Jul
15
By Jessica Duncan
One of the first and easiest steps towards becoming an environmentalist is shopping locally. Whether you purchase locally grown produce, locally roasted coffee, or artistic creations from a local artisan, you are taking a stand for the environment while contributing to your local economy.
The good folk at James Bay Market show up at the corner of Menzies and Superior every Saturday, May through October, to help you do your part for the planet and your community. They bring their fresh produce, baked goods, preserves, body-care products and uniquely hand-crafted wares from as far afield as Saanich, giving the denizens of James Bay the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy the bounty of our region.
On July 26, the James Bay Community Market will be celebrating Environmental Day and you are invited to join in a day of festivities, education and fun. The regular vendors at the market will be joined by a variety of non-profit organizations that will be on hand to share their expertise and help you reconnect with nature. Wild ARC, operated by Victoria SPCA for wild animals, will talk about the thousands of wild animals they have rescued at their centre in Metchosin. The Compost Education Centre will be there to discuss kitchen and outdoor composting and help you choose the method that works best for you. There will be representatives from our CRD Parks Department promising interactive marine games, as well as park information. Capital Region Invasive Species Partnership will have a display that helps you identify invasive plants that affect our natural Garry Oak system and native plants. The ever-popular Master Gardeners - a volunteer group whose mission is to "provide the most up-to-date information on reliable and environmentally responsible horticultural practices for our region" - will be ready to answer all of your what, where and when to plant questions. And what would Environmental Day be without a local beekeeper on site to share the joys of apiculture? There will be a host of fun activities for children and, of course, live music for all to enjoy.
Every visit you make to a farmers' market is an act in favour of the environment, but Saturday July 26 at James Bay Community Market promises to be educational, inspiring and fun.
James Bay Community Market, located at the corner of Menzies and Superior, runs every Saturday 9am - 3pm, May till Thanksgiving.