Pat and Henry of Valhalla Farm Herbs N’ Things invite you to visit them at Spot Prawn Festival in Cowichan Bay this weekend.

Damali Lavender and Winery: Mothers Day weekend plant sale at Damali. Over a dozen varieties of lavender to choose from. Open daily 10 – 4. 3500 Telegraph Rd, Cobble Hill.”

Merridale Cidery Mother’s Day Brunch. Sunday, May 13, from 11am–3pm. Treat your mother this Mother’s Day to the pampering she deserves. Start off with a family brunch in the bistro. Satiate your palette with our gourmet menu. For the kids, we have a $9 kids menu, which includes ice cream and dessert and to accommodate everyone’s needs we have gluten free options as well. Then let the pampering continue after lunch with a manicure, pedicure or both on the relaxation patio. With her treatment she will receive a free paraffin treatment. We guarantee your mom is going to love you!”

It’s a WORK PARTY at Haliburton Community Organic Farm! “Our monthly Saturday work party will be held this Saturday, May 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. only. Duties will be to help out all the farmers with whatever they need done. Please bring appropriate clothing, footwear and gloves. As the weather promises to be nice, sun screen also. A salad and bread lunch will be provided, but if you have special dietary concerns please bring your own lunch. Beverages will also be provided. The next Saturday Work Party will be June 9th, 2012. Our weekly Wednesday work parties continue from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.” Haliburton’s farm stand will be opening on May 16, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. “Please stop by for your very fresh, organic produce.”

Jessy at Ravenhill Herb Farm want you to know that: “Ravenhill Herb Farm will be at Moss Street Market this Saturday May 12th from 10am-2pm! Look for them at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Rd. Come browse our beautiful organic herb starts, many full and lovely pots of dill & cilantro available at the moment.”

Patrick at Nicholas Farm reports: “We are picking asparagus at Nicholas Farm, place an order by phone or email to secure this fresh spring taste. Tel 250-652-6639 or email nicholasfarm@islandnet.com”

Here’s a tasty treat from Heather of Saanich Organics: “We have a new blog post up in honour of rhubarb season! Check out www.saanichorganics.com. Stock up on rhubarb at the local markets this season so you can make these amazing rhubarb custard bars.”

Yvonne at Patio Gardens has a suggestion for Mother’s Day: “How about a beautiful hanging basket or planter for Mom this mothers day, we have thousands to choose from. Why not take her for a drive down scenic West Saanich Road and let her choose her own. We are open mothers day (May 13) from 10am-4pm, 6536 West Saanich Rd, just south of Butterfly Gardens.”

Starling Lane Winery invites you to their season opening: “Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, from 12noon-5pm is the official opening of the Starling Lane Winery season. Crackers and cheese with the releases of this years best vintages.”

Want to savour some local chicken? Laura at Meadowbrook Farm says: “We are taking pre-orders for our broiler chickens. Next batch will be ready May 15. These are locally raised chickens as we raise them on our farm. They are fed the best grains with no added hormones, antibiotics or preservatives and are processed the day of customer pick up to ensure these are delicious, fresh juicy chickens. Our birds range from 5-8.5lbs and are sold at $4.00/lbs. For more information or to place an order call Laura at Meadowbrook Farm 250-479-7166″

Way up in North Saanich, it’s market day at the North Saanich Farm Market: “It looks like a fantastic forecast for Saturday’s fourth and final monthly spring market this weekend (May 12th, from 9:30 to 12:30 at St. John’s United Church – 10990 West Saanich Road), so we’ll be out in the garden behind the church, with music, plants, veggies, greens, and crafts. On June 2nd, our weekly summer markets get underway!”

And on Sunday, it’s Mother’s Day at the Muse. “A Bistro Muse Island Harvest Buffet to please every Mother, prepared with love. Sunday May 13th at Muse Winery. If you’d like to treat that very special woman who brought you up to be the wonderful, caring and thoughtful person you are today…bring her to Muse for a feast of gourmet delights. Adults $32, Children (under 12), $16. Reservations 250.656.2552 or email jane@musewinery.ca. Full menu details at www.musewinery.ca/MothersDayMenu.htm”

Metchosin Farmers’ Market opens tomorrow – Sunday, May 13 – on Mother’s Day.

Like last season the market hours will be 10am-6pm, 7 days a week from May 12th to June 28th. We then extend the hours from 9am- 8pm from June 29th to Sept 2nd.

The following weekend May 19th we have organized a gardening/ plant sale and have several great things happening that day, that we would love to have you come and check out. We have a number of vendors that will be here to share their growing experience with you along with their own plants for sale.

We have been busy planting all our veggies for the season and are now just waiting for the weather to warm up a little more so we can complete our outdoor gardens.

I’m sure your going to enjoy whats in store this season and we look forward to seeing you.”

