The peas are planted, the greens are ready and the flowers are coming up. It must be time to move outside. The Comox Valley Farmers' Market is returning to the exhibition grounds on Headquarters Road for Saturday markets beginning this weekend. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time of the year for all of us at the market; attendance jumps up, the veggie farmers start to come back from their winter hibernation and we get to be outside in the sunshine!鈥� says Vickey Brown, the new manager. 鈥淲e have lots of new vendors planning to attend, and all your old favourites returning as well.鈥� What does the market have to offer in terms of product this time of year? You will continue to find an amazing array of local sustainably raised meat; lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, veal and bison, as well as salmon and tuna, happy-chicken eggs and healthy cheese. There are breads of all kinds, baked treats, and ready made dinner options. Local honey producers bring honey and bees wax. Sunscreen, rescue salve, soap and bath bombs made with local organic herbs are also available. If you are a knitter the market has something special for you; local naturally dyed wool yarn, as well as alpaca fleece spun or ready to spin. Out of the snow and into the soil, market farmers are a frenetic lot this time of year planting out their crops to offer at the market. 鈥淲e will be bringing kale, collards, and mixed greens and a few starters with more to come over the next few weeks,鈥� says Barbara Odegard from Ironwood Farm. Other veggie farmers are coming back with bare root strawberries and pots of rhubarb to plant in your garden, wild nettles, as well as seeds for your garden. And remember, these farmers are always a great source of advice and support for those wishing to grow some of their own food. As you may have heard, the Farmers' Market is embarking on a major development in terms of securing a stable future site, with the move to the Comox Bay Farm (formerly Farquharson Farm). This year, the Saturday market will remain at the current site on Headquarters, while the Wednesday market, which starts June 15, will move to the new site for a test drive. Luke Blu Guthrie will entertain market patrons and vendors alike on this first outdoor market this Saturday, sharing some of his new album. Check him out at www.myspace.com/lukeguthrie. The market is interested in setting up a kids' area and is looking for a volunteer or two to make this happen, as well as ideas from regular market patrons with kids who have ideas to share. As well, the market always holds a spot for community groups to join the market to promote their community projects or events. If you are part of a community organization, especially an agriculturally based one, contact the market manager. For more information on the Comox Valley Farmers' Market and its vendors, contact manager Vickey Brown at marketmanager@comoxvalleyfarmersmarket.com or 250-218-0321. Check out www.comoxvalleyfarmersmarket.com for information about our Growing A Legacy campaign.鈥ㄢ�� Comox Valley Farmers' Market