The Need for more Farmer's Markets

Here in Victoria we have some markets, but not enough in my opinion.

For a couple of years I operated a market stall in Whistler BC. I had no idea what I was doing, but still managed to make a not bad income. It was also a lot of fun. I would love to have more market options here in Victoria, here is what we have at the moment:

Moss Street - a reasonably strong one in Fairfield, though the setting is not one that really is good for larger scale producers. It feels more like local colour than a place where you can make money. I have looked after a stall there on a few weekends for a friend and the business was not great. For local colour, I would go back, but not to shop.

James Bay has one right behind the legislature. I have been there and the offerings are very slim. No significant produce was on hand. Even if I happened to be driving by, I am unlikely to stop there.

Government Street Market - it is on Sundays and closes a section of Government close to the McPherson theatre. This market seems to have almost nothing for a local to purchase. I would never chose to go there for any reason.

Sidney Summer Market is on Thursday evenings and is the biggest market I have seen in this region. A huge amount of traffic as they close Beacon ave to traffic. I have also run a market stall at this market and was underwhelmed by how many of the people were not there to shop, but only to socialize. The busiest stalls are the ones where meals are on offer - you have to stand in line at these stalls for 30 minutes or more. This is the only market where I have seen real farmer's with their produce. They seem to do well and move large amounts of produce.

The markets at Esquimalt, Saanichiton, Metchosin and Sooke are all ones that I have been to so I can not comment on them.

The neighbourhood I live in - the Burnside Tillicum area. I believe that this area should have a farmer's market and it should be one where it is very easy for a person to pull up with a pickup to sell their produce. It also needs a location that is open to expansion, is on the main drag and acts as a community draw.

I believe that the underused south eastern corner of the Tillicum mall would be a perfect location for a market. I understand that Rio Can may simply not agree to this as one of their tenants is Safeway and the market could be seen as competition. In my opinion it would be in Safeway's interest to get more people on the east side of the mall so that they will see Safeway and potentially walk in. If I bought all my produce at the market and needed some more groceries, I would be inclined to look to Safeway because it would save me a trip. This would only be true if I could quickly walk to the store to finish my shopping.

Many locations that host markets make the mistake of not making as easy as possible for someone in a pickup to come in and set up. You need this access so that you will get the produce farmers, they are what will make a market really work well.

One of the best markets in BC is the East Vancouver Farmer's Market. It is held in the parking lot of the Croatian Cultural Centre. It is easy for vendors to set up and therefore there are a lot of high quality producers at the market. Producers come from the interior to go this market because they can sell a lot of fresh produce, $1000 to $3000 each time they go.

In Victoria I do not see a single market that is attracting anyone from up island to drive a few hours to sell their wares. There are a lot of producers in the Cowichan valley, they could be selling to the public here.

A Tillicum market should look to attracting people that would like to move 1000 pounds or more of produce per week. If there are a dozen real scale farmers at the market, the public will be there as well.

I am going to write up something on this and propose it to the Gorge Tillicum Community Association and the Burnside Gorge Community Association. I think these two groups are the ones that could spear head this

Scout Fest at Beacon Hill Park Oct 6 2007

Scout Fest for the Community, no matter your age

Celebrating

Past Traditions

Scouting’s 100^th Anniversary

Future Adventures

1. As you should be aware, Vancouver Island will be celebrating the Centennial with a public celebration of entertainment, food, activities, displays and competitions at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia on Saturday October 6, 2007 from 11 to 5. (6 if you include the campfire).
2. Some of the scheduled events include:
· 11:30 Beaver challenge – all Colonies are invited to participate – participants to receive a gift
· Noon Cub challenge race – All Packs to meet in Mayor’s grove – trophy and awards to the top teams.
· 1 pm Michael Mitchell – singer in the Cameron Band Shell
· 2 pm Scout challenge race– All troops to meet in Mayor’s grove – trophy and awards to the top teams.
· 3 pm Michael Mitchell – singer in the Cameron Band Shell
· 5 pm Camp fire – Camp fire Circle near Quadra Street Entrance


