Saturday's charity farmer's market well attended

It's always a good plan to get to a farmers' market early.
A lot of people followed that advice Saturday as locals packed the charity market outside the Yara Community Gardens on Home Street - even before the gates opened at 8 a.m.
"There were people here before we even opened," said volunteer Scott Greer. "It's going better than expected."
Greer admitted he was a little surprised at the turnout.
"We weren't quite expecting so many right off the start. We thought it would go throughout the day."
By 9:30 a.m., the 15 tables with produce and baked goods were slightly thinned out - as was the crowd - but that was simply a sign that business was good.
"It's all for charity. That's the best part," said Greer. "It definitely brings more people down."
The event is the first of two fundraising farmers' markets organized by Yara Community Gardens, with 70 per cent of the proceeds to be equally split between Hunger in Moose Jaw and the Riverside Mission.
"The gardeners voted, and those are the two organizations that they elected to support this year," said project co-ordinator Sarah Varey. The remaining 30 per cent will go towards supporting the community gardens project.
"The neighbourhood has really come together for this one," said Varey
The weather hampered some of the gardens this year, with a cooler-than-usual summer.
"It hasn't been a good growing season at all," said Greer. "A lot of people are saying it's been slow; not enough hot weather."
One of the biggest draws of local markets like this is the health factor, according to Varey.
"All of our produce is pesticide-free, so that brings in more people," she said. "There is more of a push for local food. People want to know where their food comes from."
The market experience is also very different from shopping in a supermarket.
"It becomes more of a social event. It's not the same as going to (a grocery store) where you pick out your peppers from the aisle," said Varey. "There's really a kind of culture that has risen up from these things. Hopefully it will get more popular in the future."
The next charity farmers' market will be held Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the same location.

Taylor Lambert can be reached at 691-1260.