Farmers Market
With Canada’s only Mediterranean climate, there seems to be no limit to what can be produced here. However, it’s not just the land that makes this region a foodie paradise, it’s the passionate people behind the products who work tirelessly to create quality local flavors.
Farms in Southern Vancouver Island
Lakes, hiking, parks, and camping... The Cowichan Valley boasts the highest mean annual temperatures in the region, and the Mediterranean-like climate has made it a mecca of vineyards, orchards, and farms. The outdoor Duncan Farmers Market (open Saturdays year-round) is a great place to start a delicious tour of the area.
It extends from Shawnigan Lake, just 40 minutes north of Victoria, past the City of Duncan and up to Lake Cowichan, 27 kilometers west of Duncan. Numerous wineries and small communities sit along the way. A local park - Old Mill Park - contains the remains of a lumber mill when it was founded nearly one hundred years ago.
Alderlea Farm and Café
The Alderlea Farm and Café is a magical place. While bees make honey you can put in your tea, chickens lay eggs for cakes. The owners Katy and John Ehrlich busy themselves, making a difference. Their shared passion for organic and biodynamic farming led them to purchase the 10-acre farm in Glenora - just 3 kilometers from HWY 1 - nearly 15 years ago.
Farm to Table Cuisine for Everyone
This place takes authentic food to a whole other level. Literally, you are at the farm, eating whatever they’re growing at the moment. All dishes are made with fresh ingredients from the farm in a casual and cozy environment. The creative and unique flavor profiles work perfectly, and you can't find the same dishes elsewhere on Vancouver Island.
Wood-Fired Oven Pizza, Every Sunday from 4:00pm
The rustic café bustles Friday to Sunday, from 11:00 - 8:00, spring through fall. Now in its seventh year, the venture adds value to the farm produce and provides a place for people to gather, learn, and enjoy the beauty of biodynamic produce and food on the plate.
Enjoy a delicious home-cooked, farm-to-table, organic meal, a selection of award-winning local wine and beer, and a stunning view of the farm and the animals.
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