UBC Farm Market line-ups on Saturdays. Photo by J. Chong. Only if you need certain produce.
A great cycling and foodie outing for family, rain or shine (let’s hope for sun) is the outdoor farm market on the University of BC’s campus. The festival will run 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. just this Saturday. On other Saturdays until October, this market normally runs during these same hours but not with all these one-time activities listed below.
A bike ride along Ontario St. signed bike route up to 37th St. and beyond, is an excellent way to work up your appetite along quiet residential streets. The route will take you past 2 parks –Queen Elizabeth Park and Van Dusen Gardens. Along SW Marine Dr., there is a wide bike lane shoulder. Weekend traffic to the university along this road is low.
UBC festival will offer free, bike minor mechanical checks, U-pick blueberries for $2 per pint (picking time 9:00 am-1:00pm. Map for blueberry picking areas and general campus location of farm.) and more. See below.
- Free 30 minute Farm Tours @ 9:30am, 11:00am, 12:00pm. Learn about many of the different projects happening on the farm
- Face painting, coloring, carrot fortune telling from 10:00am – 1:00pm
- Free Yoga session under the poplars with Kristi @ 10:00am – 11:00am. If available, please bring a mat, blanket or towel to practice on. If it rains, yoga may be cancelled.
- Performance by the Mozart School of Music @ 11:00am-11:30am By young music students. Alan Wong, a musician will also be playing throughout the day.
- Food Preservation Demo – Pickling and Fermenting with Andrea @ 11:30-12:00pm. Join Andrea Potter for a demonstration on pickling and fermenting different farm favourite foods.
Bike parking and lots of space for a family picnic lunch after food shopping . Photo by J. Chong
Cycle Over to Other Farmers’ Markets in City of Vancouver:
At all the City of Vancouver outdoor farmers’ markets this year, there is bike valet parking. We cycle over to at least 1 market each weekend and the bike lots are used. For locations and schedule of other farmer’s market (Trout Lake, Kitslano, Thornton Park (Wed. afternoons only), etc.), check here. Though bike routes are described at their web site, you may also need the city’s bike route map. Some of our photos are here.
Some local produce at the the farmers’ markets in Vancouver, is unique since not all Canadian farmers’ market offer smoked salmon or sea asparagus, a type of fine seaweed which can be used sparingly to salt-season a sandwich, homemade focaccia or salad.
Though we may not all grow much of our own food on the same scale as farmers, the effort of cycling with your goodies homeward, will surely make you appreciate the farmers’ efforts so much more.
Fucus fresh seaweed for sale. Trout Lake Farmers' Market. Photo by J. Chong
