volunteer. Even if you just have one or two Saturdays between now and October to come and help set up and take down our tents and signs, assist the vendors to unload, sell 50/50 tickets, or work at the Community Table, we need you!!!
Between markets, you can source local produce at these markets and farm gates:
-Smyth's Market Garden (corner of Downey and West Saanich) - open noon to sunset
- Hazelmere Farm Stand on Tatlow Road
- Dan's Market on 2030 Bear Hill Road at Oldfield Road
- Michell Bros. Farm at 2451 Island View Road
- Happy Chicken Farm on Wain Road for fresh eggs
Sun Wing Tomatoes at 6070 Oldfield Road
On the Vine:
North Saanich Farm Market News
TRADITIONAL FOODS PIT COOK FOR OUR FINAL MARKET HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Submitted by Penny Gibbs on Tue, 07/31/2012 - 05:21Unfortunately, we've had to cancel our Traditional Foods Pit Cook for our final market.
We're hoping to reschedule for next spring - stay tuned!
3RD ANNUAL NORTH SAANICH FLAVOUR TRAIL AUGUST 24th, 25th and 26th, 2012
Submitted by Penny Gibbs on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 16:33Our market will be the starting-off point for the 2012 North Saanich Flavour Trial. In addition to lots of new and returning vendors (as well as all our regulars), you can come to the market to get your program for the tour (or download it yourself). Read more »
Becoming a Market Vendor or Volunteer
Submitted by Penny Gibbs on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 16:01Our market is focused on supporting agriculture and food production on the Saanich Peninsula. We`re currently looking for new growers and food vendors to serve healthy food at the market. Read more »
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