For the first time, there will be two farmers markets in Langley City this growing season, one on Wednesdays and one on Saturdays.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Langley Community Farmers Market held Wednesday afternoons in the courtyard of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Langley campus in Langley City.
Featuring more than 50 vendors that “Make it, Bake it or Grow it,” it will once again run every Wednesday from noon until 4:30 p.m. until Oct. 10.
The new “Farmers Market in the City” will be held outdoors in the parking lot of the Timms Community centre at 20399 Douglas Cres., along the 56 Avenue side.
Plans call for the weekend event to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until Oct. 6.
The Fort Langley Farmers Market will run at St. Andrew’s Church at 9025 Glover Rd. every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Oct. 27.
The Aldergrove Summer Farmers’ Market will resume June 3 and operate every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Sept. 2 at 272 Street and 32 Avenue
Nutrition Coupons Offered
A coupon program for low-income families to buy local farmers’ market foods including fruits, vegetables, meat and fish has been given a financial boost.
Participants in the BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program will get about $100 extra this summer following a $750,000 boost from the province. The program, which rolled out as a pilot project in 2007, provided each family with $240 over the course of the summer.
This year, enrolled families will get $336 between June 11 and Oct. 31, as well as receiving nutrition and skill-building classes.
The coupons are good at 145 registered farmers’ markets across B.C.
Community Gardens Abound
There are more than a dozen community gardens in Langley Township and the City of Langley, operated by a variety of not-for-profit groups.
Among the largest is the Langley Demonstration Garden which recently moved to the Derek Doubleday Arboretum in the 21200 block of Fraser Highway after 20 years in Murrayville.
Run by the Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), the facility offers education and hands-on programs that promote safe home and garden practices such as composting, the use of native plants, and chemical-free gardening.
Community gardens in the Langleys with contact information:
Aldergrove Community Garden at Aldergrove Athletic Park. Contact: aldergrovecommunitygardens@gmail.com
Derek Doubleday Arboretum at Fraser Highway between 216 Street and the Bypass. Contact: dd.community.garden@gmail.com
Fort Langley Community Garden at Fort Langley Community Park. Contact: pcarnrite@sd35.bc.ca
Linwood Community Garden at 201 Street and 55A Avenue. Contact: agriculture@leps.bc.ca
Murrayville Community Garden at the corner of 224 Street and Old Yale Road. Contact: agriculture@leps.bc.ca
Nikomekl Community Garden at 20050 53 Ave. Contact: 604-514-2997
Routley Community Garden at 19833 70 Ave. Contact: routleycommunitygarden@gmail.com
Topham Park Community Garden at 21555 91 Ave. Contact: carolemccarthy@telus.net
Trinity Western University Community Garden at 7600 Glover Rd. Contact: twucommunitygarden@gmail.com
U Grow Organic Community Garden at 8181 252 St. Contact: 604-888-1236
Walnut Grove Community Garden at Walnut Grove Park. Contact: agriculture@leps.bc.ca
Willoughby Community Garden at 20525 72 Ave. Contact: willoughbygarden@gmail.com
A new community garden has been proposed by the Township’s arts, culture and community initiatives division at Yorkson Community Park, 20542 84 Ave.