Deddington Oxfordshire - Saturday, 20th December 2014

Deddington's Christmas Farmer's Market....Oxfordshire  for its monthly farmer's market....

I simply adore visiting farmer’s markets for the buzz of finding home-reared food, crafted artisan’s creations and local foods, also unusual gift items.

Brilliantly fresh veggies from Anson Vegs.

For talking to producers, growers, needlecrafters and artists for the exchange of knowledge and greetings.  For meeting the stallholders selling their collection of books, antiques and crafts of all kinds.  For meeting designers of glass, wood and fabric.  The late-night enterprising folk, the early-morning-risers packing away their treasures and boxes, their table dressings, labels, money boxes and floats, all for a full day’s selling activity.

The Meat Joint for wonderful cuts and succulent faggots

The gifted folk, determined and talented, bent on displaying their precious own-made crafts and treasures.  Their passions, their life-time’s achievements created through the year, working towards the next craft fair, the next market event, the next Christmas and beyond.

Mariella Bliss for utterly delicious Christmas food - we discussed the importance of using the best flour

Personal improvement, the love of gaining more knowledge, a higher degree of craftiness, of learning a new stitch, a new method of preparation or even a whole new craft, all for the intense pleasure of proving and improving ones abilities and capabilities.

Julie at her wonderful handmade gift stall

Mary Canny - Glass Artist/Designer

So excited by the excellent craftsmanship of this stall - of Pamela Golding and Friend

And the motivation that undercuts everything we do, either for economical gain or personal gratification i.e. humanity’s need to grow and prosper, to stretch ourselves and our talents.  We all have talents, some small some great, yet the need is the same, to see them grow and improve, for with improvement we blossom and grow.  There is an intense sense of satisfaction in watching a gifted talent grow and a huge sense of attainment to be explored in the development of self.

This one didn't get away from me - it's hooked and waiting to be eaten!!!

Bibury Trout Farm of Gloucester

A personal favourite - "These are a few of my favourite things"

So meeting and chatting to stallholders at a farmer’s market brings pleasure, knowledge and new friendships.  Becoming known to the producers of our daily food, our festive delights and the purveyors of life’s other delights, is a source of great personal delight.  I glory in the abundance and freshness of food for sale, the variety of stalls and their owners, their enthusiastic and knowledgeable presence and the enthusiasm of fellow market shoppers.

The Pie Man for glorious pies and order from Chipping Norton
- we bought his steak and kidney pie - so good to eat!

Mutton for a friend to create a curried meal, pheasant, venison sausages and Game terrine from D & B Cox of Ixhill Farm




 

And a worth  cause to be assisted

Wonderful vegetables

Chris of New Farm Creation@The View From Above on YouTube

It's great to be able to buy rare apples...

We need our ancient fruit...









Merry Christmas everybody.....

Margaret Halstead xxx




PS thank you to all concerned for allowing me to photograph their stalls on a very busy Saturday!!! xxx

The need to shop is part of life’s daily routine and the various shops and Supermarkets are there at every corner to meet all our needs and desires. 

Yet farmer’s markets provide a wonderful opportunity to be involved with the food chain, which keeps us fed and healthy and, without doubt, gives our indie food producers and crafters-artisans the opportunity for development, growth and economic advancement.

Local is definitely beautiful – long live farmer’s market, everywhere.