There含羞草研究社檚 more happening than usual this fall and winter at Swan Lake Market and Garden.

The Vernon grocer and garden centre is making the most of the extra space on its property now that the gardening season has fully winded down. The store is offering patrons a public market made up of roughly 75 local artisans and vendors who occupy a dozen new wooden booths on a rotating basis.

New owner Derrick Cooke has been running the landmark business for close to two years. Prior to Cooke taking over the business, the store would close over the winter months. But with the public market up and running for the first time, Cooke wants people to know that Swan Lake is a year-round business.

含羞草研究社淭hey (the previous owners) had been open for years in the winter prior to our administration but had been closing in recent history during the winter, so it has been a bit of a challenge as local community members haven含羞草研究社檛 really been aware of us being open,含羞草研究社� Cooke said. 含羞草研究社淏ut we含羞草研究社檙e open year-round now and we have a full grocery offering and wellness department.含羞草研究社�

The new public market capitalizes on the extra space at the business now that the gardening season is over.

含羞草研究社淎s a garden centre we含羞草研究社檙e quite seasonal and as the season winds down we don含羞草研究社檛 have a lot going on out there, so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to partner with the local artisans and community vendors to do something,含羞草研究社� Cooke said.

At only $20 per day for the wood booths and $10 for other pop-up spaces on site, vendors have an economical space to sell their wares at the public market.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 a win-win to be able to offer this space at quite reasonable rates for small local vendors to have a platform and leverage our traffic to get exposure in the community,含羞草研究社� Cooke said.

The vendors are only set up on the weekends, but from Dec. 3-11 the market will be open for the entire week 含羞草研究社� dubbed Swan Lake含羞草研究社檚 Christmas market week.

含羞草研究社淚t will be a good kick-off with our Santa photos on the 3rd and 4th with the public market as scheduled, and then the 5th through the 9th to really just have that open-air Christmas market,含羞草研究社� Cooke said.

Visitors will find a wide range of goods at the market, from gems and jewelry to coffee roasters, photography and art to Christmas crafts.

Julene Koslowski, owner of Camelot Haven Alpacas, was filling her booth with handmade gloves and toques on Nov. 19.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 a lovely idea,含羞草研究社� she said of the public market.

Another vendor, Elaine Armstrong, who makes glass-fused Christmas ornaments, said business has been slow at the market, but she含羞草研究社檚 hoping the word will get out and attract more customers.

含羞草研究社淭he market is coming along, it含羞草研究社檚 starting to get a real Christmas atmosphere because they含羞草研究社檝e got wood heaters and they含羞草研究社檝e got the fire going so it含羞草研究社檚 looking like quite a festival out here,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淧eople should come and check it out.含羞草研究社�

Depending on how much business the market attracts, the hope is to make the public market an annual tradition.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 hoping that the reception is positive and we can do this next year and the following year and create a tradition in the fall and winter that people can rely on,含羞草研究社� Cooke said.

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