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Prospect Lake fall market Saturday

A country market is coming back to the countryside at Prospect Lake Community Hall
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Wesley Coates heads to the community market at the Prospect Lake Community Hall. The fall market is on this Saturday.

A country market is coming back to the countryside this Saturday in Prospect Lake.

The Prospect Lake Community Association is launching its first fall farm and crafts market as kind of a pilot project. If the vendors and public like what they see, the market may become a weekend event next summer.

"In the Prospect Lake area there's an empty pocket (in terms of markets)," said Fred Haynes, the market director. "We want to support local crafters and gardeners, and have a community event. It will add to the fabric of the area and fill that niche."

The Prospect Lake Hall previously hosted a flea market, which has made way for a market focusing on local crafts, art, produce, meats and baked goods. Abut 45 vendors are booked for the hall, and all were vetted for locally produced food or goods, Haynes said.

Two previous Prospect Lake markets held in the spring this year and last had sold out vendors and strong community support, he said. If Saturday's market is successful, the plan is to open it up for every Sunday in July and August 2014.

Haynes, who launched this market, noted that there is no shortage of farmers' markets in Greater Victoria, but Prospect Lake has plenty of capacity and residents eager to participate in creating and selling local goods and healthy, organic food.

"We put the onus on health and nutrition with local food," he said. "We've got a hall in place and a great group to work with. We just needed somebody to initiate it."

The "Local Food and Country Market" is Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Prospect Lake Community Hall, 5358 Spartan Rd. See pldca.ca.

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