Engaging Kids in the 5 Senses

Why would developing our senses be important? Well our senses are the way that we explore the world and basically make sense of what is going on around us. Teaching children about the 5 senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste) is important to help them to stimulate their brains and to better understand their bodies. It is also great for building their self esteem because through activities relating to the senses, they are discovering new and exciting things about themselves.

A great way to have them engage in all their senses is to bring them to the Port Moody Farmers Market! You can ask them questions like what kinds of sounds do they hear? Maybe the musician of the week or vendors making their sales. Then ask what they see, like the assortment of fruits and vegetables we have to offer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s a great way to engage in all the senses!

Here are some other activities that you can try with your children to help them engage in their 5 senses:

Sight: Playing I Spy with your kids is a fun and easy game to play with them to have them become more aware of the things around them.

Smell: The blindfold test is a great way to help kids activate their sense of smell. Take familiar items like cocoa powder and lemons and have them figure out what it is only by smelling it.

Touch: A great way to have them engage in this sense is by getting a box and hiding a mystery object within it. Cut a hole so they can stick their hands into the cardboard to use their sense of touch to discover what it is. This is exactly what we’ll be doing for this Sunday’s activity at the POP Club!

Hearing: Take kids to a park and have them point out all the things that they hear. Is it a bird, or a plane, or maybe the laughter of other children? Have them describe all the things that they hear.

Taste: The blindfold test can also be used here to help kids differentiate between different tastes. Have them try different foods and answer questions like is it salty or is it sweet?

Join us this Sunday for a fun activity that will help POP kids engage in their sense of touch by using their hands to figure out what vegetable is hidden in the mystery box! They will not only be using their hands, but also their critical thinking skills in order to make sense of what they are feeling.

Hope to see you there!

If you haven’t yet registered for the program this season, make sure you visit the POP tent to get started!

Learn more about the program here: POP Kids Club

Vendor Spotlight: Culture Kefir Co.

We’re thrilled to have a water kefir vendor at our Markets! If you haven’t visited Lyndsay Scott and Culture Kefir, you need to soon! In the meantime, read more about her and her products in this Vendor Spotlight.

When did you first discover water kefir?

I discovered kefir 2 years ago when looking for a natural probiotic for my family. We had been constantly sick, my youngest son was suffering from severe eczema outbreaks coupled with asthma, and my husband had significant digestive issues. Our doctors helped as best they could but we continued to struggle to manage our health. I began researching natural ways that we could improve our health and probiotics kept showing up, specifically kefir. So I reached out to a local woman for a set of starter grains and began brewing kefir at home.

What got you into making water kefir? And how did you develop your delicious flavors?

We started making milk kefir and after seeing wonderfully positive results in our health, I began making water kefir for my husband, who is allergic to milk. Soon everyone in our household preferred the water kefir and drank it daily. Through many rounds of taste testing, we developed a few flavours that our family really enjoyed – Cranberry Turmeric, Strawberry and Mango Ginger. Soon I began making water kefir for family, friends and neighbours as well. Feedback continued to pour in from people that the kefir was improving their health in numerous ways – treating digestive issues, clearing H-pylori infections, relieving eczema outbreaks, improving immune system health, etc. This was when I decided to make water kefir commercially and try to get kefir to as many people as we could.

What exactly is water kefir and how is it different than kombucha?

Water Kefir and Kombucha are both naturally fermented probiotic drinks made from culturing sweetened water with a “mother” SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeasts). From there, Water Kefir differs from Kombucha in 3 distinct ways:
-Caffeine-free: Water kefir does not brew in tea, as kombucha does
-Different Probiotics: The SCOBY of water kefir is composed of different diverse bacteria and yeasts, presenting different benefits to your health
-Mild Flavour: Water kefir fermentation produces a milder, less acidic liquid making a light palatable beverage

What do you enjoy most about selling at farmers markets?

Farmers Markets are a wonderful way to directly meet our customers, develop relationships and speak with them about the benefits of water kefir and how it may help their health. Many people are unfamiliar with water kefir, or that a non-dairy probiotic option exists. Farmers Markets give us a chance to answer questions, provide taste tests, and understand what people are looking for to benefit their health so we can provide a convenient, delicious healthy beverage that they will love.

Why is supporting local important to you?

Local economies are the back bone of our communities. Supporting local makers means helping grow grassroots businesses of our neighbours and friends and seeing success and financial stability loop right back into our home networks. We’re grateful and honored for an opportunity to help support our community through good health and good business.

Sunday, December 1

Join us this Sunday at the Port Moody Farmers Market. Thank you for the warm welcome back to Port Moody this month. The season has gotten off to a wonderful start!
December is here! The Farmers Market is an excellent place to find unique handmade gifts for teachers, children and all of the foodies in your life.
Come to market hungry and grab a delicious crepe from Kara’s Crepes. (savoury or sweet!) Warm up with a coffee or hot chocolate from Biscotti Joe.

