Cottonwood Market hosts season opener Saturday in Nelson
By Contributor
Saturday (May 18) marks the return of the Cottonwood Market at the Cottonwood Falls Park in Nelson.
The market runs every weekend until October from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To help kick off the inaugural day of the season, there will be live music by local favorites Morien Jones from 10 a.m. to noon and Rob Funk from noon to 2 p.m.
“As our climate and our global trading system become more uncertain, a strong local manufacturing and agriculture network is essential for sustaining our long-term regional service and food needs,” said Jesse Woodward, Markets Director at the West Kootenay EcoSociety.
“Local public markets like Cottonwood Community Market create more stable and secure local livelihoods as well as access to unique local products and food, so we’re excited to see lots of folks in 2013 taking advantage of what Cottonwood Market has to offer.”
Market goers will find everything from bedding plants to locally grown produce, delicious ready to eat foods to organic meat and eggs, handmade artisan gifts to locally made body care products.
The mix of drop-in vendors and full-season vendors make for an exciting shopping experience that is a different every week.
For the 2013 season, West Kootenay EcoSociety will be making improvements to the market site and reaching out to new customers and vendors to increase our local food self-sufficiency.
A community initiative grant from CBT through the City of Nelson allowed for repairs and upgrades to the Cottonwood Market site.
On April 27 volunteers came out to give Cottonwood Market a much needed general clean up, removal of graffiti, new paint and landscaping work.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety encourages customers to leave their cars at home and walk to the market. Those who must drive can find early bird parking next to the market site, but by mid-day it is advised to park at the foot of Baker Street and walk the two blocks to the market.
The Cottonwood Community Market runs every Saturday from May 18 through to October 26.
