I was only half joking yesterday when I updated my Facebook status to “It’s now officially toque season.” It’s COLD outside and it will take me a bit to adjust from the luxurious amount of gorgeous Fall sun that marked the end of September.

When the toques, gloves and scarves come out, I tend to start thinking about heading in – I get all momma bear and feel like soups, large roasts, cozy slippers and Wintery smells like cinnamon muffins and baklava (oh…no…) become my single-minded goal in life. Must…nest…

Today, I am seriously considering making:

- My favorite beet-free borscht

- Kid-style Pasta e fagiolli

- Aforementioned heavenly baklava that will completely derail our fitness routine and make me very happy in the process:)

What I don’t want all of this nesting, cooking thing to mean this year, though, is that we stop our weekly round of farm visits, ending at the Comox Valley Farmers Market, where all season long we’ve been feasting on incredible local yumminess.

I hear lots of people say things like “How can I possibly eat local all year long – unless I want to eat cabbage, potatoes and beets for six months in the Winter?” and while I have no issues personally with eating cabbage every day for the rest of my life I can understand the potential boredom factor.

But, this year, we are setting out to see how local we can get from November to April. Thankfully, we have the Comox Valley Farmers Market to give us a big leg up on the whole thing.

I am a bit weepy that the outdoor market wraps up its last Saturday of the season this weekend (Oct. 17). Meanwhile, I’m double excited that we won’t be missing a beat in the foodie department as the indoor market opens in its NEW LOCATION next Saturday (Oct. 24).

While the Native Sons Hall is under major renovation, the market will now be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Comox Band Hall, 3320 Comox Road (the Dyke Road).

While we are all busy scoring some major baked goods, Winter veg, preserves, handmade goods and more we’ll get one heck of a view of the Courtenay Estuary and admire a lovely new location that is perfect for the market.

Our family challenge for the season is to see how many creative things we can make out of what is readily available…should be some interesting, fun and exciting eating.

See you at the Farmers Market!