Merry Christmas, Marketeers!

 

Since it seems every other day of the over-hyped holiday shopping season has a nickname denoting its existence as more than just another normal day on the calendar we at the BFM decided to call a day our own. Hence, welcome to Farmers and Artisans Sunday in Bridgeport. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday” but it’s the best I could come up with to describe today’s Market at the Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

If you are looking for a truly unique gift for the person who has everything (and we all have one of those folks on our list, don’t we?) then get yourself out to Charles Pointe and check out what our artisans have created for the holiday season. From bowls hand-crafted from WV hardwoods to historically-correct WV pottery you are sure to find a one-of-a-kind, locally produced present that will please even the most Bah-Humbuggiest person on your list. Below is our handy-dandy shopping guide.

 

·         Jughead Pottery – Whimsical pottery designs and silver jewelry

·         Chef Bear’s Bowls – Hand-crafted WV hardwood bowls and platters

·         West Fork Pottery – Historically accurate WV pottery designs

·         Feathered – Vintage clothing and accessories

·         Sunny Patch Farms – All-natural bath and body products

·         Ginny Thompson Jewelry - Hand-crafted jewelry designs

·         My Little Cupcake - Uh, cupcakes, need I say more?

·         Heelbilly Hound Dog Treats - All-natural homemade dog treats

·         Bubble and Geek - Soy candles and more

·         Patty’s Paca Products – Hand-sewn alpaca clothing items

·         Lazy J Farm - A variety of WV made products including fresh ground flour

·         Harmony Farm - A large variety of WV winter produce

·         Jennings Brae Bank Farm - WV produce and farm-raised pork products

·         Master Gardeners – All-natural herb products

·         Sweet Wind Farm - Pasture-raised chicken

·         Mountain Momma Organics – Gift sets with organic soups and coffees

·         Z&Z Woodcrafters - Hand crafted wood products from WV hardwoods

·         Jack Holmes Photography - WV photography and hand crafted ornaments

·         Shipley’s Forest Hill Farm – Grass-fed beef and holiday food items, WV honey

·         Hawthorne Valley Farm – Grass-fed beef, Bloody Butcher corn meal and pancake mixes

·         Gardner Farms - Farm-raised chicken, lamb, turkey, rabbit, duck, pork

·         Chrizart - Tamarack approved jewelry designs by Christine Keller

·         Back In Time Bakery – Salt-rising bread and many other baked goods

·         This n That Bakery – Holiday baked goods

·         Ginger Blue Naturals - All-natural body products

 

In addition, many of the Market’s food vendors will be taking orders for your holiday feast fixings. I think you can ask anyone who shared Thanksgiving with my family this year and they will tell you that Reginald II (don’t ask), our turkey from Gardner Farms, was the best turkey they had ever eaten. The Gardners made it easy by setting up a Bridgeport drop-off on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. So, don’t forget to eat local even during the holidays. Actually, especially during the holidays!

 

Also at today's Market will be the Bridgeport Arts Council providing information about the upcoming Winter Jazz Weekend. This year's event will take place the weekend of Jan 23-24. Of course the big guy in the red suit will be on hand as will the Market's resident guitarist, Rus Reppert. Or maybe we'll just kill two birds with one stone by having Rus wear a big red suit.

 

Who knows?

 

In closing, don't forget to wear your Ugly Christmas Sweater to today's event and drop a nonperishable food item by the Market Info table for the Shepherd's Corner. In exchange for all that you'll be entered in a drawing for a Market gift certificate.

 

Until next month, Stay Fresh!

 

The Bridgeport Farmers Market Association is the seven member all volunteer board of directors that governs the Bridgeport Farmers Market. It is supported by a wonderful group of community volunteers who help in the setup and maintenance of the market. For more information on the Farmers Market or to see how you can help please e-mail us at bridgeportfarmersmarket@yahoo.comor, better yet, LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You can also check out the Market’s own YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BridgeportFarmersMkt or for more BFM video content you can now go to http://vimeo.com/bridgeportfarmersmarket/videos. And then surf on over to the BFM's newly designed Web site at www.bridgeportfarmersmarket.com.

 

Editor's Note: Jughead Pottery is featured above and on the cover. Photos courtesy of Jughead Pottery Facebook Page, which can be found by clicking HERE.