The market is open for the season

The first market of the season dawned clear and sunny.  Well, someone told me that is what it was like at 6 am in White Rock, but when we got there, despite seeing the odd breaks of blue sky on the way, it was basically cloudy, and that it is really how it stayed for the whole market.  A bit breezy too, but it is a rare day there isn't a breeze or a wind at the market.  We always have to remember to take enough clothes for a 10 degree weather difference between home and White Rock, as that wind can sure make it feel cold after standing there all morning.  We stopped at the tree farm along 16th ave and gave the dogs their usual pre-market walk.  It sure didn't feel like 7 1/2 months since we walked around there.  Even the dogs didn't seem that excited.

There is a new rule this year that no vehicles are allowed onto the market site after 8:30, so most of the vendors were being very good and were set up quite early yesterday.  In fact the place looked too quiet after 8:30, as usually there are still vehicles parked there and people bustling around getting set up, as well as those customers that insist on getting there waaay too early wandering around.

Anyway, the market started off kind of quietly but then really picked up as the morning went on and it got a bit brighter.  I don't know about other vendors, but we had a great day!

The lovely Mayor of White Rock, Catherine Ferguson, along with the market manager, Helen Fathers, on her right, and assistant manager Deb, cut the ribbon and declared the market open for the 11th season.  And Helen and Deb, you're lovely too:)

The entertainment Token Rhyme was good, and the kiddos were getting into the swing of it.

I did realize that it was a bit hard to get around and take photos at times, as when we are busy, it takes the two of us to deal with it all, and to keep the jam stocked up on the shelves.  So despite great intentions, I didn't do all I had planned to do for this blog post, but I guess you're just gonna get what I get around to getting!

Thanks to David Webb for taking some of the photos here. 

This is Chase.  He is 12 years old, and said to be a border collie, husky, wolf cross. He belongs to The Granola King, who was set up a couple of tents over from us.
Chase, like his owner I think, is a free spirit:)  Chase mostly hung around on the grass behind the tents.  He felt it was his job to greet new dogs coming in to the market, but he wasn't pushy about it, and seemed to have a good handle on dog language.  Luna showed him her pearly whites numerous times.  He got the message:)

I heard later that Chase likes to wear a crown like his buddy The Granola King, and also that he gives really good hugs (Chase that is) although maybe the Granola King does too.  Next time Chase is at the market, I'll have to see if I can get him to demonstrate.

We had brought an x-pen to keep the dogs in on Sunday.  Booooorrrrriiiinnnnggg they say.   Nice that we didn't have to worry about the them at all, although Jake is never a problem, he is such a good dog.  Luna and Calli, well although pretty good, leave a bit to be desired some times.  Luna, with her issues with strange dogs and people, needs more supervision.  She seemed to be a bit 'bitchy' yesterday, but hopefully that will improve.

We were set up again next to Zodies Barkery, so I got some information about them. My next post will be a profile on them. 

A cute Nova Scotia Duck Toller straining to get at something edible someone dropped on the ground.  Now if I had a dollar for everytime I've been asked if Jake is a Duck Toller......

At the end of the day, a couple of the bakeries went around handing out some of the their left over bread, so thanks Fieldstone Bakery for the treat.

Coffee Queen Meredith came over to ask if we wanted any more coffee before she dumped the urns.  As she came I was adding, in my head, a column of jam prices up.  So she started calling out numbers and of course I lost my concentration and the total, and had to start over again.  So here is my revenge.

Do you think she could have been more coordinated?  I must have picked that coffee cup with her in mind.

Isn't it a parents job to embarrass their older children?  I think it's payback for what we have put up with over the years.

PS  You can click on any photo to make it larger.

Just another day to go!

We're looking forward to seeing all the old and new customers and vendors on Sunday!

One of the oldest vendors just happens to be us.  Well oldest as in having attended the market the longest, not in age I don't think:)  Larry and I (Karen) of Wyndson Farm having been vendors at the market from the year it started in 2001, and have missed only a handful of market days since then.

