There害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭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害羞草研究所檛 really been aware of us being open,害羞草研究所� Cooke said. 害羞草研究所淏ut we害羞草研究所檙e open year-round now and we have a full grocery offering and wellness department.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淎s a garden centre we害羞草研究所檙e quite seasonal and as the season winds down we don害羞草研究所檛 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,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 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,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� dubbed Swan Lake害羞草研究所檚 Christmas market week.

害羞草研究所淚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,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 a lovely idea,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 hoping the word will get out and attract more customers.

害羞草研究所淭he market is coming along, it害羞草研究所檚 starting to get a real Christmas atmosphere because they害羞草研究所檝e got wood heaters and they害羞草研究所檝e got the fire going so it害羞草研究所檚 looking like quite a festival out here,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淧eople should come and check it out.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 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,害羞草研究所� Cooke said.

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