It is more than nostalgia that draws crowds to community markets.

It is the taste of chvre aged in wine pressings, the feel of hand-carved apricot spoons and the sound of acoustic bossa nova woven with French poetry. It is a sensory connection to a place as much as an appreciation for local products, and the Treasure Valley is home to many open-air purveyors of things distinctly Idaho.

Boise's Capital City Public Market has long been the crown jewel, but there is plenty of luster beyond 8th Street. For a change of pace and setting, spend a weekend morning or weekday evening exploring two alternative markets that are growing fast and providing more reasons to buy local. And browse our list of "More Markets" for outlets from Middleton to Kuna.

EAGLE SATURDAY MARKET

No longer a bedroom community, Eagle is a thriving mix of urban style and rural charm. These elements come together on Saturdays in Heritage Park, which anchors the old heart of the city. In a serpentine arrangement around a gazebo full of musicians, vendors offer everything from Mexican elote (seasoned corn on the cob) to handmade outdoor kitchens.

Organizers, participants and shoppers agree that the appeal of the Eagle Saturday Market is its intimate feel. With a maximum of 65 vendors spread throughout the park, it looks more like a festival. There is plenty of room for people to mingle, and shaded seating motivates them to stay a while. A water feature welcomes adventurous children, and parents who have made the rounds can wander easily to shops on historic East State Street.

"I think people like the atmosphere, and they come from all over the Valley," said Linda Butler, chairwoman of the Eagle Arts Commission, which oversees the market.

It started seven years ago with six vendors in the parking lot of a senior center and has moved twice since then to its new home in Heritage Park. It provides a chance for small businesses to reach the public, "small" meaning they have no storefronts and few resources to promote their work.

"The Saturday market gives them a venue to bring their goods to the community," Butler said. "It's very social. You do want to hang out for a while."

"Even with the down economy, it's doing well," said market manager Dean Burrup. He has been involved in the project for five years and said the plan was never to create a "money-making machine." Vendors do not have to commit to any particular schedule, and the daily fee has remained low even as things have expanded. "There are no commissions or percentages. No contract. Just a simple application. It's a small business incubator," Burrup said. "Customers like it because of the ease of shopping, the fountains for kids to play in, the musicians in the gazebo, the vendors under the trees. It's not a straight line market. It weaves and has five entrances, so there's less congestion, less pressure. It has its own feel."

Vendors rotate regularly, but here are highlights from a recent Saturday:

Pregnant women can capture the "magical yet fleeting" experience of motherhood with the help of Beyond the Belly, which offers trendy baby shower favors, photography packages and belly casting.

The Lovin' Oven displays an arsenal of homemade sweets, from old-fashioned black-bottom cupcakes to gourmet coconut-orange bars. As the sign says: "We guarantee to bake you happy."

Nampa entrepreneur Jenny Piirto's booth, Essentials by Jenny, can't be missed, partly because her all-natural soaps, scrubs, oils and balms are so fragrant and partly because her baby daughter is so adorable.

If you're looking for a good story and some standout wire jewelry, visit J.C. D'Aguiar at GradArt Artistic Wire Creations. In addition to his delightful (not to mention plentiful) yarns, you can get a necklace that includes your name or earrings featuring the initials of your sweetheart.

EVENINGS AT EDWARDS

Creeping up on its 80th birthday, Edwards Greenhouse is, as events coordinator Gayle Keating says, part of Boise's heritage. Third generation descendant and owner Garnette Edwards has preserved the 10-acre landmark's community focus, not only by supporting local arts and philanthropies but also by giving desert dwellers access to a spectacularly lush, inner-city oasis.

During the winter, the greenhouse and custom floral shop are full of life indoors. During the summer, they are at their peak, but the outdoor Legacy Gardens steal the show. Grown from the remnants of a struggling pansy field, they have become a thoughtful jungle. The air smells of good earth, nectar and grass, and the gazebo is home to baby robins chirping for supper.

A more idyllic setting for a market is hard to find, but Edwards Legacy Gardens were not designed for that purpose. Assistant retail manager Kathleen Sanders said they were created to celebrate Edwards' 75th year, but staffers soon realized the space could be a community resource.

Then Karen Ellis, director of the Capital City Public Market, put an idea on the picnic table. She had an overflow of vendors and remembered that Edwards had once had a farmers market of its own. Working closely with Garnette Edwards, she helped the greenhouse design a Tuesday evening event that puts a handful of market vendors and local musicians on a refreshingly small stage.

"It's a chance to share our garden with people that ties into the whole idea of buying locally. It just makes sense," Sanders said. "You can take your glass of wine and meander through the booths, smell the soaps, buy some raspberries and then go and request your favorite song."

"People wander in looking for something neighborhood to do," Keating said. "There really isn't a typical night."

The atypical crowd includes regulars who stake out tables and bring their own dinner, dog-walkers who follow the music (and the smell of Black Canyon Elk Ranch sausage), loyal greenhouse customers and out-of-town visitors who stumble on the unique spread.

"You see the same people every week and get to know their stories," said Jean Jeffries glass artist and owner of Upstart Art. One of about a dozen vendors who consistently support Evenings at Edwards, she said the atmosphere encourages conversation and fellowship, not to mention creative upstarts that share a certain kinship with the Edwards crew.

In an effort to strengthen that bond, Edwards is trying to start a co-op that would allow individual gardeners to sell their extra produce at the market, even if it's just a handful of tomatoes or stalks of chard.

"This place grows, changes, evolves all the time," Keating said. "It's an organic thing."

If you stop by on an upcoming Tuesday, check out these features:

While Lazy Dog Gardens crafts hanging baskets, herb containers and living wreaths for larger markets, the focus is on fresh produce for Edwards. Look forward to cantaloupes, pickled cucumbers and fresh lemon cucumbers.

Upstart Art offers "fun, funky little things" including lady bug broaches, necklaces for kids and decorative dishes that allow attendees to walk away with keepsakes without having to spend a lot of cash.

If you want a purse that makes a multi-faceted statement, stop by Jaguar Moon Bags, a community organization that supports refugees and sells colorful totes made with reclaimed organic fabric and water-based inks.

Sample the Northwest flavors of Davis Creek Cellars, from its light-bodied cabernet sauvignon with a hint of mint to its rich syrah with notes of chocolate and raspberry. If you like what you taste, you can buy a glass or bottle on site.

Erin Ryan: 672-6732