Pineridge Paul and Kris

PS 4 new Ice cream flavors this season too. Sampling will begin ASAP

It’s Spring Kick-off at Muse Winery – Spring Celebration on Saturday, May 5, 12-4 pm. “It’s been a long, wet, cold winter and we are so very ready for Spring and Opening up the Winery for the Season. Our Season kick off features a taste bud extravanganza of special ‘Bistro Bites’ that have been paired and prepared to go perfectly with our Muse wines. At only $1 per Bistro bite or Muse Wine taste we think you’ll want to invite allllll your friends to this party! Need more, how about the musical stylings of Edie Daponte and John MacArthur. Fabulous food, award winning wines, music to sip or dance by…see you there! Are you are Muse Wine Club Member? This event is complimentary if you are-what can be better than scrumptous and free!”

Check out our news blogs for details about the Ravenhill Herb Farm opening and May Day at Sea Cider.

Kelsie Guite of Oldfield Orchard and Bakery tells us: “We will be opening our fruit stand starting May 5th. We will be open Thurs-Sun 9-5, and will be selling veggies, free range eggs, bakery, jams/jellies, and flowers.” Doug Eng of Glanford Greehouses would like you to know that they are now open 10am-6pm everyday, with plants and vegetables… Over at Madrona Farm, David Chambers reports that they have “baby arugula, mizuna, spinach and lettuce mixes, spring onions, french breakfast raddishes, giant sea pearl cauliflowers, swiss chard, sorrell and teasers of our new asparagus patch. All organically grown and picked fresh for you to enjoy.” At Patio Gardens, they have small trees, shrubs, herbs, perennials, veggie starts and a good selection of deer resistant plants. “Bedding plants are in, but it is best to wait until mid-May to plant them outdoors.”

Come to their opening to enjoy a complimentary cup of herbal tea and home baked goodies by donation. Take a tour of the lovely established herb and veggie gardens and take in the sweeping views of the beautiful Mount Newton Valley and Saanich Inlet.

Specializing in healthy organic herb starts for your home garden, Ravenhill grows many hard to find varieties of medicinal herbs as well as all your culinary favorites. Their plants are grown using stringent organic practices producing quality starts that are strong, vigorous and adaptable.

The farm will be open every Sunday through to September and is located at 1330 Mount Newton in beautiful Central Saanich. Please visit their website for directions and more info: www.ravenhillfarm.ca.

Our catering partners will be serving up yummy bites. Tickets for food items will be available for purchase throughout the day: Food For Thought Catering • Ambrosia Catering • Truffles Catering

Sip and Savour Cider – Have fun pairing your favourite ciders with your new favourite foods. We will have our full line-up for you to enjoy!

www.seacider.ca

Enjoy a Gourmet Farm Dinner at the Roost Farm Centre! “Most residents of Vancouver Island and the Peninsula know the Roost for our epic farm breakfast and lunch, but we also host four course gourmet farm dinners every Friday and Saturday night! The menu changes every month to feature local produce and farm product. There is also a wine tasting included with your meal, showcasing our own Red (a unique blend of Marechal Foch/Pinot Noir Precoce/Leon millot, also known as little red combine) and White (Siegerrebe) which is grown and processed right on the farm! We serve these dinners up proudly, knowing you, your friends, and family will be happy, full, and excited about your ‘passionate dinner experience’. We have 30 seats available for our dinners and they fill up fast! Call ahead to reserve your table. Please mention any dietary needs prior to the dinner so that we can accommodate you and your guests. Dinner is served at 6pm, see you there!”

Dan’s Farm Market is now open 7 days a week, 8:30am to 5pm. “We are picking our own radishes and lettuce greens.”

Two great events coming up next weekend on the Saanich Peninsula, both on Sunday, May 6. Spend a day in sunny Central Saanich. You can take in the first market of the season at Ravenhill Herb Farm, overlooking the beautiful Mount Newton Valley, and celebrate May Day at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, while enjoying its beautiful views overlooking Haro Strait.

Vantreight Farms is hosting the 2nd Annual Saanich Peninsula Daffodil Festival this Sunday (April 22) between 10am – 2pm on their farm at 8277 Central Saanich Road. There will be fun for the whole family including face painting, farm tours, straw bale maze, tractor display, live music and much more! Come out to support the Canadian Cancer Society and help raise funds for the cure! And U-pick tulips are now happening at the farm stand at 8370 East Saanich Road.

Looking for something new to grow in your veggie garden this year? Organic sweet potato slips are available at Bella’s Bees, Berries and Farm Fresh Produce in Brentwood Bay. Call Tracey at 250-652-3082 for more information. And while you’re in Brentwood Bay, stop by Patio Gardens, just a short drive away on West Saanich Road: “Come by this weekend to find our weekend specials! With the purchase of any pot, you’ll get a free saucer! Amazing Orchids are on special, starting at only $6.99 And remember, we now carry Beautiful Bouquets!”

And coming soon to a farm near you… Plant sale at Providence Farm (Duncan) on Saturday, April 28… Celebrate May Day at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse (Saanichton) on Sunday, May 6… Pineridge Farm Market (Horne Lake area) opens for the season on Saturday, May 12.