Underground Market For Vancouver BC

Comment

Comment by Cylia on March 29, 2011 at 10:10pm

VANCOUVER UNDERGROUND MARKET MINUTES

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 630 pm

Karen Andrew’s Place

 

Attendance:  Karen Andrew, Randy Chatterjee, Renee Mowshowitz, Noriko Okomoto, Leanne Scorah, Julia Smith, Cylia Wong

 

After a quick round of introductions, Karen started the meeting by giving us each a copy of an email she had received from the San Francisco Underground Market (SFUM)

 

Main points are:

-         on their second market day SFUM was advised by the health department to make their market a private, members only club

-         people who want to go to the market can sign up in advance or at the door for free membership

-         people signing up sign the following waiver:

 

“Sign up here for a free membership to the SF Underground Market (necessary to get in).  By signing up below I state that I am an adult, and understand that upon entering the SF Underground Market, I will have the option to consume products made by the participants and that the products that may have been produced in a space not inspected by the Health Department. By signing up I agree that ForageSF as the sponsor of SF Underground Market and its organizers will have no liability whatsoever for, and will be held harmless by me for any liability for any injury, loss or damages of to me due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the use of any product at the Market or while on the premises of the Market.

 

We will never loan or sell your email, but may send you occasional emails about other ForageSF events (dinners, potlucks, wild food walks…all good stuff). Thanks for signing up, and hope to see you at the next market!”

 

SFUM has over 1500 vendors signed up and the event is held in an enclosed space. The cost is $50 per table each time. Under 18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. 

 

Each attendee gave their viewpoint of what they wanted from this market, for example, locally produced food and products, no reselling or mass-produced products, ethical products, barter/for profit.  

 

Items we need to discuss further:  the official name, tag line, mission statement, vendors and what they are going to sell; a list of free venues.

 

Cylia mentioned her Spring Fling event scheduled for May 1 as a possible venue for the first market. The group agreed it may be a good location to try the market out.  She will mention to her organizing team to see if they have any concerns. Before Julia left, she mentioned that she would prefer to wait for a big event as the first market day.

 

We discussed possibly applying for Vancouver Foundation $500 Neighourhood Small Grants. Deadline for this is March 31.  Attendees will need to decide if they wish to do this.

 

Renee said that she could create a webpage for the Vancouver Underground Market.

 

Next meeting:  tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 14, same time at Karen’s place.

Comment by Randy Chatterjee on March 20, 2011 at 12:39am

The excitement is unbelievable around this concept, but we have to makes sure we learn as much as we can from existing farmers' markets.  There are many mistakes we could made that others have already figured out how to avoid.  (I am little help here.)  

That said, the website is good, and I'll pitch in for a half that.  I enjoyed Hella's review of other similar market concepts around the world.  How far is Boise?  I might be nice to check them out.  

Anyway, as for items on hand, VV has a cashbox and several tables.  We are looking for a tent, and could certainly contribute one by later this spring.  Another great item would be sidewalk sandwich boards for advertising each market.  We could position them a few blocks every direction around each market.  

Most importantly, however, I think we have a critical mass network of urban growers and food producers (bakers, canners, beekeepers, etc.) who would enjoy the comradeship, fun, and a little extra money that this could provide.

As for the list of items we could sell, the more out-of-the-ordinary, the better.  We'll certainly have your basic produce--lettuce, broccoli, and tomatoes--but the real treats will be the unexpected surprises.  We might even recognize a "shoppers' favourite" item at each market and grant a special "food award."

From an economic perspective, this new local commerce will make ALL of us richer, and even more critically, happier and healthier.

Randy

Comment by Cylia on March 19, 2011 at 12:27pm

A couple of requests.

Karen:  could you contact all of those who gave you their email last Tuesday, so we can email each other directly, instead of through this site which I find rather cumbersome to navigate.

Others:  could we change the next meeting date to Wed, April 13 instead? same time and location? Thanks. cylia

Comment by Hella Dee on March 18, 2011 at 1:24am

Hey guys, I just put up a post of comparisons of the other Underground markets I have found on the internet here. Also I got the URL address www.vancouverundergroundmarket.com not much on there, it is a long name! But it will be useful for us to be able to post and share info on. I haven't done too much as I know we haven't decided much but I wanted to be sure we could get that web address. You can check it out.

 

In the meantime some of the things I have been thinking of selling are:

various lacto-fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickled diakon and whatnot

soaked, roasted and spiced nut mixtures

other grain-free food items (since I am on a grain-free diet myself at the moment)

handmade craft items and maybe herbal salves and tinctures down the line...

 

It would be great to have compostable dishes and cutlery...! Also here is the list I started making up for items that we might need to have $$ for:

website- I just spent $25 getting the domain for a year so not too bad but we may need to get someone to help us fix it up a bit

tents

signage

cash register

printing --member cards?, pamphlets, posters...

cashbox

tables

venue

port-a-potty

 

we may not need all those things but it was just a first list....

Comment by Cylia on March 17, 2011 at 7:33am

Hi Amy:  I was at the meeting.  Will try to put together some minutes on the weekend.  cylia

Comment by Amy Tran on March 16, 2011 at 11:49am

Hi everyone - I'm sorry I couldn't make it out to the meeting yesterday evening. Was tied up with mountains of work and a leaking water tank (ah!). I'm still definitely interested in helping to organize and was wondering if anyone took minutes (or something to that effect) for the meeting.

Comment by leanne gypsy on March 16, 2011 at 10:20am

OK, I am officially applying for some start up funds...this will be available to host a market in the area of 1st ave to the water, Victoria to Boundary...but we can include vendors from all over. 

I also have a local source for FSC certified compostable cutlery and food service items...and its all natural materials like palm fronds and waste wood.  (no chemically produced 'cornstarch' stuff)...we could encourage the use of these kind of items if necessary, or bring your own containers.

Some other ideas when I thought of my own neighbours:

kim chi

cut flowers

homemade yogurt

homemade pasta/noodles

seeds and seedlings/perennials

my next door neighbours curry?  yum

Comment by leanne gypsy on March 16, 2011 at 8:23am

I thought we had a great meeting last night.  Let's talk this up and find some vendors!  Vancouver is ready....

Comment by Julia Smith on March 15, 2011 at 6:20pm

I'm on my way but will probably be a little late

Comment by Cylia on March 15, 2011 at 5:50pm

I hope this meeting is still happening since I almost couldn't find this message and the address.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next ›
• Page