The visitor's guide to

Salt Spring, Gabriola, Galiano, Mayne,

Pender and Saturna Islands

The Salt Spring Saturday Market

A treasure trove of local products

Top, a visitor tries on a hat at the Ganges Saturday Market, where you can buy the work and products of Salt Spring's artists, artisans and growers. Above, one of many produce vendors at the market.

Salt Spring's Market in the Park is the kind of the legendary shopping experience akin to Chiang Mai's night bazaar or a Morrocan souk, but with one major difference: everything sold there is created on the island by local artisans or food producers.

With up to 150 participants arriving to set up in the early hours each week, the market offers a range of goods no less plentiful than the most exotic trading crossroads.

Art, jewellery, hand crafts, body products and soap, clothing, musical instruments and cards are among the souvenirs that visitors to Salt Spring take away with them.

Gifts to brighten a short stay include fresh produce, cut flowers, smoked salmon, cheese, baked goods and bread. Munchies to enjoy on the spot speak to every palate, from thick breakfast burritos to refreshing popsicles made with fruit juice or yoghurt.

The flourishing vendor community is the place to find emerging talent, where artisans often establish a home base for wider business ventures to come. The market has given birth to an international eco-clothing line, a chain of soap stores and a gourmet spice line, among other successes.

As ceramic artist Julie MacKinnon explains, there's a reason why the market enjoys such a high reputation among visitors and locals alike.

"It's an artists' community in itself," MacKinnon says.

"More people are coming here every year to become artists, and all of us are adapting and creating new work that we get to showcase weekly."

Although Salt Spring artists are often celebrated in other venues — MacKinnon's funky, modern vessels have been featured in Canadian Living magazine, for example — the ability to form a relationship with buyers is valued by people selling their own creations.

"On Salt Spring we are very blessed that people come to buy work from us directly. People want the story — they want the find. And they come back year after year," MacKinnon says.

Elizabeth Buchanan of South Ridge Farm received the Chamber of Commerce small business award as best market vendor in 2010. Her specialty food items like vegan nettle chai and spelt chocolate cakes receive high marks from customers, but Buchanan says what people really like is the authentic island flavour that all the food vendors supply.

"You're often working on your own preparing your things, but then you bring it to the market and it's all worthwhile," Buchanan says.

"People are really appreciative that it's local. There's a lot of compliments."

Visitors often contact Buchanan for advice on growing or cooking herbs and vegetables long after they've left Salt Spring Island — just one example of the personal connection that makes the market shopping experience a truly unique one.

The Market in the Park is open every Saturday from April through October. Hours are approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — but get there early for fresh bread.