Getting products ready for the market means getting a little dirty.

Gillian Hammond spends hours picking baby salad greens B次元官网网址� each leaf, one by one. Previously she would have used a knife, but it caused the greens to oxidize sooner.

Two days after picking her greens, Hammond had them bagged in quarter-pound quantities for sale last Sunday at the Metchosin Village Market, a new venue meant to ease pressure from hobby farmers eager to sell the fruits of their labour.

B次元官网网址淗aving two markets is only going to benefit everyone,B次元官网网址� said Hammond, an organizer of the village market, which is a product of the Metchosin Grassroots Collective. B次元官网网址淎bundance brings abundance.B次元官网网址�

The new market was created to complement the long-running Metchosin FarmersB次元官网网址� Market, not as a competitor, she said. The original market remains at the municipal grounds, while the upstart is at the old elementary site, across Happy Valley Road.

B次元官网网址淭his is just an expansion of the current market,B次元官网网址� said Liz Cunningham, president of the Metchosin Grassroots Collective. B次元官网网址淚 can see this being a really cool thing to make Metchosin a destination for farm fresh produce.B次元官网网址�

Last Sunday both markets drew about 15 vendors each, but in the peak of summer, the Metchosin FarmersB次元官网网址� Market will see 30 vying for space in the municipal grounds.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 rare we turn someone away,B次元官网网址� said Terry Sterling, president of the Metchosin Producers Association, which runs the 21-year Metchosin FarmersB次元官网网址� Market.

Sterling would not comment on the Metchosin Village Market until after MFAB次元官网网址檚 next board meeting.

For the village market, Hammond said organizers want to add an educational component to the market, including guest speakers, demonstrations and workshops throughout the summer.

Some ideas whirling around include hosting cooking demonstrations to show patrons how to cook food sold at the market.

B次元官网网址淲e will have different vendors and local crafters,B次元官网网址� Hammond said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�

While the growing season is just starting, Hammond said foods coming out of the ground now include kale, swiss chard, arugula, turnips and rhubarb. Next month should include beets, carrots and onions.

The Metchosin Village Market market runs each Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the old Metchosin elementary school grounds at 4495 Happy Valley Rd.

The Metchosin FarmersB次元官网网址� Market runs each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the municipal grounds at 4450 Happy Valley Rd.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com