Come Be Part Of The Saturday Market

Ometepe Coffee Gulf Islands has existed as a volunteer organization for  28 years. And as happens with any organization things morph and change. Recently a number of key, long time volunteers have retired.  Ometepe Coffee is now actively welcoming new volunteers into the fold.  It's an opportunity to contribute both to the local community and the global community. We buy certified organic, shade grown coffee beans from a coop on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua for better than fair trade prices. We then roast and sell the beans locally and serve coffee at Salt Spring's famous Saturday market and other events. The profits from these sales then return to Nicaragua and Guatemala to support projects such as potable water, Onile wood burning stoves, loans to Ometepe Island women who are starting businesses, education funds, and primary medical care.  So think of Ometepe as double fair trade! All monies are returned to projects in Central America.

This weekend will mark the second week of Ometepe's market presence where we serve appreciative coffee lovers their favourite drink. There are lots of reasons to become part of Ometepe Coffee. It is a lot of fun to be part of the market. If you love to chat and people watch, it couldn't be a more perfect venue. People from around the world (and island :) stop by for a cup of our beautiful brew. Market vendors are always in need of a little refreshment.  It makes for a lovely morning or afternoon to volunteer at one of the two market shifts of the day. It's an incredibly positive and stimulating social experience whether you spend the rest of your time working in a solitary environment or just love social interaction. Simply arrive, brew and sell coffee. It couldn't be easier. Set up and take down are handled by someone else.  You can enjoy the treats and wears of the market while you are there and know you are supporting a global initiative while you do that.

Please chat with someone at our market booth or contact us via our facebook page if you'd like to join our volunteer team or are curious about learning more.

It's Market Time!

It's market time again! While the market has been going since April these hot days somehow seem quintessentially market time! There is a holiday feel in the air as people wander the market stands finding tasty bites of this and that to go with their coffee or pop in their shopping bags to take home for later.  There are the French pastries from The Rendezvous Patisserie, bread and treats from Salt Spring Bread, just to name a few.  A summer bounty of zucchini, peas, lettuce, cherries and raspberries beckon from the farm market tables like Hope Hill Farms. And the many crafts of island artisans tempt visitors.  Malas from Purely Om and upcycled bags from Salt Spring Tweeds, beautiful woven shawls and scarves by Christine Johnston of Jaya Weaving and jewelry from Bohemian Arts.

Lots of visitors and locals alike stop by for a cup of Ometepe coffee as they wander and shop.  The hot weather doesn't seem to deter the interest in coffee. The lovely brew, dark  hot and delicious, perhaps with a little cream or milk and a bit of organic cane sugar if you need sweetening :)

It's always fun to chat with the people who stop by: the women from China who don't understand what decaf is.  How do you explain that?  The fellow from Sidney who roasts his own green Ometepe beans in a small drum roaster on his bbq. The visitors from North Carolina and Nevada and the friendly local faces of vendors who need their morning cup of joe to start the market day.

It's a fun way to watch the morning (or afternoon) fly by.  If you love coffee and would like to be part of the good cause of supporting coffee farmers in Nicaragua and other good works there, come join this lovely group of volunteers.

Find Yourself, Serve Others, Drink Coffee

The flavours of Salt Spring are rich and varied and go well with a good cup of coffee.  And you can find both at the Saturday market.  One of the best ways to enjoy these pleasures is to stand behind the Ometepe Coffee table as a volunteer at the Saturday market.  As Mahatma Gandhi said: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

And there is much to get lost in at the market.  It is a great place to people watch, see friends and neighbours and chat with strangers. Today on my first shift behind the market table I chatted with a young girl about her pink fairy doll named Lila while her Grandma and mom got coffee.  A couple from California who had visited Ometepe Island stopped by to chat and a young woman said that our coffee was the highlight of the Saturday market for her each week.  Market vendors are always popping by for their cup of coffee.  Today the Raging Grannies came and sang a song beside the table. The Taoist Tai Chi group did a demo on the grass nearby and a palm reader set up on the grass not far away. And there is always a moment to chat with your fellow volunteers.

Baskets overflowing with peppers, ripe melons and onion bread called from a nearby stall and Brigitte and Bruno's artfully displayed French pastries were in clear view.  And there is always a moment or two to nip out and buy your favourite market bread and cheese.

As anyone who has volunteered anywhere knows, you seem to get more than you give. You get to feel good about offering your service. The act of doing your work is a pleasure and the memories of your contribution linger warmly in memory.  The Salt Spring Ometepe group welcomes new volunteer members.  The work is straightforward and not difficult.  And there is always an opportunity to make and nurture new friendships and spend some quality social time volunteering at the market, the film festival and the fall fair.  There are monthly meetings where you can learn more about the organization and their work (and have coffee of course!)
and a Christmas potluck to get to know members and share a delicious meal.