Farmers ’ Markets in the Islands
FROM CHEMIST TO
GARDNER Butchart Gardens sees 1 million visitors annually thanks to a cement chemist .
I T I N E R A R Y | S H O R T H O P S
Farmers ’ Markets in the Islands
Whether you ’ re a resident , or a visitor to the San Juan Islands , one way to take in the flavor of the islands ( literally and figuratively ) is to visit one of the farmers ’ Markets on the three main islands . They feature locally grown fruits and vegetables , as well as local seafood and countless other items that scream island life .
FROM CHEMIST TO
GARDNER Butchart Gardens sees 1 million visitors annually thanks to a cement chemist .
San Juan Island
THE SAN JUAN ISLAND FARMERS ’ Market features delicious island-raised produce , berries , colorful bouquets , eggs , and dairy products , as well as fresh local seafood , shellfish , and meats . The market also features freshly cooked and prepared foods made from local ingredients , grass-fed burgers , hot sausages , baked goods , pizza , crafts , and more .
The market is held year-round at Brickworks , in downtown Friday Harbor on Nichols Street . Between July 4 and Labor Day and closes at 1:30 p . m . From January through March the market is open on the 2nd Saturday of the month and closes at 1 p . m . The market takes place each Saturday from April through October both inside and outside of Brickworks . sjifarmersmarket . com
Orcas Island
THE ORCAS ISLAND FARMERS ’ MAR-
KET is open from 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . every Saturday from the first weekend in May to the first weekend of October on the Village Green in the heart of Eastsound .
During most of October and November , the Market meets on Saturday from
11 a . m . to 2 p . m . at Oddfellows Hall , located on Haven Street just south of Main Street on the way to Madrona Point .
All items sold in the market are grown or crafted by Orcas Island farmers and artisans . The market includes produce , much of it organic , crafts , art , jewelry , clothing , pottery , food and drink vendors , and some of Orcas Island ’ s service organizations ( historical museum , master gardeners ). orcasislandfarmersmarket . org
Lopez Island
VISIT THE LOPEZ FARMERS ’ MARKET to find island-grown vegetables , fruit and flowers , as well as island-produced food products such as jams , chutneys , pickles , fresh fudge , seafood , natural grass-fed meats , and more . You ’ ll also be able to purchase a wide variety of arts and crafts including jewelry , soaps , healing oils and salves , glass art , textiles , art prints , photography , furniture , metal works , etc .— all by local artisans . The market runs seasonally on Saturdays from 10 a . m . to 2 p . m . near the Lopez Center for Community & the Arts . The Lopez Market starts in mid May and ends mid September . lopezfarmersmarket . com
JENNIE BUTCHART FIRST CAME TO Owen Sound with her husband , Robert , to establish the family ’ s cement business . Robert Butchart saw the potential in the region ’ s rich limestone deposits in Tod Inlet where he ran his cement company .
Jennie originally worked as the company ’ s chemist , but quickly began her lifelong love affair with gardening . It started out simply enough , with sweet peas and rose bushes next to the family home . As Robert exhausted the limestone deposits Jennie began planning the now famous Butchart Gardens . Using horses and carts , she began filling in the limestone pit with topsoil from the farmland nearby . Eventually her garden grew to what is referred to as the sunken garden . Eventually the garden was given to Ian Ross , grandson of the Butcharts . And he continued to see to its growth into what is now Victoria ’ s single biggest attraction , the Butchart Gardens . Today , there are over one million bedding plants in some 900 varieties that are in bloom from March through October . By 1920 more than 50,000 people visited the gardens while today over one million people visit annually . And just think , what was once an exhausted limestone pit is now one of the world ’ s most beautiful places on earth . It ’ s a must-visit for anyone visiting Victoria with a couple hours to spare . kenmoreair . com
19