Supporting Local Business Helps Communities Thrive

For a long time I viewed money as a bit of a taboo entity, something that only greedy people pushed to take part in acquiring bountifully of for themselves. I'm thankful to some impactful people (such as Taryn Strong) for introducing me to the concept that money is more about circulation than ownership, and our goal is to keep it flowing. By valuing myself and what I provide to the people around me, and choosing to reinvest that money in products and services close to home, I'm actually doing the world a service by taking part in a healthy, local circulatory system of wealth that benefits the communities I am part of.

You see, when we invest our dollars close to home in the people, products, and services providing locally, we are supporting real people - not big, faceless companies to which those dollars are a drop in their buckets. Those people can then reinvest in the community, and keep the cycle thriving between us all.

Local Businesses to Support on Salt Spring Island

Have a look at some of the local businesses on "Salt Spring Island" (which is within traditional unceded Coast Salish territories of Hul'qumi'num and SENĆOŦEN-speaking peoples) which I have had the honour of photographing. With so many people beginning to get more serious about shopping local and supporting Canadian businesses and "made in Canada" products, I decided it was far past time to share these local-to-me businesses that I enjoy with you.

I'd also like to encourage you to consider what it means to shop locally, and that not all businesses within Canada are actually local to us, or the best way to meet the intention many of us have of supporting the people and organizations that matter most to us. Looking to our support the people, creatures, and environment where we live is about more than buying "made in Canada". Consider seeking options as close to where you are as possible, and making an effort to support Indigenous brands from the traditional territories in which you live and visit.

(PS - If you have a business on Salt Spring Island or elsewhere near by, I'd be thrilled to help you capture some images and share your story of the offerings you have to put out there. Let's get in contact, shall we?)

SaltSpring Kitchen Co.

This is one of the first businesses I fell in love with on Salt Spring Island, before I even moved here. The delectable offerings include far too many show-stoppers to dare listing favourites. They are all amazing. You can stop by The Jam Factory five short minutes from Ganges to shop all the goodies, and find the products online or in many retailers around the island and elsewhere, too.

Jane's Dough

Started as a personal baking experiment to provide "Jane's" partner with gluten-free sourdough breads and goodies, this local biz has become a fast favourite of many residents and visitors of Salt Spring. You can find Jane's Dough at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, and online here (note the awesome website photos - wink wink).

Pacha Powder Organics

Owned and operated by two phenomenal mom-preneurs, the organic superfood blends and ceremonial cacao they provide are another local favourite. Grab a cup of this healthy coffee-alternative from Switchboard Cafe, find the bags of blends on the shelf at Country Grocer, or shop online from this woman-owned business.

Patty Ripley

Patty is a local Salt Spring Island artist and creative guide whose being is a pleasure to spend time with. Check out her website for her art and workshops rooted in intuitive creation and expression.

Island Bees

Local raw honey is delicious and offers healthful benefits that you can look into if you're not familiar with the buzz about it. Find out more about Island Bees honey and tours here.

The Soft Force

Simone is the beautiful human behind The Soft Force. If you're looking to dive into intentional ritual and plant medicine, you may want to have a peek at her offerings. Find her on Instagram here.

Love's Galettes

Adina is one of the most amazing hearts and human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. After having admired her edible masterpieces for a while, I was given the opportunity to meet her and finally get a taste of one of her cakes when photographing her work for Edible Vancouver magazine. Thoughtfully made from local ingredients into stunning works of art that taste better than I could ever describe, Love's Galettes is well worth investing in for your special occasions. Connect with her on Instagram here.

Salt Spring Apothecary

Meeting Tracey, the woman behind Salt Spring Apothecary, was a gift to my spirit. Truly made with love, her organic lip balms come in a variety of wordings to choose the intention you're focusing on. Find the balms in various retail locations including Waterfront Gallery, Barb's Buns, and many more, as well as online here.

The Felt Florist

Amanda crafts the most beautiful felt flowers in a wide variety of realistic floral species, and will never wilt. A vendor at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, you can also find her floral creations online here.

Salt Spring Inn

A long-standing building and restaurant business, the Salt Spring Inn is a local favourite for family-friendly dining with a variety of food and drinks, and a beautiful garden patio right in Ganges.

Solace Organic Spa

While I have visited Solace Spa on multiple occasions for other spa treatments, I had not had a chance to see what the Forest Hydrotherapy Circuit was all about until on a mission to capture some advertising photos for the spa's upcoming appearance in Folklife magazine. Wow. What a beautiful place to relax and soothe the senses, alone or with friends.

Mary Kastle

Any list of local businesses to support would be incomplete without nodding to the musical talent that abounds on Salt Spring Island. What a pleasure it was to work with Mary Kastle to capture some images for her new album release. Make sure you catch the live performances of her soulful alt-pop music on the island when they're happening!

Tessa Tabourel

This local artist was one of the talented humans I had the pleasure of snapping at the local craft faires over the holidays. I've admired her wooden mandala art in various locations for some time now, and was pleased to meet her in person. Find Tessa's art available at Folklore Studio in Ganges on Salt Spring Island.

Meghan Howcroft Peaceful Parenting Coach

As a parent I fully understand how much more challenging it is to maintain calm and peace through all the moments of parenting than I had originally thought it would be. Even the most educated and experienced caregivers could use some support in their journey. Check out Meghan's website for more about how she helps guide parents along the way.

Ceramics: Erin Morris, Moonchild Pottery, Nova Cogswell, Floral & Sweet

We are blessed with a wide variety of talented ceramic artists on Salt Spring Island that all offer their creations with unique elements that show off individual styles. While there are many more I'd love to mention, for right here and now I'll stick to these four (plus one more in the next blurb).

