The Newsletter of Vancouver Farmers MarketsGoodbye Summer Sun, Hello November Rain!
Main Street Station Farmers Market at dusk - October 2009
Is it just us or did those sunny summer days come and go way too fast? Mother Nature spoiled us on market day this year but on the flipside, the sun was a problem for some growers whose sensitive crops peaked early and nearly cooked in the fields. As some have called them - "the vagueries of farming" - make for a new experience each year.
This summer on the market side, we tried something new with our Gastown Market and new location for our Wednesday Market at Main Street Station. We endured some road closures and construction around Trout Lake and our Kitsilano Market blossomed in its 3rd season. The West End Market burst at the seams with a great lineup of vendors and more farmers than we have ever had there. We debuted our annual fundraiser, RIPE to great success and saw our public membership grow to almost 1000! We learned that our Trout Lake Market would need to move in 2010 and we still haven't found a suitable location. So, it seems the vagueries of markets have also been at work this year.
We're already well into the Winter Market season and there is still alot to buy and see at these cold weather markets. We appreciate so much those who brave the rain and cold to support our local farmers - we know there are easier ways to shop. These bi-weekly events create an important bridge from summer to spring for our vendors and have grown into a regular ritual for our shoppers and supporters.
Who knows what the winter will bring but we can guarantee it will be interesting! Stay tuned...
Market News
Like it or not, the festive season is upon us. Holiday parties, Christmas gifts, Hannukah celebrations, Boxing Day open houses and New Year's countdowns. Every time we turn around we need to come bearing gifts.
1. Give market tokens. Tell your family and friend that you want the best for them by purchasing Market Money Wooden Tokens. Our market currency is valid at all vendors and all markets and doesn't expire. Available in $5 denominations only and we take debit!
2. Festive Wrapping. Get the new member of the family a Vancouver Farmers Market t-shirt. Available in 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24 month sizes in 2 colours. It's good to start them young! Adult and older kids sizes too.
3. Local Coffee? Get that coffee-lover in the family a limited edition Vancouver Farmers Market ceramic travel mug. The first chance to get these mugs will be at the Holiday Market on Dec 12.
4. Membership is a gift. Vancouver Farmers Markets is a non-profit organization. We support ourself mainly through our stall fees and merchandise sales. Membership in VFM supports our work, helps us to grow and demonstrates that farmers markets are important to Vancouverites. Membership is just $10 and when you buy one for a friend, we'll include a market shopping bag.
Of course there are hundreds of options for gift-giving and celebration-making from the over 80 vendors who'll be showing their wares at the one-day-only Holiday Market December 12. There's sure to be something for everyone on your list and for every occasion. Don't miss it!
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Craft Jury 2010
Did you know all craft items sold at Vancouver Markets are juried by a panel of craft professionals? We do this to ensure our shoppers have access to the best quality local craft items.
We're getting ready to start our craft jury process for the coming year. If you (or someone you know) is interested in participating as a craft vendor at any of our 2010 markets, please subscribe to our email list to receive notification when the jury process starts. All items must be made in BC, sold by the artisan and handcrafted - no mass-produced or imported items are allowed.
Holiday Market - Saturday, December 12 - Croatian Cultural Centre
Our annual celebration of food and art moves this year to the Croatian Cultural Centre and for one day only - December 12. You'll find a wide selection of food gifts, high quality artisan products and value-added farm products to suit every taste and complete every holiday occasion.
We're happy to offer new features this year: on-site market money (via debit), concession and seating inside the hall, artisan demonstrations and live acoustic entertainment throughout the day. We will also have La Boheme Creperie on-site outside for your crepe cravings!
Members Alert: Members get in free to this event & can bring a friend along too!
Vendor News
My Urban Farm - Sunflower Sprouts
After a successful summer developing a model for urban and small-scale sunflower sprout production at UBC Farm it is time to take the show on the road.
Chris is now looking for an urban space to carry out production in 2010. This could be a backyard, empty lot, parking lot, rooftop, or any open urban space.
The site would essentially require the following:
- About 800-1000 square feet of space
- Full to partial sun exposure
- Water hook up
- Fenced or secure in some way from vandalism
- Within Vancouver city (Preferably East Side)
Chris is happy to discuss a work share/rent situation and, of course, he would provide all the sprouts one could eat!
If you know anyone who may be interested in supporting this initiative, please forward this on. To read more, please see http://cmthoreau.wordpress.com/category/sunflower-blog/
Classes and Events
Sowing Seeds for the Future
A hands-on, season-long practicum in sustainable agriculture
Now accepting applications for the 2010 program!
