I am so glad and grateful to live in the beautiful Okanagan valley, where the sun is hot and snow melts quickly. At least compared to the rest of Canada, we are lucky to live in such a sun kissed area, dispite the dry conditions.
I am also so glad and grateful to the wonderful people and organizations that also exist here. Dispite the ridiculous by-laws and egos inflated by money, there are some real gems around here, such as those beautiful souls who are involved with the farmers market, young agrarians, pollinator pasture project and permacutlure groups! Oh, and there are many many more.
All of these awesome groups and events give me plenty to keep busy and learn from, and many opportunities to volunteer to make real change and meet inspiring. This weekend was one such interactive and real life adventure, I sure did fit a lot of activities into one day!
We start with the local farmers and crafters market, always an uplifting and inspiring place.
Good thing I am broke, because any money I have is usually spent here on fresh veggies, plants, desserts and crafts. The diversity at this market is really refreshing, and there are usually more then a few friendly faces <3 Here are some brief snippets from the market:
This guy gave me free rainbow carrots! I just wanted a carrot to munch on, but he gave me a whole bag. What a gem <3 I am feeling the community spirit, and tasting the crunchy sweetness of a purple carrot (my favorite shade of carrot).
Ahh, sunshine farms. This is where all of my money is well spent! They have tons of heritage seeds and seedlings to choose from, I spent a bit too long trying to choose!
I ended up buying 4 little plants. A lavender, wild bergamont, lemon rose geranium and rosemary! New friends for me! And the lemon rose geranium has the most amazing smell, I am so in love. Apparently, both the wild bergamont and scented geranium are ruled by Venus, and both have medicinal qualities that go well in tea!
Yummmm, fresh foods and apple juice. Local food is the best!
Upcycled clothing and crystal pendants, could this get any cooler??
Good on ya Morning Dove Farms! Your land is beautiful, and so are you, thank you for making wonderful medicine and preventing the use of plastic!
ALPACAS ARE COOl
As you can see, there are lots of cool things going on here. From spring veggies, potatoes and apples from storage, to hand crafted tinctures, jewelry and up-cycled clothing! Not to mention some serious progress towards less plastic use, and alpacas!
After this lovely farmers market, I headed over to the pollinator pasture, then to the fair vote BC protest (I figured I would support my friends, and have some fun holding up a banner, even if I have some serious doubts about the whole thing), and then onto the permaculture food forest! I will cover all of these things in the next post, there is too much to show and tell!
Thank you all, my dear followers and internet randoms, for joining me on such a beautiful day of adventures. There is more to come! Maybe I will be able to keep myself inside to write more often.... but part of me know it won't happen. Its just too damn lovely out, and spring is my favorite season.....
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What a great market! Were the alpacas there as like a petting zoo thing? What was the fair vote protest about?
Thank you aha, it really always is wonderful. I think the alpaca guy brings some sort of animal everytime, last year I saw baby turkeys. I will cover the fair vote thing in the next post, I gotta research it. I just showed up lol.
You ask for one, and they give you a bag! In the end, its always about community.
ahaha yeah that was awesome, i love carrots
Make sure not to overdoes yourself with Vitamin A! lol
Would love to visit that farmers market seems like such a good variety and I love markets like this
They really are a wonderful place of community and good eats!
I love these kinds of markets! The similar thing we had nearby is starting to look more like a supermarket now though, and the slightly further away one we haven't been to for a while, but every time we have been parking as been an issue unless you get there bright and early or right at the end of the day before everyone starts packing up.
Ahhh, it is sooo worth the trip. I basically walk everywhere, or longboard, so I have no troubles parking ahaha, just carrying all the stuff I buy.
I remember when I used to skate pretty much everywhere a million years ago. Now we walk, or take the train. Sometimes a bus. Sometimes I drive. But I hate driving so there's always so much tossing up about whether the stress caused by driving will be worth the time saved/effort carrying stuff for the trip XD
Great to see your walk Cae! I posted a pic of venus last, ummmm Friday evening i think. Of the moon & Venus. Your picks and anything BC ---gets me going!!! Ohhhhh! The Okanagan. I have a feeling we will need to do a Steem meet-up out there. It would be so much for to connect in our regular life! Peace. Sweet @skycae .....oh! I also wanted to thank-you for the inspiration to add banners to my posts! It's so fun! Thanks for that 💋
Sweet, please do come meet up around here! Whereabouts are you? We have some beautiful land out here, it would be neat to have a camp over - meet up thing, and a bonfire, before the fire ban happens maybe. ahaha
Banners really are lovely, I forgot to add my upgoats! Oh well, next time...
I am just east of Calgary. So, not too far away. It would be awesome to connect and do a campout with you and your clan! Have a wonderful day 💜💙💚
Upvoted. Farmer Markets are the best. i support them. Local markets and family values first. love your photos and they remind me of markets I visited in Vietnam.
I am glad you enjoyed, it really is a lovely community vibe.
Lovely. Thanks.
Wow!! Thanks for showing us around this market... I've never seen upcycled clothing being sold before.
Neither have I, but this lady makes pretty cool stuff! I can't wait to get better at sewing so I can make my own funky outfits.
What a wonderful market!
And you're in Kelowna? I know a British teacher who got married and settled there a number of years ago (about 6, I guess.) Small world moment.
I hope your fire season is better this year.
ahh that is pretty cool, small world indeed. this is also a small town, so I wonder if i have met them? aha
I hope so too, about the fires. Last year a good month of the summer was completely smokey, so much so the solar panels didnt even work. It made things difficult, I do hope it rains more this year too, no droughts for me please! ahaha
Yeah, I was watching via Facebook during the horrible fires of 2015. I helped with communications in NE Washington - again, via Facebook.
Yeah, I presume she's still teaching - she taught one of my sons for year 3 in England. But she has two young ones of her own now, so she might be taking some time off, she doesn't tell us a whole lot about her personal life...
Sally Jacobs is her name. I don't know her husband's name.
I always enjoyed going to a farmers market! Besides the fresh veggies and fruits, I'd always come back with some other unplanned souvenir I could not help myself from buying.
I love farmer's markets. I'm usually attending the one in Kamloops, actually. Not too far from you. The Nelson markets are legendary, too, but really, any farmer's market will do. Congrats on the Curie vote! :)