Farms & Markets
Fresh produce
Working farms have been a key part of Mayne Island's identity since the 1870s.
Unlike neighboring Pender and Saturna islands, where the land is best suited for sheep, Mayne's kinder, gentler valleys have long been known for their cash crops and, in recent years, organic fruit and vegetables.
Farmer's Market
The Agricultural Hall in Miners Bay was constructed circa 1900 and quickly became the heart and soul of the island's social life. While the plain white Ag Hall has been usurped by the funky new Mayne Island Community Centre on Felix Jack Road, it remains a vital institution with its weekend art shows and Saturday morning summer market.
Islanders line-up early to snag the freshest local fruit, vegetables, and baked goods (the superb cinnamon buns and lemon tarts go fast). Artisans display their wares, musicians perform and everyone heads home happy three hours later. The market runs from late June/early July to Canadian Thanksgiving (second weekend in October).
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In mid-August, the same grounds also host Mayne's award-winning Fall Fair, the oldest such event in the outer Gulf Islands. The day begins with a community parade featuring vintage automobiles, a pipe band and no shortage of zanily dressed islanders
Meadowmist Farm
Family groups and anyone else fascinated by the rural lifestyle are welcome to mingle with the sheep, goats, chickens, peacocks, and resident cats at Meadowmist Farm run by veteran Mayne Islander Joyce Kallweit. By appointment and for a small fee, she'll lead personal farm tours or arrange parties for young ones. Also available is a line of creamy goats milk soaps along with woolen toques, socks, and kits for do-it-yourself knitting projects.
Organic Farms
A handful of certified organic producers routinely set out their stalls at the market and/or make the fruits of the soil available locally.
Starry Night Meadows Farm offers a cornucopia of produce from spinach, radishes, and baby turnips (in early July) to cucumbers, beets, carrots, and numerous varieties of apple (late summer/early fall). Varalaya Farm is known for its outstanding organic salad greens as well as its progressive activist role in the slow food movement.
Deacon Vale Farm raises organic beef and chicken while also producing an extensive line of jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, and relishes available at the Tree Frog Gallery and Tru Valu Foods. Ocean Meadow produces fruit, vegetables, herbs, bedding plants and lavender.
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