Cottonwood Falls Community Market, Nelson, BC

Locally Made & Grown, Economically & Environmentally Sustainable

Jun 4, 2009

Cottonwood Falls Market is a fun place for tourists during a holiday in the West Kootenays, but it offers more than good food, fine craftsmanship & lively entertainment.

There's more available than just locally grown and produced, organic produce, cooking, handmade crafts and entertainment available at the eco-friendly Cottonwood Falls Market, in Nelson, BC, and its sister, the Hall Street Market. This harvest & artisan market is emblematic of the regional outlook toward commerce and abundance, which is why it is operated by the West Kootenay Eco Society. What this means is that, in addition to being a colourful, lively and interesting place, its retailers:

Products for sale at the market are grown from organic or transitional community-supported farming methods, or made from natural, renewable resources. They are not only made locally, but made from resources which are grown or culled locally, and producers pay attention in order that the energy required to produce these items leaves as small an 'ecological footprint' as possible. They are sold without unnecessary packaging and waste. So consumers can feel satisfied that products purchased at the Cottonwood and Hall Street Markets contribute to keeping the local economy healthy and active.

Apart from these key issues, the Cottonwood Market is a terrific place to kick back for a relaxing couple of hours. It features delicious meals, an assortment of very novel handmade crafts or craft-products like hand-dyed, hand-spun yarns or garden decor; home-grown produce and garden plants; and live entertainment.

The grounds are spectacular. Cottonwood Falls tumble past a beautiful Oriental garden filled with shade trees, lovely textures, and lots of characters relaxing and enjoying themselves. It is a fantastic place to kick back with some tasty fare, and watch or listen.

Cottonwood Market is held on Saturdays from 9:30am to 3:00pm until Oct 17th, 2009. You can find it by car following Railway Street from the 4-way intersection at Baker, Vernon and Ymir, around to make a lefthand turn at Silica Street, and follow it past the businesses into the trees. Parking is a nuisance, so unless you think you will be purchasing heavy or very fragile things, it is best to walk or bicycle. The path which follows Cottonwood Creek is so much more pleasant anyway.

The Hall Street Fair doesn't contain such pleasant surroundings, but it is closer to the hub of Nelson, and features the same locally made crafts, home-grown produce and other tasty fare. There, you can find unique, one-of-a-kind items like handwoven cedarbark hats. Hall Street Local Market takes place on Wednesdays from 9:30am - 3:00 pm until September 12th, 2009, in the main parking lot of the Community Recreation Complex at 305 Hall St..

Other West Kootenay Eco-Society Associated Festivals and Street Fairs

The Market Festivals are like street fairs. Baker Street, the main commercial drive and tourist hub in Nelson, is closed to traffic and vendors are installed in marquee tents in between the planters where pedestrians can stroll around. In the past, the sales have also been combined with street performances. These run on June 26th, July 24th & August 21st, 2009, from 6:30pm —10: 30 pm.

If you are in the West Kootenays during the fall, be sure to keep an eye open for the Hills Garlic Festival in New Denver, BC, September 13, 2009.

The copyright of the article Cottonwood Falls Community Market, Nelson, BC in British Columbia Travel is owned by Simone Keiran. Permission to republish Cottonwood Falls Community Market, Nelson, BC in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.