We live on a 10 acre hobby farm with some animals, and grow produce that we sell at the markets.  I also make jams and jellies, some fabric items and bring some 'country bouquets' and free range eggs to the market.  You can read about us and our animals and what we do, in fact more than you probably want to know, at the link above or in the sidebar on the right.

I can also introduce you to some 'Market Dogs'  Meet Calli, Jake and Luna, who come to the market with us each week.

Calli is a 10 year old lab mix that we have had since she was 9 weeks old

Jake is the red and white border collie.  He is almost 6, and we adopted him when he was 8 months old.

Luna(tic) is the black and white border collie who is 2 1/2, and we adopted her when she was a year old.

Our dog's favourite thing about the market is probably the walk they get at Campbell Valley Park on the way to White Rock on Sunday morning.  Next would probably be being set up next to Zodies Barkery (we were last year, not sure about this year yet), and the dog treats that seemed to come their way.

On Sunday mornings they know what is going on, and can't wait to get in the truck and get going. (Calli and Jake ride in the back seat area)

See you at the market!

Less than four days to go!

The first market of the summer season is this Sunday!!!  Come and check out the vendors, have a cup of coffee, grab a seat and listen to the music.  'Token Rhyme' will be playing at the market this Sunday.  Go to the link, click on one of the green arrows, and listen to a sample of their music.  Hope to see you there!

                                                       

Free Advertising

You've gotta like any free advertising.  There was a story about Farmers Markets in the Vancouver Sun today. Read that story here  What the link doesn't show was a list of Metro Vancouver markets that was included in the  newspaper article, and the dates and times of White Rock's market were there.  You've gotta like that!

Hold onto your hats...

Because if it's windy, they might blow off while you are jumping up and down with excitement because the farmers market is coming!!!  Only 12 days to go, and the excitement is building.  There will be an expansion of the market onto Russell Avenue this year.  Opening day May 30 (9am - 1pm) will see approximately 50 vendors at the market.

.  Check to see if your favourite vendor will be there.

AJI Products                                                   

Alex the Woodman (Wood Products)

Applebarn Farms (peppers)                            

Baroness Hats
Biota Organic/Biodiverse Farm                        
Brainfood Snacks
Celydon Organic Farms                     
Christina's Garden (herbs, cut flowers)

Coffee Tent (San Miguel Fair Trade Coffee)         

Colour Concept (photography)
Copeland Pies (pies, lasagnas)                         
Cropthorne Farm
Dingolay Jewellery                              
Distinctive Perennials
European Breads                               
Fieldstone Bakery
Fresh off the Boat (fish)                       
From the Earth Organic Farm
Gems in Bloom (Jewellery)                               
Gesundheit Bakery
Glen Valley Organic Farm                   
Goats Pride Organic Dairy (cheese)
Gold Valley Bee Co. (honey)                            
Granola King
Hello Friends Bakery                                        
HG Farms
J & J Country Kitchen (diabetic pickles)          
JGN Jewellery
Judy's Country Kitchen  (baked goods)
Leslies' Metal Work
M and N Enterprises                           
Maluma Bison (bison products)
Maan Farms (fresh produce)                             
Miss Bossy Boots (children's wear)
Natural Village (farm)                             
Outwest Ranches (local beef )

Papers by Margaret                                 

Pearl Restaurant

PurpleLinen                                            

Richmond Specialty Mushrooms

Schatzi  (bath and body products)           

Simply Delish Soups

Smakage Sugar Bakery                                     

Thai Sauce Lady

The Cranberry Lady                               

Tromell Greenhouses

Wyndson Farm (jams, eggs, greens, flowers, sewing)     

Zodies Barkery (dog treats)
     
Mark it on your calendar and be sure to come to the market on May 30.  Join us in celebrating the start of another season, and have a cup of the best coffee around.  We hope to see you there!