Posts

Half year habit

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New Year's resolutions seem to be a focus for many people when the year rolls around.  Have you ever heard that the best day to get started with something is "today"?  Well it is.  We're half way through this year and any day can be the start of something new, something exciting, something unexpected. We've got an easy new habit for you.  Consider the Farmers' Market as a weekend destination this year.  Not only for buying fresh local food but also to see fresh local faces.  Our community is ever-changing and it's exciting to see and meet the faces you already know and the new faces that are joining us.  Many times new residents show up at the farmers' market just days after they've moved here.    This new habit may mean that you come to shop, it may be that you just come with a friend for a fresh cup of coffee or a smoothie that you can enjoy in the sun or shade in a relaxing environment.  Do you like to be in the center of the bustle?  Choose a p

The promise of Spring

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Some seasons come to us in full force and others kind of tease their way into existence.  This spring has been one of those on-again, off-again seasons where bright, warm sunny days spring us into action to get our gardens ready, get our plants out and hope for an early start to the season, just to be met with cold and freezing temperatures, and even snow this year in late April.    Our first work party to get the market grounds ready met us with a dusting of snow, we had to ask volunteers to rake leaves and trust that they were under the snow.   Now, a couple of weeks into May and a warm week upon us, we are truly convinced that the spring is upon us.  Buds and blossoms have been punching their way through the dormancy of winter and the season of new beginnings is proving it's arrival.  The delicate greens on maples and alders as they grab their first rays of sunshine on their delicate leaves provide a refreshing backdrop to the evergreens that have kept us grateful to live in a r

Top 5 reasons we're still so strong!

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Our Farmers' Market has been operating since 1987, that gives us 36 years under our belt. We are inspired by all the people that help make every market a success. That includes YOU! Line up at Andtbaka Farm People are at the heart of everything we do. Support from local farmers and vendors: we rely on the participation of local farmers and vendors to provide a variety of fresh, locally-sourced products to our customers.  Community engagement: we function as a community hub, providing a space for people to gather, socialize, and connect with their local food system.   Promoting sustainable agriculture: we prioritize products that are grown using sustainable practices, which helps support local farmers and preserves the environment.   Flexibility: For our first 33 years we were a spring and summer market only. Now we're rolling through our 3rd season of being open during the late fall and winter too, making us a year-round market. In the summer we're open on Saturdays fro

Fall Fair 2022

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 We're excited to be welcoming back our Fall Fair for 2022.   We are "Growing Back Together" this year and looking forward to having you, your family and friends join us.

A Peek at What's to Come

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With a cool but energetic launch to our 2022 outdoor spring and summer market, we are happy to be heading into warmer weather.  There are all kinds of great things planned already and of course, more to come as the months roll by. Check out what's confirmed already.   Remember the $2 train rides every Sunday too.                          Ghostly Hounds Sunday May 8 @ 1:30pm - musical guest Ghostly Hounds will be performing from 1:30 - 2:30. Their new album is out and we're excited to hear the new music. (Ghostly Hounds combines strings, horns and powerful vocals to create dark, soulful folk music)  Sunday May 15 @ 12:30 - 1:30 - local musical guest Malaspina Ensemble will be gracing the stage and bringing live, local music to the market.  Saturday June 4 @ 1:30am returning local musical guest Malaspina Ensemble is back to spread some more joy throughout the market.  Sunday June 19 @ 12:30 - 2:30 Vintage Car Show

From Seed to Sold

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Buying from local farmers means you're buying from the hand that planted, protected, nurtured and harvested what you're eating. Why is this important?  Well, the buck stop in one spot.  Every fresh, tasty product is thanks to all the  efforts put in by a single farmer.   Local farmers in qathet and Powell River take pride in their land, the resources they manage and the products they grow.    In a small town, word of mouth gets around, especially about what we eat.   We have an amazing growing season and for many years local farmers have committed to producing food for our community year-round.  What does that mean?  For our community, it means that there's an easy way to focus on local food:  find a farmer and buy from them before you go to the grocery store.  This could mean stocking up on what is in season and preserving it to enjoy year-round, it could also mean finding farmers and other local food producers who dehydrate, can or freeze local produce and meat.   If you&