Organic Farming and Lifestyles
Possibly the most difficult to find farmers’ market in the Ottawa area, this small but thriving market is open every Saturday, year-round, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organic farmers and food producers from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec come here to sell their products and provide information about organic farming and lifestyles.

Remote Location, Lots of Information
The market is located at the Parsifal Waldorf School, behind the Canadian Tire on Heron at Bank. To enter, it’s best to drive into the gas station facing Bank Street and take the small service road that runs between the store and the gas station. Parking is allowed on the road; leave your car and wander into the schoolyard, where a dozen or so stalls are arranged in a circle. (In the winter, the market moves indoors but is still active.) Everyone here either grows or provides organic foods and products, and they’re more than willing to tell you about organic farming. If you’re new to the market, chat with some of the stall owners and see for yourself how it all works.

Taste and See
Depending on the season, the availability of fresh produce naturally changes, but many of the stall owners are here year-round offering homemade wheat-, egg- and dairy-free baked goods; dried fruit, nuts, seeds and spices; organic dairy products sold from the back of a refrigerated truck—including milk in glass bottles and organic ice cream, as well as hormone and antibiotic-free meat and game. One vendor sells Ethiopian food including fried vegetable dumplings and injera wraps filled with meats and vegetables; another stand provides extensive information about living a vegan lifestyle and also sells raw foodstuffs like sprout mixes and raw granola made from sprouted buckwheat.