Enjoy live music by Jian Ross.

Vendors attending market this Sunday December 1   * please note this list is subject to change
  • A Bread Affair
  • Aji
  • Amazing FoodBC
  • Art Cards by Valerie
  • Artisan Nutrition
  • Aslan Organics
  • Biscotti Joe
  • Boneheads Kitchen
  • Ca Croustille Bakery
  • Central Park Farms
  • CraftWilder
  • Culture Kefir
  • Dee’s Jewelry Box
  • Ela Made Me Do It
  • Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm
  • Garys Kettle Corn
  • Jam’n Music
  • Kara’s Crepes
  • Kics Gourmet Products
  • Kimi Designs
  • Kizzy’s Macarons
  • Koji Fine Foods inc
  • Lita’s Mexican Foods
  • MJB Carpentry
  • Moody Essentials Co
  • Occasionally Honey
  • Oh Sweet Day!
  • Oomph Bagelerie
  • Paper Brewing Company
  • Quality Oak Accents
  • Redl’s Home Grown Beef
  • Reverent Acres
  • Rockweld Farm
  • Stanza Foods
  • Stephanie’s Kitchen
  • Sugar Free Kitchen
  • Timbercrest Publishing
  • Vlad’s Apiary
  • WestCoast Cider Co.
  • Whey Fresco
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods
  • Your Wildest Foods

Winter POP Club – Week 5

December 1 – Week 5: This week our POP kids will be participating in the mystery box challenge! They will try and figure out which vegetable is hidden inside by only using their hands. Then they will go out into the market and find out which vendor sells the mystery vegetable!

2-Bite Club: Beets

Discover the Power of Produce and join the POP Club this Sunday!

Yesterday kids did a worksheet on financial literacy where they went out into the market and learnt how much the produce they love costs and how many of their tokens they need to make purchases. If you haven’t yet registered, come down to the POP tent this Sunday and join the club! We’ll be doing fun activities for the kids every week 🙂

So, how does the POP Club work?

Well, the POP Club is a farmers market-based kids program. Each week children (ages 5-12 years old) will participate in fun and educational activities that will teach them about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation. After that, they will be trying the 2-Bite of the week which will be a fruit or vegetable that’s in season and can be found at the market. As they try the 2-Bite we will share with them interesting facts about what they are eating. Once they finish the activity and try the 2-Bite, children receive a $3 market token that can be used towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. They can either use their token right then or save them for bigger purchases. This teaches kids how to make healthier food choices and how to manage their money.

There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Why It’s Important to Teach Kids About Money

Teaching children at a young age about money and savings will help them become better money managers as they get older. In the POP Club Program, children earn a $3 market token after participating in the activity and 2Bite. These tokens can then be either used that day on produce within the market or saved for bigger purchases in the future. Children get to choose which helps them to develop better decision-making skills.

It’s important to give children a good foundation about money management. Teaching them the basics about how to budget, spend and save will establish good money habits for life. Through our program, we teach young kids the value of money through real life situations to help them understand where money (aka market tokens) come from and how to earn them. We are also able to teach them that there is a process in order to get the things that they want. You work hard at something, earn money from that and then you get to reap the benefits.

It can be difficult for children to understand what money is and why we need it. Especially in this day and age, where most purchases are made by using debit or credit cards or otherwise known as “invisible money”. Here are some tips on how you can help your child be more money conscious:

  1. Start by allowing your children to actually see money.
  2. Teach them the importance of saving by getting them a piggy bank.
  3. Give your kids pocket money so they can start making their own decisions about how they want their money spent.
  4. Exchange money for chores around the house to teach them that money is earned.

This Sunday at the POP tent, the POP kids will be working through a worksheet that will help them understand how to use their POP tokens to purchase the things that they want within in the market. They will also learn the value of patience by saving up their tokens to make big purchases.

Hope to see you there!

If you haven’t yet registered for the program this season, make sure you visit the POP tent to get started!

Learn more about the program here: POP Kids Club

On The Wild Side With: PoCo Soap Co.

(Courtesy of Poco Soap Co.)

“Simple, real, honest,” is the mantra of Poco Soap Co. Building on 16 years of casual soap making and discovering a more simple lifestyle, owner Shea Hogan says he continuously looks for ways to make deeper connections with his local community.

Soap is a real, tangible product that when made well is good for you and ultimately good for our planet, by not using any artificial ingredients no harmful toxins are produced which eventually end up in our environment.

(Courtesy of Poco Soap Co.)

Deliberately avoiding what might be considered typical branding for a soap company, Shea has chosen both a unique and relevant being to help represent his business.

