The Old Country Market is family owned and started as a roadside fruit stand
providing fresh produce to travellers heading to the west coast of Vancouver
Island. Over the years it has evolved into a landmark of Coombs, with a mixture
of shops and eateries for locals and visitors alike. Oh yeah, and there are goats
on the roof.

The original market was created by Kristian Graaten and his wife Solveig who
emigrated to Vancouver Island from Lillehammer, Norway in the 1950s.
Kris was inspired to include a sod roof in his design of the market. Many
Norwegian homes and farm structures are built directly onto the hillside with
the sod roof becoming an extension of the hillside.

It was the weekend of the Coombs Fall Fair and the grass was getting rather long.
Legend has it that, after a few glasses of wine, Kris’ son-in-law Larry suggested that
they “borrow” some goats to “mow” the grass and perhaps provide some entertainment
for passing cars. Needless to say, the goats became permanent tenants of the Coombs
market that weekend and have been there for more than thirty years entertaining locals and
visitors from all over the world. It has become perhaps the most famous sod-roof building in the world.

Part of the gallery: Vancouver Island

Best viewed in original size