Erin Morris Ceramics I have loved since before I moved to the island, and have purchased several times for myself and as gifts over the years. Erin a wonderful human who is the owner of The Pottery in Fulford, which hosts a range of beautiful artists' work in the tasteful storefront, as well as workshops.

Moonchild Pottery has a way of including realistic-looking nature elements in her work that tickle my fancy, like the slugs and barnacles that adorn her pieces.

Nova Cogswell is a ceramic artist whose soft and beautiful style really grabs my attention and is worth a look.

Floral and Sweet creates intricate floral-inspired works that seem to bloom into reality.

Julie Mackinnon Ceramics

Another beautiful soul that creates with her hands and calls Salt Spring Island home is Julie Mackinnon, ceramic artist and the founder of the Hey Julie School of Clay. I could not mention local businesses or ceramic artists without mentioning Julie. This creative, inspiring, and incredibly heartful woman has built a community studio space in which she supports other ceramic artists, new and experienced, to learn and practice their craft with workshops and open studio hours to work on their creations. I highly recommend checking out her offerings on her website here.

Salt Spring Cookie Co.

So delicious! These handmade small-batch cookies (and DIY cookie mixes!) are seriously good, and made by another incredible woman (Gemma) who I am honoured to know. You can find them in store at Country Grocer, Salt Spring Mercantile, Salt Spring Island Cheese Farm, SPUD and other stockists, and online here.

Lael's Lair

This truly lovely human called Lael creates whimsical hand-drawn artwork that she puts onto cards, bottles, mugs, pots, ornaments, clothing, stickers and more. The various West Coast creatures and symbols that she uses make for great souvenirs and local mementos, which are available at OMG Boutique (another awesome business I love but have not had a chance to photograph yet). Check out Lael's Lair on Instagram to see what she's creating.

Pacific Puzzle Co.

Awesome humans making "weird and whimsical" wooden puzzles, with the coolest shapes hiding within their jigsaw pieces. Putting together these quality puzzles was a total delight for me. Have a look at their website and pop by the new studio space and storefront if you're on Salt Spring Island.

Church Hill Farm & Flowers

Owned and operated by a local family, this beautiful flower farm was a treat to take photos for. You can stop by the farm flower shop at 981 North End Road when they have blooms for sale, and enjoy the different varieties that are available through the changing seasons. Keep an eye on Susan's and Alison's Instagram accounts where they share what's in season and when you can stop by for peonies, dahlias, and so many other kinds of gorgeous flowers. (Pssst... you can read a full photo blog about this flower farm.)

Woodshed Provisions

Chef Haidee Hart is another inspiring local who has built a business out of preparing healthful and comforting gourmet foods made with local ingredients. Woodshed Provisions is a favourite spot for me to grab a special meal to heat up or a gift card to give to someone who needs some food support or I want to show appreciation for. You can find some of her recipes along with the article in volume 6 of FOLKlife magazine that these photos were taken for.

Rose Petal Beads

Markus creates aromatic and naturally beautiful Rose Petal Beads to sell online and at the Salt Spring Saturday Market. They are rolled from a paste made from boiling down rose petals. Watching him work and getting to know his craft was a very interesting project for me!

Rising Moon Botanicals

Another phenomenal local woman-owned business. The bath and body products that Tessa hand crafts on Salt Spring Island are luxurious and beautiful. The succulent and flower candles are just the cutest. Find Rising Moon Botanicals products at the Saturday market, and at various retailers around the islands.

Salt Spring Island Beeswax Wraps

I adore these aesthetically pleasing and super useful beeswax wraps made by a sweet local mom-preneur. They look great, help me avoid using plastic wrap, and keep food fresh for longer. Shop website here

Foxes Board Game Shop

At Foxes Board Game Shop you can find a plethora of games in all kinds of themes and varieties. Bryan (the owner) and his staff are always friendly and helpful with suggestions and information about the kind of games you're looking for. There are also game nights and events to attend if you're looking for some fun with community.

Salt Spring Shine

This local distillery offers flavoured moonshines, like Apple Pie and Smokey Blackberry (my personal favourite that's not always available), and other small-batch spirits created with 100% BC honey. Check out the details on their website here.

Cassette Cafe & Dive Bar

I often find myself dining at Cassette when looking for somewhere to eat out. The weekly specials are enticing, and the food, drinks, and service is always top notch. Always full of locals, you know it's a good spot to be.

Tree House Cafe

The Tree House Cafe is an iconic spot to dine on Salt Spring Island, built around a large plum tree. In the summer you can catch live music performances every night. The Elf door on the side is a special whimsical touch to the building that you and your littles might want to peek into.

Salt Spring Hop On Hop Off

This way to tour around to several of the local artisans on Salt Spring Island without a personal vehicle is a welcome addition to the island. As this post is getting long, I've decided to hold off on including the businesses that the Salt Spring Hop On Hop Off bus tours in this post, and to instead include them in a separate post. Rest assured that each of those businesses would make this list of local Salt Spring Island businesses to support even if they weren't on the Hop On tour.

Read more about Salt Spring Hop On Hop Off, Elton the friendly and professional driver, and those additional artisan businesses he stops at in an upcoming post, which I will link here as soon as it's published. In the meantime, you can sign up for my email list here, so that you're kept in the loop when I publish new posts here, and when I have special photography offerings to share (like my seasonal Mini Sessions or photography shows).

Thanks for supporting local!

I hope this has been a helpful introduction to some of the many amazing local brands and businesses here on Salt Spring Island. There are plenty more I would love to share in the future that I didn't get to today. Please do connect with me if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to invest in my photography services to capture your own personal or commercial images.