There’s been a farmer’s market here now for three years. A proper farmer’s market that is – one where most of the vendors are farmers (80%, I believe) and not jam makers and crafty folk as the Friday market in Nanaimo has been for ages. It has a great location, with lots of room, and seems to be popular too – I regularly have to line up for bread and eggs.

Slow Rise Bakery

One of my favourites is the Slow Rise bakery, based in Gabriola Island. They have wonderful scones and authentic artisan bread, naturally leavened and baked in a hearth oven.

Today we grabbed some pasture-raised chicken thighs which I’ll be using to do a version of Chicken Legs with Carrots & Cauliflower when the weather cools down, a raspberry-white chocolate scone, some eggs and excellent maple breakfast sausages from Traehus Haven Farm in Errington and some strawberries. Yes, strawberries on Vancouver Island in late September – and they are delicious.

It seems like summer’s hanging on just a little bit longer, and we’re not complaining.

Strawberries!