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or the next few weeks, Oriental’s Farmers’ Market is going be be a bit bigger than usual.

Since it started a year and a half ago, the market has brought together a steady group of produce sellers, bakers and craftspeople— and a lot of customers — to the lawn outside of the Wits’ End on Saturday mornings.

The farmers’ market has become the Saturday morning gathering place in Oriental.

This Saturday, November 22, the Farmers’ Market will have 4 times as many craftspeople for a special “Holiday Market” that kicks off the holiday season.

Birdhouses by Bill Evans, one of the regular crafters at the farmers’ market. He and many other new vendors will be selling their locally made crafts at the special “Holiday Market” starting this Saturday.

Jenny Nash Stickrath, who lives in Oriental and sells regional art in Beaufort, came up with the idea of the special “Holiday Market” that would give customers a chance to buy an array of local crafts and goods in the Farmers’ Market setting.

Jenny Nash Stickrath outside the Farmers’ Market area this week.

People “can meet the crafters first hand,” she says, “and buy a gift with some meaning rather than something from China.” Stickrath says they can also avoid the hustle and bustle of the usual holiday shopping experience.

With the economy as it is now, Stickrath says, “it’s important to keep the money in Oriental.” She says she hopes the magnet of an expanded Farmers Market — and customers coming to it — will draw customers to shop at other local businesses while they’re in town.

Laura Turgeon, here seen at her booth this summer, will have a supply of banners and will also be taking orders.

Melinda Penkava, who organizes the Farmers’ Market says, “Jenny’s idea of expanding the market will make it easier for folks to find gifts that are locally made.” As with the usual Farmers’ Market, she says, the products for sale at the Holiday Market will be either “locally made or locally grown. That’s our simple mission.”

NIcole Edwards makes Turks-head mats out of dockline.

A diverse array of local artists and craftspeople are taking part in the kickoff Holiday Market. Among the items for sale:

Garden art – stained glass stepping stones, windchimes, metal-work. Also, rainbarrels.

Candace Young pottery. Turks-head mats made of dockline. Laura Turgeon’s banners of whimsy. Dog treats.

Fine wood-turned bottle stoppers. Crafted pens. Baskets. Cutting boards. Birdhouses. Boat hatch tents. CD’s of music by Bob Laverty.

Duct-tape wallets. Jewelry. Wineglass charms. Books by authors Ben Casey and Liza Wieland. Hand-made books by Evie Chang Henderson. Local honey.

… and bags to put it all in; Jayne Stasser will be selling (at cost) collapsible, reusable Chico Bags and biodegradable garbage bags.

Jay Rousseau sells finely turned wooden bottlestoppers and crafted pens.

Sandie Beal, a regular produce seller at the market will be taking orders for wreaths made from greens harvested here in Pamlico County. And Bob Laverty will be playing guitar and selling his CD’s.

As for Jenny Stickrath, she plans to sell her own jewelry. (She formerly ran the Bead Diva studio in town.) “I love what the Farmers’ Market is doing, but I’m not really a baker and don’t have a green thumb.”

One of many steppingstones by Robert and Susan Kent.

Meanwhile, the Farmer’s Market isn’t overlooking its original aim — to offer fresh foods so area residents can “eat locally and eat well.” There’ll be fresh produce, herbs – dried and fresh, local honey, pesto, jams, desserts, breads and plants.

Produce for sale at Oriental’s Farmers’ Market.

While November 22 is the kickoff, the following Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas should also have a greater array of local goods and crafts for sale .

Siren Song Jewelry makes earrings to order at the Farmers Market earlier this fall.

The hours of Oriental’s Farmers’ Market and Holiday Market are 8:30-11:30am Saturdays, outside — with some vendors inside — the Wits’ End on Hodges Street next to the Duck Pond.

For weekly updates of each market, check out the Farmer’s Market notice at TownDock.net’s What’s Happening which has a link to a list of the goods that will be for sale.

For more details, contact Melinda Penkava at melinda@towndock.net or Jenny Nash Stickrath at jenny@artandsoulnc.com

Posted Tuesday November 18, 2008 by Melinda Penkava

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