North Shore Green Markets

Vendor Spotlight: Delish Cupcakes

2011-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

Do you have a special event coming up? Are you looking for a unique dessert to wow your guests with? Delish Cupcakes is a local bakery serving up delicious treats for your tummy and your eyes. Cupcake bouquets can be made for any event from birthdays to baby showers! Or just order a dozen yummy singles to serve your guests, you wont be disappointed!

Vendor Spotlight: Practical Design Inc

2011-08-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

Looks like summer is FINALLY here and it is hot! As you are looking for ways to keep yourself cool, don't forget about your dog! K9 Coolers contain polymer crystals that when soaked for 30 minutes in water expand to more than 400 times their original weight! This water is slowly released into the dog collar, keeping it cool through the natural process of evaporation. No refrigeration is necessary! These amazing little crystals produce a continuous cooling effect for 1 full day! Stop by a local NSGM market and check out these amazing inventions! Your pooch will love you for it

Also available: Cooling Ties & Cooling Pads

Vendor Spotlight: Little Foot Print Organics

2011-08-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Proving that baked goods can be healthy AND delicious, Little Footprint Organics provides a healthy alternative to processed foods. All products are locally made in Deep Cove, completely organic and can even be delivered right to your doorstep! You really can have your cake and eat it too! Stop by a NSGM event today and treat yourself to something delicious

Vendor Spotlight: Tao Organics

2011-07-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

After reading the book "12 Steps To Raw", owner Agathe embarked on a life changing course of action. Six months of raw foods healed her mind and body, and turned her into a raw food adovcate. Her rheumatoid arthritis had disappeared! Her children soon followed her, and the family is now fully "raw". Agathe went on to create a line of delicious products proving that raw food can be fun and delicious! These products include:

Kale Chips
Crackers
Pizza Crust
Nut Cheeses
Cakes
and much more!

Make sure you stop by there booth at a NSGM market and try a sample. You will be pleasantly surprised at how yummy raw food can be! Better yet, sign up for a raw food cooking class held at Buddha Full on Lower Lonsdale.

Vendor Spotlight: Lifebites by Farmaseed!

2011-07-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yum! Finally a healthy snack that is Delicious and nutritious! Make sure you stop by a NSGM market and try a hemp Lifebite: de-hydrated bananas dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in hemp hearts! An organic treat that you can eat guilt free, and the kids will love.

Farmaseed is founded on a philosophy of reaching and maintaining the highest quality of life through pro-active, health based, preventative maintenance. They are dedicated to only using ingredients that are pure, organic, fair trade and raw!

Introducing: Be Clean Naturally

2011-06-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Be Clean Naturally strives to lessen the impact our day to day lives have on the Earth. With biodegradable and completely natural soap products, featuring a unique waste reducing refill program, Be Clean Naturally hopes to remind us all of our responsibility to care for this planet...and show us that it is not an impossible task!

All soaps are made with 100% natural ingredients, scented with pure essential oils, and prepared by hand in small batches.

Their bar soaps do not come with any paper packaging, they are stamped with a handmade, hardwood stamp to identify them and wrapped in tissue paper if necessary. All liquid soaps come in a plastic or glass bottle which is always refillable (and you get a discount if you bring your bottles back to be refilled).

Here are some friendly reminders from owner Kristin French on how small changes can make a world of difference:

1.Analyze your daily habits around consumption and waste disposal

2.Begin to think outside the box for ideas around sustainability

3.Share your sustainability ideas in a friendly and cheerful way

4.Make a list of your grandmother’s sustainability habits from when you were a child and implement them in your household

5.Reuse things at least 5 times before you recycle or compost them

6.When making a purchase consider if it is something that you want to pay to have and then pay again to dispose of at the land fill

7.Teach your children to respect Mother Earth

8.Learn to combine vegetable proteins and eat smaller portions of meat

9.Consider the amount of energy that goes into producing a product and how that energy was made before supporting the industry that produced it

10.Choose items that are locally grown and made

11.Grow a vegetable garden

12.Plant flowers to attract bees and butterflies

13.Be organized with your errands in order to do less driving

14.Take a friend or neighbor with you when you do your shopping so that two families get fed with half the gas

15.Ride you bike in order to get somewhere, not just for fun

16.Choose to do without some of the things you think you need

17.Turn your lights and appliances off when you are not using them

18.Use solar power to heat your water

19.Build a solar oven

20.Choose products with no packaging

21.Remember to bring you reusable shopping bags with you to the store

22.Share this article with all your friends

23.Purchase your soap products from Be Clean Naturally using a reused container

Sponsor Spotlight: Buddha-Full Fresh Juice and Smoothies

2011-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

This delightful lower Lonsdale cafe has become a vibrant hub of activity, bringing organic, raw, and vegan cuisine to North Vancouver residents. We are thrilled to have them as sponsors! The cafe features a wide range of fresh made juices and smoothies along with delectable edible goodies made by local raw foodies. Buddha-Full also host a variety of events for the public including raw food cooking classes, vegan pot lucks, musical performances and stich n bitch gatherings. Visit their website for more information, or better yet stop by and order a LoBo Smoothie, you'll be glad you did!

