May brings a bounty of flowers and spring vegetables — and they are all featured at local farm markets that reopen outdoors this month for your meandering and shopping pleasure.
Spend a Saturday morning meeting the growers and food vendors at the Moss Street Market as they move outdoors from their indoor winter space to encircle Sir James Douglas elementary in Fairfield (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
It’s not the only option, though — Saturday is a big outdoor farm market day across the South Island. In downtown Victoria, there’s the James Bay Market (9 a.m to 3 p.m.) and, in Langford, the Goldstream Farmers Market in Veterans Memorial Park (10 a.m. to 2 p.m).
Further afield, other Saturday morning markets include the Sooke Country Market, the North Saanich Farm Market and the Peninsula Country Market at the Saanich Fairgrounds.
Or take a drive out to the Cowichan Valley for the Duncan Farmers’ Market, a big outdoor market held every Saturday morning year round (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
The Metchosin Farmers’ Market, meanwhile, runs every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October.
Mid-week, head to one of the two weekly Esquimalt Farmers Markets: Mondays at Esquimalt Gorge Park and Thursdays at Memorial Park (4:30 to 7:30 p.m.).
Some local markets are summertime-only affairs: the Oaklands Sunset Market, in July and August; the Oak Bay Night Market, June to September; or the Sidney Street Market, June through August.
To confirm opening dates, times and locations for the farmers’ market near you, visit bcfarmersmarkettrail.com.