Annual Forest Market
The Medway Community Forest hosts a Forest Market every year in August to bring the community together, meet new people, and showcase local talent, traditions, and organizations that stem from the forest. The aim of the Forest Market is not only to feature our amazing vendors but also to increase awareness of non-timber forest products and value-added wood products.
Join us for our 10th Anniversary Forest Market!
Save the Date! August 30 from 10AM-2PM
Medway Community Forest Co-op is marking the 10th Anniversary of celebrating Acadian-Wabanaki Forests and forest-based traditions through our annual Forest Market: 10th Anniversary Edition!
This is a FREE EVENT and a perfect family activity for a Sunday in Annapolis Royal.
Woodworkers, textile artists, illustrators, basket-makers and craftspeople of all kinds will be vending their forest-based goods. You can also expect live music and some exciting hand-tool demos and live basket-making!
A raffle draw will occur at the end of the Forest Market. Get your tickets and a chance to win! In the basket: Camping Vouchers from the Medway Community Forest Campground, $200 worth of market vendor goods, donations from local Annapolis Royal businesses! Bring cash for ticket purchases.
All proceeds from the raffle will go towards Bear River First Nation's 7 Paddles Program. The 7 Paddles project was started to re-establish traditional Mi’kmaq canoe routes for ecotourism in Nova Scotia. It has become a way for people in Bear River First Nation to strengthen their ties with their land and culture.
Sunday August 30 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Annapolis Royal Market Square (178 St. George Street)
Free & open to all
Free Cake at 12:30PM
Prize Basket available for Raffle
Browse handmade goods, connect with local organizations, and celebrate the people and stories rooted in our forest landscapes.
Hope to see you there!
NOTE This event was originally set for Aug 23, but will be postponed until the 30th due to Rain.
Previous Year's Posters:
Find a short bio for some of the vendors who have joined past markets and how to contact them below.
Arlington Forest Protection Society
The Arlington Forest Protection Society is a nonprotfit organisation that was established in 2020 to protect and conserve forests along the North Mountain of the Annapolis Valley in order to preserve biodiversity, create wildlife corridors, and prevent clear-cutting of mature and old growth forests through the acquisition and/or donation of land to the Society.
MErsey tobeatic research institute (MTRI)
Nicole joined us this year to share tons of great information and have people join the Butterfly Club and purchase swamp milkweed to help provide habitat and recover Monarch butterfly populations. MTRI is a non-profit co-operative with a mandate to promote sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity conservation in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve and beyond through research, education, and the operation of a field station. Join the club!
Bruce Smith
Bruce crafts hand carved wooden spoons, shrink pots & kitchen ware using traditional tools and methods. He carves local green wood from storm damaged trees, and other repurposed or salvaged woods. Bruce carves bespoke spoons and treen, sometimes using wood from a customer's own woodlot or special tree. You can find Bruce at the Privateer Farmers Market in Liverpool through the summer. To connect with Bruce visit the market or reach out by email.
Warren’s Pure maple syrup
Robyn sells his family produced, fresh, 100% organic, all natural maple syrup. It is natures sweet treat and contains no additives or preservatives. They set up all summer at the Annapolis Royal Farmers & Traders Market, and can be contacted through their facebook page.
Outside The Box custom woodworks
Glenn Reid has been creating pieces out of his Hammonds Plains workshop for 20 years. He crafts unique dovetail and other joinery box work for many different applications including jewellery boxes, memory boxes, shadow boxes, and urns. You can find his wonderful creations and place custom orders on his website.
Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP)
CARP is a charitable, community-based, non-governmental organization incorporated in 1990 and does great work to enhance the ecological health of the Annapolis River watershed through science, leadership and community engagement. This year they promoted the Pledge to Protect campaign, which encourages individuals to make a commitment to restoring the ecological health of watersheds in Nova Scotia - Check it out!
Kalen Roblee
Kalen is a multi-media artist selling paintings, prints, and sketches inspired by nature. She also creates beautiful commissioned pet portraits. Kalen joined the Forest Market for the first time this summer selling several whimsical tree ring wood relief prints from salvaged wood. To connect with Kalen, visit her Instagram page linked below.
Jan Waterman
Jan hand crafts traditional Mi’kmaq ash baskets & trinkets. Handcrafted through a laborious process to prepare the ash strips. Jan adds details and creates ornaments to use up the small scrap pieces to reduce waste. From fishing creel, to bike baskets she has a variety of products to offer as well as custom creations. You can see more of her work on her facebook page.
Mi’kmaq Non-Timber Forest Products Cooperative
Cheyenne MacDonald joined us from the NTFP cooperative, which is in the beginning stages of development and currently is supported by Mi’kmawey Forestry at The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. Products sold include NTFP’s made by Mi’kmaq artisans in Mi’kma’ki using traditional practices. This year Cheyenne shared sumac tea, and sold wild rice and baskets. Follow them on social media, or connect through the website.
Protected Community Forest Fundraiser
To collectively purchase a 50 acre parcel as a group, to ensure the trees remain and the wildlife and diverse ecosystem remains intact. This parcel of Acadian Forest has been scheduled for harvest and is located in the Annapolis county. The organizers have contacted the forester who have agreed to sell the land. Neighbours are working together with like-minded friends to stop the harvest and preserve the forest. Learn more at their Facebook page.
David Stepan
David enjoys exploring the nature of materials. From the warmth and immediacy of hammered copper, to the peculiar grains of wood, and the way materials capture time and place. His passion is now directed to a more immediate expression of his interest in materials. Especially how objects from sustainably sourced materials can look and feel beautiful, and have their story evolve. Connect with David through his website.
Don Kimball
Don creates unique pieces from salvage wood from dying or disease infested trees, or wood that would otherwise become firewood. These beautiful value-added wood products include coffee tables, nightstands, custom urns and more. Don also does a wide variety of custom woodworking and can be contacted by email.