The Place to Party this Summer!

2011-05-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Join us for Friday Night Parties at the Pier, starting June 17th: the place to be on a Friday night in North Vancouver! Weekly at the Shipbuilders Plaza located near the Lonsdale Quay:

live music
great food
arts and crafts
games and fun
good old fashioned community based fun!
located near the seabus for easy access

Click here for more information!

Vendor Spotlight: Trudy Ann's Chai

2011-05-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Trudy Ann's Chai is authentic, rich with flavour and warms the soul. Featuring chai you can prepare at home as well as hot masala chai beverages ready for you to drink as you shop at the market, it is a warming treat the whole family will enjoy. All natural with no artificial flavours, the black tea used comes from a small farm in Eastern India. All spices are ground fresh in small batches and individually prepared by hand. All tea leaves and beverage cups used are 100% compostable.

Check out Trudy Ann's delicious chai at the next market and tell her you say hello!

Sponsor Spotlight: Bellevue Natural Health Clinic

2011-05-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Bellevue Natural Health Clinic will be sponsoring our markets this season! As West Vancouver's first multi-disciplinary and Naturopathic clinic, they offer services in complementary and integrative medicine, providing holistic healing and wellness - inside and out. Lead by Naturopath Dr Sara Kinnon, Bellevue Natural Health Clinic aims to empower you on your journey to optimum health!

Registered Massage Therapy
Naturopathic Medicine
Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Clinical Counselling
Infra-Red Sauna Therapy
Holistic Nutrition
Chiropractic Care
Custom Orthotics

10 Easy Ways to "Live Green"

2011-05-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

1. Eat Local! Buy fruits and veggies that are in season
2. Use a travel mug for your daily coffee on the go
3. Buy a stainless steal water bottle, plastic sucks!
4. Purchase things in bulk and cut down on packaging waste
5. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
6. A salad spinner cuts down on the need to dab greens dry with paper towels
7. This summer try making your own popsicles! Try blending grapes, apples, banana, and kale together and pouring into a popsicle mold. A yummy green popsicle kids will eat!
8. Avoid using aluminum coated cooking supplies. Try ceramic instead
9. Recycle EVERYTHING you can, even your bus transfer tickets!
10. Compost your kitchen scraps, your garden will thank you!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Vendor Spotlight: Frost Bites!

2011-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Where shave ice meets 100% all natural, hand-crafted syrups! No added preservatives, artificial flavours or colouring - just lots of yummy fruits, herbs, flowers, spices, teas and coffees.....and, of course, lots of sugary goodness! Frostbites brings a classic summer treat to local farmer's markets and events. All ingredients are sourced locally, using organic whenever possible.Get ready to welcome summer with a frosty cool Frost Bite at your local NSGM events!

Vendor Spotlight: Vale Farms Organic Meats

2011-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Vale Farms Organic Meats, they will be joining us at the NSGM events throughout the summer. We are excited to have them on board!

pasture raised, grass fed, all organic!
no added hormones or antibiotics
no GMO's
no synthetic fertilizers
BC SPCA certified

Animals are healthiest when they eat the way nature intended them to eat. Vale Farms livestock diet consists solely of grass and mineral supplements. Optimum health of livestock animals means optimum health for you! Why should you eat grass fed?

low in fat
high in Beta Carotene
good source of Omega 3's
high in Vitamin E

Not only are their animals fed the way nature intended them to be they are also handled with love and respect:

low-stress livestock handling
humane animal husbandry
pasture raised means animals are free to express their natural behavior

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Clean and Green!

2011-05-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

Most people don’t realize how many toxic chemicals are in today’s household cleaners. Those chemicals are bad for you and the environment! Here are some environmentally friendly alternatives that the planet and your body will thank you for using:

Vinegar and water is a great alternative to Windex. It is also a natural disinfectant and deodorizer, you can use it as a general all purpose cleaner that is safe for pets and children.
½ a cup of baking soda added to your regular laundry detergent helps keep your whites crisp and bright
cut a lemon wedge in half and dip it in Borax Powder. Use this to scrub soap scum from your shower walls
cut up old bedsheets or stained towels to use as cleaning rags
Don’t like the idea of more laundry Many companies now make paper towels out of recycled, non-bleach alternatives.

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Vendor Spotlight: Chilli Tank!

