"Make It. Bake It. Grow It" on Salt Spring Island. That's the guideline for any and all produce, organic food, arts and crafts sold at the island's famous open-air
Market in the Park. A must for visitors, the market takes over downtown Ganges on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from late March/early April to the end of October.
The Saturday Market
Salt Spring artisans, farmers and creative types arrive early each Saturday morning to set up the 140 market tables and tents. They fuel up on coffee and baked goods from one of the nearby coffee shops or fellow vendors. Then they begin greeting the early arrivals who know that parking becomes a serious headache as the crowds swell later in the day. It's also the best time to snag limited-edition breads and the freshest of fresh produce.
What To Buy
Some of the unique items available for purchase on any given Saturday: aromatic handmade soap; cotton bandanas; herbal teas and skincare products; gourmet pet treats; solar-powered toys; stained glass lamps and mirrors; handcrafted jewellery; ornamental ironwork; paintings, art photography and framed prints; potted herbs ready for the garden; functional, artistic and/or whimsical pottery; handwoven silk scarves; hemp and tie-dyed clothing; birdhouses; wood carvings; folk art; and, for those eager to keep the party going, drums, percussion instruments, flutes and whistles.
Local and Organic Food
Organic produce has been a mainstay of the market since it launched in 1973. Here one can stuff canvas bags full of a season's cycle worth of fresh produce plucked from the ground hours earlier. Late spring is primetime for asparagus, radishes and peas. As summer deepens into fall, corn, kale, root vegetables and organic apples appear. Certain staples are routinely available during the market's seven-month calendar. These perennials include garlic, eggs, fresh-cut flowers, jams and preserves, wild smoked salmon and tuna, baked goods, island-made hot mustard, organic cereal and many world-class varieties of creamy, blue-veined cheese. Snackaholics can enjoy baked goodies, lemonade, cappuccinos and a dozen varieties of the ever-popular Island Fruitcicles on the hoof.
The Tuesday Market
Fresh produce is the focus of a smaller, far less crowded market on summer Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the meadow behind the United Church at 111 Hereford Avenue in Ganges.
Festive Atmosphere
Rain or (more typically given the dry summers here) shine, the market is a festive celebration of all that makes Salt Spring unique. Vendors set up their tables around the perimeter of waterfront Centennial Park and spread out into the parking lot of nearby Gasoline Alley. On the park's green expanse, musicians and drummers keep the rhythmic pulse jumping. Teenagers play hacky sack. Babies smile broadly from strollers, backpacks and slings. Family groups spread out blankets and picnic in the shade. The buzz of community life is uplifting and infectious.