Earth Day focus for Spring Market

A big Okanagan Makers Spring Market with an Earth Day focus is planned for the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre this weekend.

Over 150 vendors will be bringing a wide selection of handmade and locally produced items, along with products designed for home and garden.

There will be vendors selling organic seeds and bedding plants, birdhouses, bird feeders and yard art, along with jewellery, art work, children’s clothing and a selection of locally produced agricultural products.

A highlight of the weekend is a workshop focused on solar energy projects for the home.

John Barling, author of a solar energy workbook for BC Hydro, will be presenting a workshop with over 30 projects to build with plans including photovoltaics, distillation, showers, low cost water heaters, food dryers, ovens and more.

Tickets will be available at the door. Other workshops, free with admission to the Spring Market include presentations on Composting, Natural Products, Growing Good Veggies, and Permaculture Gardening. There will also be free hands on upcycled craft workshops including teacup gardens, T-shirt tote bags and paper making.

Another feature of the market will be a variety of ongoing craft demonstrations. These include silk scarf dying with a Japanese color drop technique, weaving on a triangular loom, and wood carving by Indigenous artist Steve Mackie.

Special events planned for Earth Day on Sunday include a unique performance by First Nations artist Laurent Isadore, who will be offering Buffalo Wisdom at 12:30 pm.

Local artist Jenny Long will be live painting. A variety of local musicians and performers will be on hand both days to make their contributions to the weekend.

The first 50 folks through the doors on Sunday will receive upcycled shopping bags with treats inside. The first 25 kids will have their faces painted for free by local artist Camille Clarke.

There will be a number of environmental groups on hand to promote their various activities: Meadowlark Festival, South Okanagan Naturalists, First Things First, Incredible Edible Penticton, Children For A Better Future Learning Society, Oasis Church Green Group, Protect Penticton Parks Society, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and a new group, Okanagan Wildlife and Nature Society. Fair Vote Penticton, and the Penticton Quilters Guild round out the non-profit groups.

The market runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door for adults; kids under 12 are free.

For more information, visit www.okanaganmakers.ca