I wanted to find a way to showcase my community through my logo, and bears are an ever present, important part of Port Coquitlam. This bear was inspired by a local bear that made headlines a few years ago.

In addition to being inspired to create for the local economy, Shea says he firmly stays away from the use of plastics, using biodegradable and compostable materials instead.

My soap labels are made of sugarcane waste fiber and are fully biodegradable and compostable. And my lip balm tubes are made from paperboard.

(Courtesy of Poco Soap Co.)

While Poco Soap and Co. may have a slight natural masculine bend as Shea has creative control over his products, he feels good soap is for everyone and benefits all genders.

I don’t specifically make my soaps for men, but as I am a man the brand may have a naturally more masculine bend to it that perhaps more men can relate to, which could be a good thing as men in general are a little standoffish when it comes to natural soaps. So hopefully I can help break down some gender stereotypes, and help raise awareness that natural soaps are okay for men to use too!

(Courtesy of Poco Soap Co.)

With its current success, Poco Soap Co. is expanding! Shea plans to bring his products into wholesale and online selling spaces, as well as opening his workshop for retail possibilities.

I am continuing to develop new products, such as natural lip balms, and will be expanding my soap line.

Sunday, November 24

Join us this Sunday at the Port Moody Winter Farmers Market. Be sure to check out the vendors both indoors and outside at the Port Moody Recreation Complex.

This is our first Members Day in Port Moody this season, and we are celebrating our Market Members! Check out the member only specials available this Sunday:

  • Biscotti Joe:  $1 off hot chocolate bags
  • Drunken Chocolatier:  10% off our Advent Calendar or 18 piece box. This does not apply to preorders that are picked up at the market.
  • Gypsy Jean Jewellery:  Receive a Free pair of earrings with any necklace purchase
  • Gyro 2 Go:  $2 off in our wrap and platters
  • Ildiko Jewelry:  10% off
  • Joyfull Foods:  10% off
  • Juicily Ginger:  Buy any of our new products (chopped ginger and crushed ginger) and get our juices at 6.5$ (regular price 8$).
  • Kanadell Japanese Bakery:  $1 off of our bears
  • KICS Gourmet:  50 cents off a single bottle of syrup
  • Kizzy’s Macarons:  Buy 5 or more and get 1 free
  • Koji Fine Foods:  $5 dollar off special on miso balls. Including $5 off refills
  • Lita’s Mexican Foods:  $1 off our vegan taco meal kits and vegan taco meal deal
  • Planet Slime:  Buy 2 get one 20% off (discount applies to the lower price one)
  • PoCo Soap Co:  $2 off bars of soap
  • Pureland Greenhouse:  10% off on our tray package
  • Quality Oak Accents:  Maple cutting boards with inlay $40, (regular $45)
  • Rockweld Farm:  10 % off breast meat
  • The Jerk Store:  3 bags for $20
  • The Local Farm:  $1 off your microgreen total purchase

Not a Member? No problem! Sign up at the Market Information Table any Sunday, or Click Here! Market Memberships are valid at our Port Moody Farmers Market as well.

Come by this week to stock up on your favourite baked goods while you all the grab fresh produce you need and warm up with a fresh brewed coffee! At the crafts table, kids will be making mini umbrellas to take home.

Enjoy live music by Jana Seale.

This week’s market is presented by our sponsor, TELUS.

Vendors attending market this Sunday November 24   * please note this list is subject to change
  • A Bread Affair
  • Amazing FoodBC
  • Biscotti Joe
  • Central Park Farms
  • Chanthorn Orchids and Thai Curry Sauce
  • Cocoaro Craft Chocolate
  • CraftWilder
  • Drunken Chocolatier
  • Ela Made Me Do It
  • Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm
  • Fume-eh Goirmet Foods
  • Gypsy Jean Jewellery
  • Gyro 2 Go
  • Ildiko Jewelry
  • Jam’n Music
  • Joyfull Foods
  • Juicily Ginger
  • Kanadell Japanese Bakery
  • Kics Gourmet Products
  • Kimi Designs
  • Kizzy’s Macarons
  • Koji Fine Foods
  • Lita’s Mexican Foods
  • Mandair Farms
  • Mariner Brewing
  • MJB Carpentry
  • Oomph Bagelerie
  • Planet Slimes
  • PlantBase Food and Specialties
  • Plantveda Foods
  • PoCo Soap Co
  • Pureland Greenhouse
  • Quality Oak Accents
  • Rockweld Farm
  • Royal City Donuts
  • Samaya Delights
  • Sons of Vancouver Distillery
  • Sun Earth Moon Art
  • Tesfa Farms
  • The Jerk Store
  • The Local Farm
  • The Sharing Farm
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods

Winter POP Club – Week 4

November 24 – Week 4: This week our POP kids will be learning about financial literacy. They will learn how to manage their money (aka market tokens) by going out into the market and learning how much it will cost to be able to get the produce that they want. They will learn how much things cost and how to save up to make bigger purchases at the market.

