In June of this year, long time market supporter and vendor, Ilona Schachner, passed away after a battle with cancer. Ilona was well known for her authentic Viennese delicacies like strudels and meringues. But many people were unaware of Ilona’s amazing contribution to the foundation of RCFM.  When the first rumblings of organization started up in 06/07 here in New Westminster, board president Andrew Murray approached Ilona about coming on board as a vendor, and soon she was helping lay the groundwork for a successful market in general.

Ilona provided wise guidance and solid, realistic advice. She and another local vendor, Laila Axen from Arila Apiary, would go to other farmers markets and encourage vendors to give us a try.  She believed in what we were trying to do and her knowledge was contagious. Without Ilona’s tireless efforts, RCFM would not be what it is today. We simply would not have had the amazing support and foundation in the early days without her.

This week’s market is a celebration of Ilona Schachner and what she brought to the market both as a vendor and as a part of the organization. We’ll be erecting a tent in her honour, and encourage you to share your memories of Ilona. We’ll also be collecting donations and will forward them to the Canadian Cancer Society in her name. This special market is not a sad occasion. While we were stunned when Ilona passed, we will remember her for her delicious baking, her wit, and most of all, her valuable contribution to creating the community we are today. Please join us at the market this week and enjoy in her memory.

Music, sponsored by our friends at the Heritage Grill (where there’s live jazz, blues, folk, Latin, and funk 7 days a week!):

• Tim Lambert 3-5pm
• Ron Ulrich 5-7pm

Kids’ Entertainment:

• Allyson Grant, Face Painting
• Kids’ Freeplay Zone, with toys selected with care at Pedagogy Toys

Community Group:

• Wildlife Rescue Association

Vendors This Week : (not all vendors come to every market, so check this list if you’re looking for someone special – they are arranged categorically. Want a complete listing of all the vendors, even the ones not here this week? Here it is!)

Eat On Site

• Copeland Foods – hot vegetarian samosas, as well as frozen take home meat pies and ready-to-eat dinners
• Creperie La Boheme – Mouthwatering crepes!
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Lamington Heritage Farms – lamb kebabs as well as grilled lamb sausages on a bun. Plus, frozen cuts of lamb and duck, as well as fresh chicken eggs.
• Maluma Health Foods – Bison hot dogs, bison smokies, bison chili and bison ribs and take home packages too!
• Westvan Foods – Hot tasty local roasted corn!

Produce

• Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
• Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Glen Valley Organic Farm – certified organic produce from a farm located only 50km from New Westminster
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Misty Mountain Specialties – fresh wild and cultivated mushrooms, dried mushroom products
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce grown in Richmond
• Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce

Dairy

• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – High quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Fresh Off the Boat – Fresh fish
• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – Baked Goods
• Eat It Up – Gluten free and no-sugar-added fruit pies, cookies and green tea
• Sunrise Pita Company – pitas, chips, dips, and banana bread

Delectable Treats

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Amber’s Choice – baked madeleines, soups, salad dressing
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Con Amore Foods – handmade fresh pasta and vegan spreads and dips
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Jane’s Honey Bees – honey and other bee products
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs

Local Crafters

• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Diva Dawg Clothing Company – dog clothing and accessories, altered art bracelets for humans
• Ildiko Jewelry– hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• Lesley and Brenda – assorted knitting, beaded items, and other hand made goods
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential and fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Trevor Cooper – West Coast fine photography

Gardening

• Secret Garden – cut flowers

Some of you may be aware that Mary Forstbauer, longtime RCFM vendor selling organic produce, beef, and other farm products and BCAFM president, has undergone heart surgery. Above all, RCFM tries very hard to be a community and we thank everyone who has expressed their concern for Mary. She’s doing well and is at home. She sent this note we wanted to pass along to everyone who has asked about her and sent along their good thoughts.

Thank you for all your prayers and healing thoughts this past month. Thank you for your calls, cards and flowers. I am now the proud owner of a new aortic heart valve.  On Aug 19, 2010 My open heart surgery was successful. After one week in hospital I was released to the care of my family.  At home I am taking it easy and walking as instructed by my medical team.  (My walks the first week were 5 minutes but they felt like I had run a marathon).  I am slowly increasing my walking time and activities.   The healing time is about 12 weeks.   Once my heart healing has been completed I will undergo knee replacement on my right knee hopefully late fall or early winter. I am healing and look forward to returning to the markets next spring as the new Super Organic Earth Mother. A special thank you to my good friend Mhora who has stepped forward and looked after the markets that she an I have been attending this summer.

We are so pleased that things have gone well, Mary! Can’t wait to see you soon.

Even though autumn doesn’t start for another few weeks, many people view the end of August as the beginning of autumn. For many people school is just starting, and for the most part, summer holidays wrap up. But here at the market, we are still going strong! This week also marks the introduction of some new produce being harvested – squashes with their plump, sweet bodies are starting to be spotted all over the place, and some of our favourites, like blueberries, are starting to taper off. From the BCAFM, here is a list of what you can find in season locally in September: Apples, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Melons, Onions (sweet), Onions (cooking), Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Raspberries, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.

Here’s what else is happening this week:

Music, sponsored by our friends at the Heritage Grill (where there’s live jazz, blues, folk, Latin, and funk 7 days a week!):

• Delaney Bloudell – local singer with country covers 3-5pm
• Chris Messytone – accordion tunes from all genres 5-7pm

Kids’ Entertainment:

• Allyson Grant, Face Painting
• Kids’ Freeplay Zone, with toys selected with care at Pedagogy Toys

Vendors This Week : (not all vendors come to every market, so check this list if you’re looking for someone special – they are arranged categorically. Want a complete listing of all the vendors, even the ones not here this week? Here it is!)

Eat On Site

• Beer Brats – Beer. Brats. Brilliant.
• Copeland Foods – hot vegetarian samosas, as well as frozen take home meat pies and ready-to-eat dinners
• Creperie La Boheme – Mouthwatering crepes!
• Maluma Health Foods – Bison hot dogs, bison smokies, bison chili and bison ribs and take home packages too!

Produce

• Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
• Canwest Farms – blueberries!
• Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Glen Valley Organic Farm – certified organic produce from a farm located only 50km from New Westminster
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce grown in Richmond
• Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce and Okanagan fruits

Dairy

• Farmhouse Natural Cheeses – cow’s milk cheeses, goat’s milk cheese, goat’s milk yogurt, cow milk butter
• Greendale Herb and Vine – cheddar cheese curds, honey, hazelnuts, prepared vinegars, hazelnut butter
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – High quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Fresh Off the Boat – Fresh fish
• Gelderman Farms – Pork
• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – Baked Goods
• Eat It Up – Gluten free and no-sugar-added fruit pies, cookies and green tea

Delectable Treats

• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Amber’s Choice – baked madeleines, soups, salad dressing
• Bean Boy Creations – Organic hummous
• Con Amore Foods – handmade fresh pasta and vegan spreads and dips
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• JJ’s Country Cookin’ and Diabetic Foods – sugar free jam and many varieties of pickled vegetables
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs

Local Crafters

• Alma Valle Fine Silver Jewelry – handcrafted sterling silver original jewelry
• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Lesley and Brenda – assorted knitting, beaded items, and other hand made goods
• Mod Argent – hand forged one of a kind sterling silver pieces
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential and fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations
• Trevor Cooper – West Coast fine photography

Gardening

• Secret Garden – cut flowers