Harvest Festival

"If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest" ~ Douglas Jerrold

Now is the time when the markets brim with colour, variety and seasonal beauty. We can't think of a better reason to celebrate so we're planning Harvest Festivals at all our market locations. Look for displays of apples and squash, delicious recipes to cook up delicious market comfort food and lots to learn about the bounty of BC in the fall. Grab a bag of apples, a nobby winter squash and a rustic loaf of bread and get set to be soothed by Autumn's rich and comforting flavours.

Harvest Fest dates: Trout Lake Sept 22, Kitsilano Sept 23, Riley Park Sept 26, West End Sept 29

Knife Sharpening at Riley Park-Back by Popular Demand!

The last appearance by Clarence "Mr. Sharp" Phelps was so popular we've decided to have him come 2 more times before the season ends. Riley Park shoppers can get their knives in tip-top shape on September 12 and October 10.

PLEASE NOTE: The market is open from 1pm - 6:30pm through September. As of October 3, we'll be closing at 5:30pm to get everyone on their way home before nightfall.

A Penny for your Thoughts

Are you a Riley Park Farmers Market Shopper? We're considering changing the hours of our mid-week market but before we make that decision we'd like to get your opinion. Please click on the link below to give us your input. If you have other comments about this market, feel free to email us at info@eatlocal.org

Please take our survey: Riley Park Farmers Market Hours

Please Park Politely

We know that parking in Vancouver can test the mettle of even the most seasoned driver but we'd like to urge our shoppers to be mindful of our neighbours and help us out by parking politely while in our market neighbourhoods. Recently we've received reports of cars parked blocking driveways, garages and back gates in the area around our Trout Lake Market. Our neighbours have always been very patient with the extra commotion we cause each Saturday but lately they have noticed an increase in illegal parking on market days and have asked us to help.

We encourage shoppers who have to bring their cars to park in the North Lot of Trout Lake park - accessible off 12th, 13th and the alley between 13th and 15th. The walk to the market is a short one and is a nice addition to your Saturday trip.

If you've indulged in a case of peaches or are stocking up on potatoes and can't carry them to your car, please leave them with market staff at the red Market Info Tent and they will hold them until you can retrieve your car and bring it to our Grocery Pick-Up Area at the 15th Avenue driveway to Trout Lake Community Centre. We have dollies available to move heavy loads back and forth and our helpful staff is ever at the ready.

Thanks for your co-operation!

September 9, Sunday - Feast of Fields - Celebrate the best of B.C.'s harvest at the 13th annual Feast of Fields fundraiser, hosted by FarmFolk/CityFolk. Mingle with foodies while enjoying food and wine from our region's finest restaurants and wineries. Get to know your local food producers and learn about sustainable food systems.
Time: 1-5 pm.
UBC Farm, Vancouver, BC
Tickets: SOLD OUT! www.ffcf.bc.ca/feast.html Tickets for the Island Feast still available.

September 30, Sunday – Salmon Celebration   A fun filled educational event is scheduled to celebrate one of BC’s most cultural & historic resources – Wild Salmon. The Festival will be located at the Vancouver Maritime Museum from 12-4, with the parade beginning at 1PM.    Join in fun and food and learn what we can do to share our environment with Wild BC Salmon and lessen our impact on their habitat.  Iron Maiden Seafoods will be sharing a tent with the BC Salmon Marketing Council to answer questions about what we’re doing as a commercial fishery to be sustainable and selective.  Fish sales will be available.  For more info: contact Gigi at Iron Maiden Seafoods – www.wildseafoods.com; cfvironmaiden@shaw.ca Download a poster (PDF) and help spread the word.

October 14, Sunday - Sugar, refining the truth Sugar from the holistic nutrition perspective. We will explore the nutritional, cultural, and historical aspects of sugar. This three hour workshop will include a viewing of the documentary 'Big Sugar', followed by a discussion on discovering the truth through label reading and information on how to make the best sweet choices for yourself. Time: 1pm – 4pm Cost: $15

November 4, Sunday – Eating Through the Seasons - Autumn Explore the joys of eating in harmony with the earth ~ the seasons ~ your body. This four-hour hands on cooking workshop will offer nutritional information and cooking techniques to enjoy the bounty & beauty of the fall harvest. Bring your appetite for knowledge and good food.Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm Cost: $45
Contact instructor with any food allergies or sensitivities .
With Paula Luther, RHN Holistic Nutritionist
chickpeanutrition@gmail.com
To register for either of the above courses: Britannia Community Centre
604-718-5800 www.britanniacentre.org

*courses subject to cancellation due to civic workers' strike

Last week marked the launch of the newest movement to get more of us eating local - Get Local. Get Local is BC farmers, chefs, food retailers and citizen groups working together to help people in the Lower Mainland choose more locally grown food.

Get Local raises awareness around the benefits of buying local foods and products, and connects British Columbians with businesses that offer them.

Your Local Farmers Market Society is proud to be a Get Local project partner. Look for Get Local resource materials at the market information tent at each market soon and go to the Get Local website for a list of partipating restaurants, supermarkets, producers and suppliers.

Visit the website at www.getlocalbc.org and check back often as this site is new and growing.

Apple Lane Orchards

Rod and Vlasta will be back this season with their delicious assortment of heirloom apples despite a slow start to their season. They won't make it to their first scheduled date of Sept 8 at Trout Lake however they will be there for the 15th and onward. Apple Lane grows more than 40 varieties of apples including the Dutch variety Belle de Boskoop, which has a sweet initial taste but finishes with a tart lemony kick; Golden Russet, often said to have a pear-like flavour; and the Japanese Mutsu variety. Don't forget to grab a bottle of their delicious juice while it is still available.

Bad Girl Chocolates

Bad Girl Chocolates will not be selling at the West End or Riley Park Markets during September but will be at the Trout Lake Market on September 22 - hold your chocolate cravings til then or pick up some Bad Girl products at Edible BC on Granville Island in the meantime.

City Farm Boy

Ward Teulon, a.k.a City Farm Boy, joined YLFMS this year with the idea of growing all his produce in Vancouver. Ward attended several Riley Park and West End markets with an assortment of his very local lettuces, carrots and other root crops, scallions, herbs, wheat and flowers. His first attempt at urban farming and selling his crops was well received - we're looking forward to seeing him at the Winter Farmers Markets coming up in November. Click on the link below to see the Vancouver Sun article recently published about Ward's urban ag enterprise.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=f4b4334c-b114-401c-bf9d-4f0ed5228dd1&k=93672

Rise N Shine Wild Rice

A recent call from Otto Bjornson of Rise N Shine Wild Rice informed us that the wild rice crop this year is a good one and he will indeed have rice to sell at the final markets of the season. So far, we've confirmed Sept 29 at Trout Lake but we're also working on at least one more date if we can work out the details. Check back for more updates.

Pottery by Kathleen Murphy, market vendor at East Vancouver, West End and Kitsilano.