This Saturday marks the final winter market of the season before we take our May break and summer season starts up back at Tipperary Park in June. We’ve had a great season at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and we’d like to thank them for their continued support and partnership. We hope we’l see you at the market on Saturday. The market is from 10-2 and features 30+ vendors offering the best of BC.

What’s in season this month? According the to BC Association of Farmers Markets website you can start to see Apples, Asparagus, Chives, Pears, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, and Spinach. Did you see the spinach salad recipe ideas post? I have also heard you can keep your eyes peeled for nettles and the first greenhouse peppers and tomatoes. Make sure you come early to get in on the freshest of the season. We’d love to hear your favourite recipes using ingredients from the market so drop us a line at info@newwestfarmers.ca.

Our musical guest at the market this Saturday, sponsored by The Heritage Grill, is Curtis Parry – a New Westminster resident and smooth crooner to soothe the soul. As always, we’ll have some kids’ goodies going on in the lounge and the fine folks from Girl Guides of Canada will be on hand to answer your questions about their programming for youth.

We’re also going to be randomly giving away three lovely fleece jackets courtesy of Translink to market goers that choose to leave their car at home (or carpool with three or more). Bring your camera and snap some shots, and you could win an amazing prize package in our 2011 Photo Contest.

The final indoor winter market is Saturday April 9th, from 10-2 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, located at 514 Carnarvon Street in New Westminster. It is very close to the Columbia Skytrain Station. The City of New Westminster is also sponsoring free parking at the downtown waterfront parkade – so grab some friends and carpool to the market.

We move to our outdoor location at Tipperary Park June 9th and run every Thursday rain or shine from 3-7 until October 6th. Don’t forget to sign up for a market reminder (it’s free!) from My Markets News.

Here’s the vendor lineup (please note: this list is current as of Monday April 4 – cancellations do occasionally occur so check back):

Eat On Site

• Copeland Foods – hot vegetarian samosas, as well as frozen take home samosas
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread

Produce

• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Misty Mountain Specialties – fresh wild and cultivated mushrooms, dried mushroom products
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce grown in Richmond
• Shalefield Organic Gardens – produce from the Columbia Valley

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – Baked Goods
• Sweet Delights – vegan baking
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• Take a Fancy Chocolates and Sweets – handmade chocolates right from scratch

Local Crafters

• Alma Valle Fine Silver Jewelry – handcrafted sterling silver original jewelry
• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• The Magpie’s Nest – stunning hand made jewelry in silver
• Pomomama Designs – wire crochet jewelry and accessories, fused fabric and metal art
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations
• Scentimental Creations – Soaps, lotions, hand made cosmetics

Mark your calendar for April 14, 2011. Canadian Parents for French – New Westminster Chapter is preparing for the 6th Annual Marché français/French Marketplace. Come and experience a bit of French culture at the Marché français. Meet vendors of hard-to-find French resources and interesting French-themed items. Listen to accordion folk dance music from France and Quebec performed by Marian Rose (2:45 pm – 4:45 pm) while enjoying delicious crêpes and maple treats. There will be a children’s activity and craft area, French story time and a raffle. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome!

• Thursday, April 14, 2011, 2:45 pm – 7:30 pm
• École Herbert Spencer School Gym
• 605 Second Street, New Westminster

Some of the vendors at the Marché français 2011:

• Kidsbooks
• French Usborne Books
• L’École des Loisirs – Abonnements MAX – Quality book subscriptions from France
• Savoir Books
• Word Nerd Language and Education Ltd.
• Van Dop Gallery – showcasing French-Canadian artists
• Andrea Seraphim – photography from France
• Bijoux de jardin – garden jewels
• French Greeting Cards – locally made
• Crêperie de Bohème – sweet and savory crêpes
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – traditional le sirope d’erable (maple taffy served on a bed of snow) and maple sugar cones
• CPF- New West – Will be selling 100% Maple Syrup and other maple products from Quebec. As well as resources for parents and students
• Plus many more…

About Canadian Parents for French:

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is a national network dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians.

www.cpf.bc.ca

Merci to SD40 for supporting this event.

For more information call Heidi Clarkson at 604-525-2631

Spring is almost upon us! A few weeks ago, a rodent in a number of parts of the continent predicted an early spring and this weekend we set our clocks one hour forward. My snowdrops, crocuses, and other bulbs are all poking up, and my veggie garden layout is complete. Our farmers are all busy with season preparations, and a few of them never really stopped!

The market this Saturday will showcase the coming of spring with fresh farm products, homemade delicacies, and beautiful one of a kind crafts. We’re featuring Ron Ulrich, a summer market favourite with a huge repertoire and a silky voice. We’ve also pleased to be presenting a 30 minute lecture in the lounge with Kelly Kiss, a registered holistic nutritionist about the 10 Healthy Benefits of Eating Local. The lecture will run at  11am and 1pm and will take place in the lounge. It is absolutely free to the public.

Also in the lounge is homemade playdough and colouring for kids. Our community group this month is the  Royal City Gogos – grandmothers helping grandmothers. Finally, If you haven’t signed up to be a RCFM member yet, you can in the lobby! Membership is just $10 and is a great way to show your support for the market and is one of the ways we fundraise.

Our friends at Translink are again sponsoring our transit incentive draw – take transit, walk, or cycle to the market and be entered to win a 3 zone transit pass. Green Zebra is also sponsoring a draw – anyone is permitted to enter to win a Green Zebra Guide – a chock full coupon book for green living. For both draws, see our friendly volunteers at the info desk where you can also pick up some of our new merchandise!

The winter market is Saturday March 12th, from 10-2 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, located at 514 Carnarvon Street in New Westminster. It is very close to the Columbia Skytrain Station. The City of New Westminster is also sponsoring free parking at the downtown waterfront parkade – so grab some friends and carpool to the market.

Here’s the vendor lineup (please note: this list is current as of Monday March 7th – cancellations do occasionally occur):

Eat On Site

• Copeland Foods – hot vegetarian samosas, as well as frozen take home samosas
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread

Produce

• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
• Misty Mountain Specialties – fresh wild and cultivated mushrooms, dried mushroom products
• Shalefield Organic Gardens – produce from the Columbia Valley

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – Baked Goods
• Sweet Delights – vegan baking
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• Take a Fancy Chocolates and Sweets – handmade chocolates right from scratch

Local Crafters

• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Dingolay Glass Creations – African and Caribbean fused glass jewelry
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• Jewelry by Apt – hand made jewelry
• Magnetite Jewelry by Gina – magnetite jewelry custom fit
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential and fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations

PS: Here’s a poster if you’d like to download it and put it up in your building!