What? ~ The Sowing Seeds Practicum 2010
Established in 2008, this part-time (600 hour), eight month practicum offers instruction and daily work experience in small-scale sustainable farming. In a balanced, hands-on learning approach, students work alongside staff in the greenhouse, gardens, fields, and orchard. Students attend complementary lectures, demonstrations, and farm visits, and participate in a variety of practical and reflective educational activities. Direct marketing activities are also a key part of the experience. The practicum has been designed as a beginning point for aspiring growers, educators and agricultural professionals. Students come from all backgrounds and are expected to be passionate about pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture. A certificate of completion will be issued to students who fulfill the practicum requirements. Further, we support our graduates to make connections within the BC agricultural community, and to seek out mentors to learn with following Sowing Seeds. Please note, Sowing Seeds 2010 is a non-credit course and therefore participants are not eligible for student loans. However, in 2010 we are offering a fee discount for UBC students who register, and successfully earn credits, for a directed studies based on their Sowing Seeds Practicum.
Where? ~ The UBC Farm
Located at the southern end of the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus, on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people, the UBC Farm stewards a 24 ha site as an integrated, working farm system. The UBC Farm is student driven and all practices voluntarily adhere to COABC standards for organic production. In a given year, we cultivate up to 250 different varieties of annual and perennial crops.
What's new for 2010?
Following two full seasons, the Sowing Seeds practicum is making several changes to its structure to reflect feedback from our 2008 and 2009 students, our UBC Farm Staff, and our Steering Committee. The information contained on the website and in the Program Overview reflects the current direction of the project.
Course Logistics
Course dates : March 13 - Nov 6, 2010
Course hours : Vary throughout the growing season from 7-21 hours/week. See our Program Overview for details.
Course fee : $3,000
**(UBC Students who register, and successfully earn credits, for a directed studies course based upon their Sowing Seeds Practicum are eligible for a $400 refund)**
Capacity : 10 students
Applications: Application information is available on our website. Application deadline: December 1, 2009.
Contact Information:
If you can't find the info you need on our website, please contact Elaine Spearing at: ubcfarm.seeds@gmail.com
Thank you for supporting local agriculture, local education and the UBC Farm.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Vandusen Gardens Festival of Lights 2009Don't miss this annual holiday tradition. The perennially beautiful VanDusen Gardens lights up for the festive season starting December 11.
Here's a sampling of what you can expect:
Santa's Living Room
Svend and Jens, our Scandinavian Christmas Elves appear nightly in the Centre Court
Starchild and Company’s puppet show featuring The Sugar Plum Fairy’s Garden
Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake. Two different shows - one show on the half hour and a different one at the top of the hour. Two different shows repeating in sequence throughout the evening.
Gingerbread Wood
Golden Chain Walk
Community Choir Concerts on the Deck
Make-a-Wish Candle Shrine
Candy Cane Lane
Sparkling Spruce in the Centre Court
Candy Cane Express model train
For more details, ticket info and photos from last year, go to the VanDusen Gardens website.
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The Politics of Food: A Bite Size CourseEating is a political act. Find out how the food on your plate can affect a farmer half a world away. Through field trips, guest speakers, classroom presentations and discussions, students will explore the entire food system from table top to ground and back again. Covers local food issues and movements and the more complex global ones like genetically modified foods and seed monopolies. Examines the charity model and solutions oriented programs like fair trade to see if they really are fair. Students will leave with a basic understanding of the politics of food and 10 things they can do to strengthen the food system in their neighbourhood. Warning: chocolate and coffee will be consumed!
The Politics of Food (HLTH 1376)
4 wks Sa Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 9:00-13:00
(16 hours) $399
Instructor: Spring Gillard (bio at compostdiary.com)
To register, call 604-443-8672. Quote: CRN # 10478
On-line registration should also be available by the end of November. Under Health/Specialty – part-time courses
Vancouver Community College
Broadway Campus
1155 East Broadway
Switchboard: 604.871.7000
Opportunities - Volunteer and Otherwise
We're always looking for great people to join us!
Interested in Volunteering with us? Check out our volunteer blog and see what sort of fun things are volunteer team is up to. Volunteers allow us to do more community outreach, add value to the market experience for shoppers and assist with promotions and market growth. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, experience and age. Contact Danno, our Volunteer Co-ordinator if you're interested in joining our team.
What's in Your Bag?
Each issue we'll feature a shopper or two and talk about what they bought at the market. On a crisp fall day at the West End Market, we met Market Member Keiko Endo
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Keiko is a West End resident and frequent shopper at the West End Farmers Market. On this, the last day of the market, she was stocking up! Her purchases included: Sounds like a delicious assortment of goodies! Thanks for supporting the market Keiko! |
Check out each issue of Market Share for more "What's in Your Bag" featured shoppers.
Read This!
Gone to market
Faced with competition from commercial farms in Canada, U.S. and Mexico, local organic farmers struggle to produce organic fruits and vegetables most Vancouverites can afford.
Sandra Thomas, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, November 20, 2009
"That will be $7.80."
That cost for six average-looking large potatoes might seem high, especially when a 10-pound bag at Safeway in October sold for $4.99, but no one within hearing range at the West End Farmers Market blinks an eye at the price.
The reason no one reacts is that people who frequent farmers markets probably understand the true cost of the produce. These shoppers know the local potatoes, carrots, apples and corn for sale were grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers by certified organic farmers. Read on...
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