2011-04-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Chili Tank is probably the most unique street food dinning experience you could ever have! Their "tank" is literally a piece of an old 1943 military soup kitchen that has been modernized just enough to make it work as a high volume street food booth, but it still retains that genuine WW2 look!! Talk about original!

Not only is the concept one that is sure to draw a crowd, but the chili is hands down the best in the city. Full of flavor and made with tonnes of love, organic and local produce is used whenever possible. All utensils and soup bowls used are biodegradable and compostable. The Chili Tank itself is heated with a green fire log, which is made out of 80% used coffee grounds. Not only does this add to the already intoxicating smell of freshly cooked chili, but it is good for the environment too! Fresh European style baguettes are served with every bowl of steaming hot chili. Join us in welcoming Chili tank to our line up of amazing food vendors!!!!

Vendor Announcement: The Other Eden

2011-04-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome The Other Eden to our roster of amazing vendors! These family made soaps contain only the finest and purest ingredients, made in small batches to ensure purity, freshness, and quality. Absolutely no animal testing of any kind is used, and each piece of soap is loving cut by hand. All Palm and/or Palm Kernel oils used are grown and processed in a sustainable manner and is harvested in environmentally sustainable ways, from a mature plantation, and no de-forestation or animal habitat is damaged. Look for these luscious soaps at your local NSGM events!

Green Living Idea: Install a Rain Barrel

2011-04-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

If you garden consider installing a rain barrel! By installing a rain barrel and using that to water your garden (or even wash your car) you are preventing a huge draw on resources, and working with what mother nature naturally gives us! A rain barrel can hold up to 55 gallons of water and in rainy cities such as Vancouver that can save up to 2860 gallons (nearly 11,000 litres) of water!

Vendor Announcement: Dundarave Olive Company

2011-04-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

We are excited to welcome Dundarave Olive Company to our roster of amazing vendors! Locally made in West Vancouver with only the freshest raw ingredients and no preservatives or artificial flavors, Dundarave Olive Company offers delicatable gourmet stuffed olives, dipping sauces and premium olive oils. Make sure you visit their booth at a NSGM near you!

So You Want to Grow Your Own Food: Part 2

2011-04-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to part 2 of "So You Want to Grow Your Own Food"! Last week we learned all about location, light, and soil. This week we are focusing on water, fertilization, and seedling success.

Like us, plants need water in order to survive. Some fruits/vegetables will need more water then others so read seed package descriptions carefully. You also want to make sure you are watering your plants consistently, not too much and not too little. Give them a good regular soaking, up to 6-8 inches deep so the roots get what they need. Do not let the soil dry out completely, but do not over water either as this can encourage mold and mildew. The crowns/leaves of plants to not need to be watered, they only need to be warmed by the suns rays! So when watering ensure you are watering the base of the plant and soaking the roots. To water from the top down is a waste! On the note of water waste consider installing a rain barrel (we will have a green tip on how to do this later this month) or simply collecting rain water in buckets.

Most vegetables and fruits are hungry plants that will need to be fed some form of fertilizer. As we discussed last week your soil should be loaded with well rotted manure or compost to feed the plant on a daily basis and promote healthy bacteria growth. But the plants will still need regular applications of an organic fertilizer approximately every 2 weeks. Ensure that the fertilizer you use is organic, it is silly to buy organic seeds, build your raised beds with untreated timbre, fill your soil with organic compost...only to dump chemical fertilizer all over the place! Fish fertilizer is a good option, as is seaweed based liquid fertilizers. Some plants, like tomatoes, have very specific needs. If in doubt ask at your local nursery and they will help you choose the right fertilizer for the right plants.

To grow from seed or not? Personally I do a mixture of booth. There are simply some plants that are harder to grow from seed then others. Many people enjoy starting their tomato seedlings inside early, in order to get a head start while there is still frost on the ground. While this is a brilliant idea in theory you also have to keep in mind that seedlings will need to be "hardened off" in order to avoid them going to shock. A pampered indoor tomato plant cannot simply be plunked outside and expected to survive on its own! For this reason I prefer to buy my tomato seedlings already established and growing heartily from a local organic farmer. That way all the hard work is already done for me, I know they are organic, and I can just plant them and give them some love, water and sunlight! Pretty much everything else I grow from seed, including: carrots, lettuce, radish, herbs, beans and more!

I plant most of my seeds directly outdoors, once all threat of frost has passed and the soil has had a chance to warm up. Based on where I live this is usually after the Easter long weekend, but will vary from region to region. When I do start seedlings indoors I grow them in peat pots (can be found at your local garden supply store) underneath my stove light where it is nice and warm. Once they are 3-4 inches high and their stalks look nice and strong I gently cut off the bottom of the peat pot and plant the whole thing right into my garden. The walls of the peat pot will breakdown and the roots can grow out of the bottom hole you just created!