3. Unscheduled entertainment includes, Woodland Fairy stilt walker, Clowns, Face painting etc.
4. Activities and Displays will include:

a) Obstacle course

b) Orienteering in the park
c) Story telling tent with Pat Carfa (the Lullaby lady and many others)
d) Ride a train with the Vancouver Island Model Engineers (maybe even drive one)
e) Set up of mock camp site and give a sheet to identify ten things wrong with the site
f) Walk a trail and identify plants and things in the park
g) Rope making
h) Pioneering projects (help build a tower)
i) Crafts
j) Game area
k) Badge display
l) Badge swapping
m) Displays of Beavers with craft
n) Displays of Cubs with activities
o) Displays of Scouts with activities
p) Displays of Venturers/Rovers with activities
q) World Scouting displays
r) Parade float on display
s) First aid demonstration and practical
t) Throw a fire man boot and try for the record in your age group
u) Compete with friends to dunk a plug
v) Knot station
5. Buy your food at the event, hot dogs, drinks etc.
6. Help promote the event in your area. One way will be to place a photo of a Scouting member (past or present) in the Times-Colonist. A special feature will be published October 2, 2007, which will promote Scoutfest2007 and Scouting today. Call 386-2121 (the deadline is September 21, 2007.

Scouting is 100 Years Old - Support The Local Region

Friends and those I do not yet know.

A number of us are putting a lot of effort into creating a spectacular event on October 6, 2007 in Beacon Hill park. We hope you will be bringing all your youth to have fun and celebrate their new year of Scouting in this 100th year of the movement.

The event is open to the public and we hope many will come to help invigorate local groups who have grown smaller over the years. However we need to advertise.

We have a great opportunity with the Times Colonist to print a special insert which will do two things:
1. It will advertise the event.
2. It will create a keep sake for anyone involved in Scouting to hold on to for years.

BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS BY PUTTING IN TRIBUTES TO OUR KIDS, OUR PARENTS, OUR FRIENDS AND OURSELVES!!!

The deadline is September 21, 2006. It costs $30 and you get a photo and five lines of text honouring your scouting members. call the T/C at 386-2121 or email specials@tc.canwest.com

There are very few placed so far. PLEASE place a tribute yourself (we all know someone in scouting). And encourage parents of your youth to do so as well.

WHY? Because it will help promote Scouting, and the centennial event and help attract more people to Scouting. And you get a great keepsake out of it. The more tributes placed the more impressive it will be to the public. As well the more promotion we get out of it.

So, hop on board.

If you have questions, comments, concerns, criticisms etc. I am happy to hear them.

Thanks for your on going support.

YIS

PS: I have attached the info from the paper on what is being done and how to place a tribute.

James Legh
Deputy Area Commissioner-Events
Greater Victoria Area
Scouts Canada
250.658.0220
james@legh.ca

100 YEARS OF SCOUTING 1907-2007,
Join the Celebrations Throughout the Year

As stated by Winston Churchill:

In this uncertain world one cannot be sure of much. But it seems probable that one or two hundred years hence, or it may be more, these three monuments (one of which is Scouting) that we have seen set up in our lifetime will still proclaim the fame of their founders, not in the silent testimony of bronze or stone, but as institutions guiding and shaping the lives and thoughts of men.

Planting the yard

I have been working on the yard of the new house, but it has been neglected for some years now. It looks like hell at the moment.

I moved about six full car loads of brush to the City of Victoria transfer station on Garbally - convenient that it is so close to where we live and that the city has made it free to drop garden and yard waste there on Saturday mornings. It is amazing how much space there is in an Optra. I moved a lot of brush.


I have some new beds in front of the house and the south yard partly cleaned out, but the area under the house deck is a huge mess still. The veggie garden is nowhere close to being used.

Interesting site about Vancouver Island history

I have been trying to research the history of the house we have on Harriet road and the Burnside-Tillicum-Gorge neighbourhood we live in. I found this site about Vancouver Island history.

I found it because the street names were in the section on the Yates family. So I now know that this house was once part of the Yates Gorge estate/farm.