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Get Stuffed

Harvest Time

The farmer?s market is wrapping up, Oktoberfest is on its way ? if you like to eat, the fall truly is the best time of the year

The harvest feast has begun. Squirrels are packing their nests full of nuts and cones, bears are packing their guts with berries and leafy greens, and birds are feeding on seeds and insects.

Humans ? less driven by survival instincts but nonetheless impelled by our genetics to get a few good meals in before winter ? are also joining the feast.

For Whistler residents, the next few months are all about food and drink, starting with Thanksgiving this weekend, which includes the Appy Awards and the last Farmer?s Market of the season in the Upper Village.

It?s Oktoberfest next weekend at the Whistler Conference Centre, featuring a beer garden, a pancake breakfast and a special Saturday Farmer?s market.

There will be various wine tastings and winemaker?s dinners throughout the month of October, culminating with the annual Cornucopia celebration Nov. 8-11.

First thing?s first.

The Thanksgiving weekend kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 6, with the first annual Appy Awards, hosted by the Puzzy Zone Dog Day Care & Adventure Centre and the Whistler Cooking School.

Local restaurants will prepare their best appetizers for judges and the general public from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Whistler Village Centre parking lot, outside of where both businesses are located.

The judges will pick one restaurant, and the people will pick one restaurant. The winning restaurants will each receive a cooking class for eight people at the Whistler Cooking School.

The cost is $12 in advance and $15 at the door, or $8 for children 12 and under. All proceeds from the Appy Awards will go towards the Canadian Avalanche and Rescue Dog Association. Last year a CARDA dog and his handler made their first ever live rescue of an avalanche victim in Fernie.

This Sunday, it?s the last Farmers? Market in the Upper Village and the second-to-last Market of the season, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Market co-ordinator Lovena Harvey, there will be a Thanksgiving theme, including pumpkin drawing, apple bobbing and face painting for children. For adults, there will be everything you need to host a Thanksgiving dinner ? pumpkin pies, pumpkins, mushrooms, all kinds of squash, fresh vegetables, everything but the turkey.

The usual crowds are expected, which were bigger than ever this season says Harvey.

"All of the vendors thought it was at least twice as busy as last year, and sales were up by that amount for probably all of the vendors," she says. "We had an average of 65 vendors at most markets, which is a record for us, and we have plans to expand even further next year.

"Definitely with any expansion we will be doing one for one ? one new farmer, one new crafter or art person, to keep a 50 per cent ratio."

This is the second year that Harvey has organized the market according to the regulations set out by the B.C. Farmers? Market Association, which re-emphasized the need to put farmers front and centre.

In the past, the arts and crafts became the main focus, large food distributors took over from the farmers, and little emphasis was placed on keeping the content local.

At the revamped market, the arts and crafts side of things was limited to local artisans and crafters. Harvey also initiated changes to increase the number of B.C. farms represented in an attempt to create a 50-50 ratio of food stalls to arts and crafts stalls.

That wasn?t always possible because of the limited number of farms in the region and the seasonal nature of produce, but Harvey hopes that any future expansions will try to adhere to that ratio.

"We accept farmers from anywhere in B.C., but the crafts and arts are only from the local area," she explains. "The only farmers we have are basically concentrated in the Pemberton Valley and D?Arcy Valley, and there?s just not enough to meet market demands, we saw the market expand in such a huge way. And even by bringing in outside farmers, everyone is still going home sold out, so we haven?t totally saturated the market."

The Whistler market is so popular, and such a sure thing for farmers, that many will drive half a day to get here.

"We have one lady who comes as far away as 100 Mile House every week. I had a farmer who produced organic ginseng and echinacea, and he came all the way from the Cariboo region. They don?t really have a lot of venues to sell their product up there, so it?s nice for them to be able to come here and sell their unique stuff."

Harvey is a farmer herself, operating The Gathering Place organic farm with her husband. With both the farm and the market to manage, and children to raise at the same time, she is working to restructure the Whistler Farmers? Market in such a way that she doesn?t have to do it all herself.

"It was a huge commitment, and there are definitely some things I?m going to do differently next year, like a have a separate phone line, maybe a 1-800 number," says Harvey. "It was a big job, which is good because it?s turning into a part-time, full-time position.

"Also new for next year, we just elected our first board of directors. We?re officially now a non-profit society, with a 10-member board. There are four farmers, two artists, two crafters, and two local business people, Caroline Heaney at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and Rick Clare from Whistler?s One Hour Foto Source.

"I?m excited next year that the market?s going to be governed by a body of local business people, as well as a cross section of our vendors. I used to do everything, but now some of the jobs will be done by various board members. We have a secretary now, and a treasurer, and a president who will be calling meetings. It will make it easier."

The weekend after Thanksgiving is Tourism Whistler?s Oktoberfest, on Oct. 12 and 13, which will be bigger than ever after taking a year off last year.

"We have expanded Whistler?s Oktoberfest to offer more programs," says Gwen Young, manager of festivals experience for Tourism Whistler. "This two-day event now has a wide range of programming for all ages, such as a kids rootbeer garden, a farmers? market, a beer stein making workshop, dance lessons, and traditional German cooking lessons."

On Friday, Oct. 12, the festival will lead off with an Oktoberfest Parade from 4 to 4:30 p.m. The Austria Vancouver Club Melody Choir will lead the way from the Marketplace to Village Square. There will be stand-up comedy by Rock-Paper-Scissors at 4:30 p.m., following by the traditional tapping of the keg.

After the opening ceremonies, guests can enjoy a festive evening in the Whistler Conference Centre with the Oktoberfest Feast, featuring Bavarian cuisine, beer, traditional music and dancing. Tickets are $36.90 per person, and are available in advance at the Whistler Activity and Information Centre.

Saturday?s events are more geared to families, beginning with a pancake and sausage breakfast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with traditional music and street entertainment.

Presented by the Whistler Lions Club, proceeds from the breakfast will go to Camp Squamish.

There will be a rootbeer garden for the kids from 1 to 4 p.m. in the conference centre, along with face painting and a juggling workshop. For kids aged 6 and up, there will be a pumpkin carving contest from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The $2 entry fee will go towards the Whistler Children?s Choir.

While all of this is going on, the very last farmers? market of the season will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the conference centre. This is your last chance to shop the market until next spring. The beer stein making classes, dance lessons and cooking classes will be held in and around the conference centre.

Saturday evening is The Bavarian Beerhall Brew-Ha-Ha, featuring Al and the Alpiners starting at 8 p.m. and finishing at 12:30 a.m. ? think oom-pah-pah songs and polka dancing. There will be a cash bar beer tasting, authentic food booths, dance performances by the Edelweiss Dancers, yodelling competitions, and entertainment by Rock-Paper-Scissors. Tickets are $9.95, and are also available at the Whistler Activity and Information Centre.

That?s a lot of food and fermented beverages to pack in to two weeks but look on the bright side ? after they?re over you can hibernate.