Oolong Time
Tea Mistress Jennifer Maksymetz offers tea classes in her cosy tea house, surrounded by trees and big rocks covered in moss. It provides the perfect backdrop for a grounding few hours to discuss all things related to tea, and instills a sense of mindfulness that can be cultivated through the act of making and drinking tea.
Finding Community at Francis Bread
When Meghan Carr and Peter Hunt of Francis Bread arrived on the Salt Spring scene in 2018, they quickly gained a name for themselves - and their bread.
The Lost Art of Plaster
The age-old art of plaster is not a craft that seems to be well-known these days, but Edward McKeever wants that to change. He’s become an expert in the art of plaster, which is made with earth-friendly materials like lime, gypsum or clay and can be used to finish walls and other surfaces.
Into the Salty Sea
Morning plunges into the icy ocean waters that surround Salt Spring is a wellness ritual for many locals year-round. This winter, we started to notice shift though: more and more people seemed to be diving into the icy waters around the Island, touting the mental challenge and health benefits of this chilly endeavour.
Seth Burton’s Cosmo Knives On Point
Seth Burton of Cosmo Knives has been forging steel for more than 20 years, and a tour through his Salt Spring Island studio leaves one in awe at the level of detail and precision that goes into each one of his hand-crafted knives.
Handmade Instruments Resonate
You’ve likely seen Grant Wickland and his stunning handmade banjos, ukuleles and resonators strung up at his Wickland Instruments booth at the Saturday Market. When Grant retired in 1995, he decided he wanted to learn how to build a banjo, and set about doing just that.
The Fascinating Failure of Channel Ridge
Today Channel Ridge is known for its incredible hiking trails and that one empty house on that one paved road to nowhere. This is the story of the (many) attempts to develop Channel Ridge, which would have originally seen 577 new residences built around a European-inspired centre with shops, entertainment, and outdoor markets.
DAMAZU Studio, Home of Storied Objects and Collaborative Creation
DAMAZU Studio is a magical treasure trove of ceramics, photography and other beautiful objects for daily living, now open by appointment on Salt Spring. Husband and wife duo David and Zuzana Marchandise have reflected their many years of traveling and world experience into their new purpose-built, mixed-use studio space in the South end.
The Super Saltine Guide for Shopping Local this Christmas
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.
Salt Spring Goods, Thinking Inside the Box
The fine duo behind Salty Hospitality are innovating yet again with the launch of Salt Spring Goods and their ultimate gift boxes, featuring the best of Island-made products. Originally conceptualized at the beginning of the pandemic, when local vendors were faced with devastating lost revenue after the cancellation of the Saturday Market events, Deb and Miranda sought to create a virtual home for Salt Spring creators with an online shopping portal dedicated entirely to promoting the best of local island fare.
Ride On, Right On
The Gulf Islands Horse Association is hustling to bring riding back into the fore, and we couldn’t be more on board. GIHA is a non-profit society that was formed with the mission to create a public equestrian facility on Salt Spring Island so that our local community could enjoy safe and open access to horses.
Gotta Get a Goat
For Jessica Beck and her family, backyard hobby farming has grown to encompass a paddling of Welsh Harlequin ducks, a brood of mixed hens and a friendly drove of Nigerian Dwarf goats. They’ve been surprised and delighted with the addition of the goats, which joined the family last summer, due to their charming personalities and hilarious companionship.
Upcycle Textiles with Indigo: The Blue Box for your Clothes
If you’re looking for a plant-based way to breathe new life into worn textiles, consider indigo the next tool in your kit for renewing stained clothes before sending them off to the donation or trash bin. Rejuvenating items with indigo can not only save you money and prevent unnecessary waste, but will result in textiles with beautiful colours and patterns.
Game On with Foxes Board Game Shop
Board games are a perfect way to bring people together (even while you’re playing against each other). For years Bryan Dubien—owner of the Foxes Board Game Shop—has created inclusive play spaces for Salt Springers to come together around games of all kinds, from brand new board games to tabletop classics like Dungeons & Dragons.
Rock the Block: Summer Music at Al’s Falafel
Faced with a dwindling social calendar in light of covid-19 cancellations throughout the summer, we were overjoyed when we saw a local businesses getting creative with circumstances under our “new normal.” Presented by Al’s Falafel & Fries, the Wednesday Block Party brings live bands to the outdoor stage next to Al’s food cart on Rainbow Road.
Favourite Plants of Forest Heart Botanicals
Larkin Schmiedl runs Forest Heart Botanicals, which provides herbal medicine services that are “driven by the desire for ecological and social justice”. With over 19 years of experience with wild plants, organic farming and wilderness living skills, Larkin has been fascinated with plants his whole adult life.
Finding Refuge in the Sacred Medicinals Balm Shelter
Miracle cures don’t exist, but it looks like CBD (cannabidiol) is trying for the title. I’ve been taking a tincture made by Sacred Medicinals whenever I feel anxious or frantic and it helps calm me down while staying clear-headed: perfect for parenting, family functions, and the day you decide to make a complex Argentinian pastry for dinner.
From Fashion to Face Masks
After taking five years off to focus on raising her two boys, clothing designer Kim Cathers had big plans for the release of a new clothing line under the name Constellation Apparel, until Covid-19 hit.