Herbivores will love this haven

East Kildonan

St. Boniface

Transcona

Winnipeg

Herbivore Haven, Winnipeg’s beloved plant-based market, is back for its fourth event, this one to be held at Southdale Community Centre on Sunday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Brittany Martens and Caitlin Sikora are the business owners and trailblazers doing the work to ensure a memorable and vibrant community-based experience for all visitors.

“For us, Herbivore Haven is about creating a welcoming space where people can discover great food, support local creators, and connect with a community that cares about sustainability and compassion,” Martens said.

Accessibility remains a priority for the organizers, who consider every detail when making arrangements for the increasingly popular events.

“We made it on a Sunday this year,” Sikora said. “I hope this will give a friendly nod to service workers who typically get tied up on Saturdays. When we booked the venue, we wanted it to be accessible by bus and biking, everyone can get to this market [as] it’s more accessible to more people. Everything takes place on one floor and the venue is wheelchair-accessible.”

Organizing a market of this scale involves a tremendous amount of attention to detail, and comes with a great deal of learning.

“I didn’t really realize how much work went on behind the scenes for these markets, with all the planning and preparation,” said Martens, who meticulously considers every aspect of the markets.

Sikora, a Transcona resident (“Downtown Transcona,” she said, proudly) has extensive experience helping run markets and has come up with ways to make Herbivore Haven easier for everyone to navigate.

“What is really helpful is showing people the floor plan in advance, so they can plan their visits,” she said, adding that grouping similar vendors together makes visual and practical sense.

“People find their people that way — themed little nooks within the market. It helps people not feel so overwhelmed; there’s a method to the madness,” said the business owner, who creates witty hand-embroidery under the name Real Swanky, works a full-time job and shares her home with two rabbits, Frank and Gus.

“A lot goes into it — you have to think ahead. The devil is in the details,” said Sikora, describing herself as “extremely type A” with a chuckle.

“Everything is a Google sheet. My physical planner is my version of a bible. I really enjoy being organized.”

Martens, an East Kildonan resident who works full-time on her Plant Kitchen business, said she’s always occupied. When not baking or market planning, she and her partner are kept busy with their household, with its two cats and time in the park with their two dogs.

“For me, it’s staying very structured with my routine, staying very disciplined,” Martens said about being able to effectively multi-task. “It’s challenging sometimes, with very late nights, but I love what I do. It doesn’t feel like a chore. I love my life.”

With 57 vendors this time around, visitors to Herbivore Haven at Southdale C.C. (254 Lakewood Blvd.), can expect a wide variety of things to learn about, or purchase and experience, including hot taquitos, vegan sandwiches, sweet treats, and gluten free options, along with a wide range of handmade art — embroidery, crochet, prints — and bath and body products. Numerous non-profits will be on hand to add a meaningful community component.

This market also marks the release of volume 4 of the Herbivore Haven Zine (market magazine), which features over 40 vegan-friendly businesses. The fun and colourful zine has become a way to highlight the people behind the products and show how much the plant-based community is growing.

The market offers free admission and promises good vibes. Volunteers will be on hand to give out free goodie bags filled with assorted vegan samplings from vendors and partners, for the first 100 shoppers.

When Martens and Sikora have a chance to rest up after their spring market, they’ll be going full force in the planning of the next one on Aug. 29 at Winakwa Community Centre.