The Gabriola Farmer’s Market
Saturday Mornings - 10am-Noon
by Portia Boehm
There’s not a lot that’s more satisfying than preparing a meal that comes directly from the ground. There’s something magical about knowing exactly where your food comes from, and why it tastes the way it does. That’s the beauty of the Farmer’s Market. The ability to buy fresh produce is a large perk in the Market experience, but does not complete the trip. Not by a long shot.
Here on Gabriola, we have something of a reputation (however self-generated) for being an Artist’s Island. Galleries, open houses and craftspeople abound here, all eager to share their works. That’s why a Farmer’s Market is such a valuable venue for visitors to the island. It’s an opportunity for vendors to showcase their work, while at the same time, providing a sort of appetizer of what our island has to offer.
The works available range in medium and content, while having one thing in common- everything for sale at the market has been made by an Islander. It is this pride and protectiveness of our works that makes Gabriola’s Market special. Gabriola is an encouraging, if somewhat crowded, cultural environment. Artists, actors and musicians (not to mention writers) are crawling out of the woodwork, and most of them happy to shine your shoes and walk your dog while reciting their poetry. Sometimes backwards.
At the market, there is pottery made from clay dug out of the Island soil. There are glowing wooden bowls made from trees felled in that big storm last summer. There is silver jewellery made in the tradition of the Vikings, hand hammered and locally designed, made without any machines. There are hand painted faerie wings made by girls who were born on the island, accompanied by photo albums filled with every kind of person who has ever worn them. There is a stand up bass player, and a banjo player, and enough freshly baked foccaccia bread and fresh vegetables to sustain them all. Even when it rains, there are people who will sit in the cold and laugh, drinking their ginger tea.
The market is every Saturday morning, from ten until twelve, beginning May long weekend and continuing until early October. Getting off the Nanaimo-Gabriola Ferry, it’s about a ten minute walk, straight up the hill, less than a minute’s drive. On the right-hand side at the top of the hill is a small hall with tables and flowers and people all over the parking lot. I invite you to come over and see what we have to offer, and maybe stay for the afternoon. After all, it is a small island. Pick a direction and walk for long enough, and you’ll get to the beach.