2-Bite Club: Carrots

Discover the Power of Produce and join the POP Club this Sunday!

Last weekend, kids got hands on with a cooking demo on how to make a delicious and healthy kale salad! Bringing children into the kitchen helps to get them more excited about what they eat and teaches them valuable skills. The recipe we used was well received by the children and if you want to know what it was, you can check it out here: Kale Yeah! The Health Benefits of Kale. If you haven’t yet registered, come down to the POP tent this Sunday and join the club! We’ll be doing fun activities for the kids every week 🙂

So, how does the POP Club work?

Well, the POP Club is a farmers market-based kids program. Each week children (ages 5-12 years old) will participate in fun and educational activities that will teach them about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation. After that, they will be trying the 2-Bite of the week which will be a fruit or vegetable that’s in season and can be found at the market. As they try the 2-Bite we will share with them interesting facts about what they are eating. Once they finish the activity and try the 2-Bite, children receive a $3 market token that can be used towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. They can either use their token right then or save them for bigger purchases. This teaches kids how to make healthier food choices and how to manage their money.

There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Kale Yeah! The Health Benefits of Kale

This Sunday at the Power of Produce Club, children will be participating in a cooking demo to make a healthy kale salad! It can be difficult to get children excited about eating their vegetables, so a fun way to do so is to get them more involved in the process. They will learn valuable skills that will help them understand the importance of cooking their own food and how delicious fresh produce really is. Having kids join in on the cooking process can make it more exciting and enjoyable for them. Plus, they are more likely to try something that they created themselves. Even if it’s a vegetable that they would normally turn their nose up to like kale!

Kale is actually one of the worlds most healthiest foods since its packed with so many nutrients!

Here are some interesting facts about kale:

  1. Kale is a green, leafy, winter vegetable that is high in fiber.
  2. It has more nutritional value than spinach.
  3. The potassium content of kale may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
  4. The nutrients it contains support healthy skin, hair and bones.
  5. The fiber content enhances digestion and contributes to cardiovascular health.
  6. It is a good source of vitamin c and iron.
  7. It contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamin k and more.

Here’s the recipe that we’ll be trying out:

Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups of chopped kale
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • ¼ cup diced red onion

Dressing Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp honey

Instructions:

  1. First make your dressing by combining ingredients above in a bowl and mix well to emulsify. You can make this dressing as sweet or tart as your heart desires! All you have to do is adjust the honey, salt and pepper to taste.
  2. In a large bowl, combine kale, carrots and onion. Pour about 1/3 of the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat and add extra dressing, to taste.

Come join us this Sunday at the Port Moody Market so the POP kids can come and try making this recipe!

Hope to see you there!

If you haven’t yet registered for the program this season, make sure you visit the POP tent to get started!

Learn more about the program here: POP Kids Club

Vendor Spotlight: Bali Bites

Where do you prepare your sauces? What is your production process like?

Our sauces are prepared in our home kitchen. Making this sauce does take time and a lot of man power…thank goodness for my 3 sons helping out! We follow the same traditional preparation steps that our grandmothers have done, with a slight tweak in the use of modern equipment. We definitely make our sauce with lots and lots of love and tears…tears of joy when the production is finished!

What are some unusual uses for peanut sauce that some people may not know about?

Baking is one use that surprises our customers, but we encourage them to be creative and try adding the sauce to recipes that call for peanut butter. We just love the feedback from them! One customer uses our sauce to blend in her smoothies instead of protein powder. Another uniqueness of our sauce is that it can be eaten wet or dry. One of my sons scoops some right out of the bag and crumbles it over his granola, cereal, or rice while another sprinkles it over his chocolate ice cream, or dips his strawberries into. Sounds like pregnancy indulgences, but don’t knock it till you try it! I used it for a salmon poke dish just recently, it was another successful creation of mind blowing taste

What are your favorite types of food to cook at home?

Indonesian, Chinese and pretty much everything. I love cooking globally.

What do you like most about selling at farmers markets?

The interaction with customers have been phenomenal! Besides introducing a new product, it also gives us a chance to share stories and educate the public about our Indonesian culture. It has been wonderful to share our product, and we hope it enhances the markets and provides a variety of products in each community.

Why is supporting local important to you?

Talented and hard working individuals who tirelessly provide for the community, as much as they provide for their families, should be supported for their livelihood. Markets bring a community closer, while encouraging and educating the public to choose healthier alternatives and appreciate each vendor’s speciality that you usually can’t find commercially. As well, supporting local is good for our local economy, and to keeps growth inside a community.