The Super Saltine Guide for Shopping Local this Christmas
All images are courtesy of the producers. (Our photographer is approximately 10 months pregnant).
Salt Spring Underground album art
With such a plethora of talented artisans and creators on Salt Spring Island, we have to preface this post by acknowledging that this list barely chips the tip of the iceberg when it comes to locally available goods. That said, we did put our three heads together to narrow down a few products or businesses that are fairly fresh to the Salt Spring scene, so we hope we are able to introduce you to something new today.
For the kids
Gemma Mceachern is a mom of two who recently launched Dough n’ Play, non-toxic premium modeling doughs made in small batches here on the island. We love the natural colours, the fact that it’s made locally, and the delightful little tins they come in. These will last 6-12 months with regular use and proper storage. Purchase at The Village Hive and Cedar Mountain Studios in Ganges, or directly on Gemma’s Etsy shop.
WHEAT kids clothing is pretty ubiquitous on Salt Spring, but for good reason: this Danish brand, with obvious Scandinavian style, fits right in with our West Coast vibe. The Canadian distributor lives here on island, so we’re lucky enough to catch sample sales a couple times a year. It’s hard to choose favourites but we particularly love their swimsuits and rain gear sets.
For the foodies
Salt Spring Gaia Foods has created something truly amazing for those who like to bring home the heat: Salt Spring Chili Oil. It’s complex, it’s addictive, and you’ll never look at a bottle of generic hot sauce again. Find it at Country Grocer, or online at Salt Spring Goods.
The Pottery is your one-stop shop for gorgeous one-of-a-kind, handmade serving dishes of all shapes and sizes. They also carry aprons, serving utensils, and other useful kitchen accessories to adorn your counters and tabletops.
Local woodworker Adrian Selby crafts magnificent hardwood boards and butcher’s blocks using an end-grain method, where the wood is oriented vertically instead of horizontally, resulting in a stronger board with greater ability for self-healing with a cushioning effect when chopping. The arrangement patterns are mesmerizing, often reminiscent of a chess board.
Celebrate with cakes that are almost too beautiful to eat. Love’s Galettes swooped into the Saturday Market scene this year with colourfully-topped pastries showcasing ingredients from local farms. But Adina couldn’t stop putting pretty things on top of delicious things, and what started out as a special cake here and there for friends led to a whole new branch of her business. Austen at The Salty Whisk is also whipping together a delicious suite of goods including cakes, doughnuts, cupcakes, and now, charcuterie spreads. Now, let us all eat pretty cake. Order capacity for these two is limited so get your request in early!
For the creators and creatives
This is a shameless plug for a personal project, but for the last year I’ve been organizing Paper Covers Rock, a new readers and writers festival for Salt Spring Island. Obviously the pandemic is keeping us on our toes, but I’m still optimistic by March we’ll be able to safely come together in micro-groups to discuss books, ideas, and the power of creative pursuits. Workshop tickets are now available for purchase, and seats are extremely limited! This would make a great gift for the writer, podcaster, historian, poet, playwright, or storyteller in your life.
Remember live music? We are a bit misty eyed over lost gigs and far-too-distant memories of sweaty dance floors, and Salt Spring Underground’s show at Moby’s last year was a standout in the memory bank of live shows. Now you can nab the next best thing: their new vinyl record is hot off the presses and available at Waterfront Gallery or Strong River Studios.
For the person who has everything / needs nothing
Earth Candy Farm is offering a Flower CSA with loads of options, beginning at $40 for the Spring season and ranging up to $300 for hand-tied mixed bouquets over the Summer season. Salt Spring will soon become famous for our flower farmers, mark these words! This is a beautiful gift that will magically renew itself week over week for your lucky recipient.
In the a related (but totally different) category, consider a dried flower wreath from our friends at Bullock Lake Farm. These are made with materials grown on the property, and are a fresh take on your traditional holiday wreath.
Local stylist Jen Stefani recently launched Broadwell Supply Co., a line of linens alongside curated hair and beauty products. The linens quickly sold out, but you can still source personal care favourites like BKind shampoo and conditioner bars, which are zero waste and totally natural.
And if you still haven’t found the perfect gift idea here, may we suggest a goat?
Seriously, though - if you are still looking for ideas, give Christmas on Salt Spring a follow on Instagram, as they are sharing lots of local business profiles as well as holiday sales and other shopping events.
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