That about covers the basics of all you need to know to start growing your own food! Are you excited to get dirt under your fingernails? I know I am! Stay tuned for regular postings on all things related to organic food production and have fun!!!

Make Your Own Herbal Cordial!

2011-04-12T11:58:00.000-07:00


Image Source

We recently found this recipe for herbal cordials over on Inn Brooklyn and we just had to share it with you! Now that there are hints of spring in the air why not try making your own refreshing juices, rather then buying ones laden with food coloring, preservatives and nasty chemicals!

Herb Citrus Cordial (makes 4-5 pints)
Ingredients:

6 cup sugar
Zest of 6 citrus, in large pieces of peel
4 cups fresh citrus juice
2 cup water
8 cups loosely packed fresh basil or 2 cups lavender or 20 stalks of rosemary or some other herb you want to cordialize.

Method:

In a large pot bring sugar, zest, juice, and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add the herbs and let the syrup infuse for at least 15 minutes.
Meantime prepare your canning jars.
Strain syrup through a fine sieve, squeezing out as much syrup as possible from the herb leaves before discarding them.
Boiling water process for 10 minutes.

Serve with soda water, on ice for a cool refreshing beverage with a splash of color!

Green Living

2011-04-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

We at NSGM love trees, and you should too! Trees not only keep our air clean, but their roots also help prevent soil erosion. Did you know that huge areas the size of PANAMA are lost to deforestation every year!? This can be prevented! Paper products of all varieties are available in recycled forms now, from toilet paper to office paper. And don’t forget to re-use those one sided sheets of paper once you are done! Don't take paper for granted, buy recycled paper materials. Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

For more information you click here

So You Want to Grow Your Own Food?

2011-04-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Join the food revolution and start growing your own fruits and veggies! Its really not as hard as you think it might be, and the rewards of having a family garden plot far outweigh the work involved. Growing our own food is a wonderful way to connect with nature and to teach children the value of food production. As any gardener will tell you, seeds are truly remarkable things! They hold the secret of life, locked away inside their tiny shells and with love, water, light, and good soil they open up to share the wonder of natures creative powers with us! A wonderful lesson to teach our children, and a fun, healthy, and environmental way of cutting down on our food costs too! Grow your own! April is a good time to start prepping your garden, but it always a good idea to check your farmers almanac before planting any seeds to ensure that all danger of the last frost has passed. This is Canada after all!

First things first: where are you going to grow your bounty? Do not despair if your yard is equipped with poor, crumbly, hard or rocky soil...or if you lack much of a yard! Raised beds are a great alternative and can be built relatively easily and without a huge investment. A quick search on youtube will turn up hundreds of instructional videos on how to build a raised bed, ranging from simple to complex. (Make sure the wood you choose to build your raised bed with has not been treated with harmful chemicals that will leach into your soil and therefore your food!). Raised beds are also warmer as they are above ground, perfect for our rainy Vancouver climate that needs all the help with warmth and drainage it can get! If space is an issue then look to container gardening, it is not as limiting as you would think! Lettuce, tomatoes, beets, carrots, strawberries and much more can all successfully be grown in containers...just pay close attention to their water levels and don't let the soil become too dry or too saturated.

Of course when choosing your location we must also consider how much light it is getting. Adequate amounts of sunlight is essential to growing healthy fruits and vegetables, and in our rainy climate this can sometimes be a challenge. To grow edible food crops you need at least a solid 6 hours of sunlight per day, but some plants do better then others in low light conditions. However for our purposes we want LOTS of direct natural sunlight. Stay tuned for a post on what plants grow best in high versus low light levels.

Now that we have decided where we are going to grow our food, lets look to one of the most important parts of organic food production THE SOIL! Soil is the most basic building block of an organic garden, and of course you are going to grow organic! Right? Right! (Don't worry, we will have lots of helpful tips on here on how to keep your garden organic and pest free). As any good gardener will tell you "Feed the soil, not the plant". Choose rich, organic soil loaded with nutrients that will feed the plant. Work in a generous amount of compost and/or well rotted manure to create healthy soil. Healthy soil is loaded with microscopic critters that break things down, making new food to continuously feed your plants (click here for a more detailed read on soil). Feeding your plant is about more then simply adding fertilizer, it all starts with the very dirt you plant them in!

.................................................................................................

Stay tuned for part two of "So You Want to Grow Your Own Food?"

North Van Markets! Call for Vendors!

2011-03-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

We are getting a great response from vendors, but if anyone knows someone that makes, bakes, etc at home let them know we are here!
We are also looking for entertainers, music, dancers etc
Can't wait for the summer should be fun!