John Knapp likes to make things complicated. “It comes from being an engineer,” the retired Merchant Marine says.

Knapp’s favorite thing to complicate: Toys. Toy bunnies that hop, dinosaurs that charge and trucks that bounce and roll – he makes them one at a time from his home in Oxford using wood he gathers off his property.

His wares are just one example of the many unique Chenango County products available this Christmas, Knapp says.

“There’s a lot of great artists making a lot of great stuff out there,” he said. “I think it gives people a lot of pride in their community to know there’s artists who make all these wonderful things that live in this community.”

To highlight local artists, businesses and products, the Bullthistle Project at Opportunities for Chenango is encouraging consumers to take part in a “Hometown Holidays Shop Local Challenge.” Participants will be given a shop local guidebook that catalogs over 54 area businesses and highlights their product lines and one-of-a-kind gift items.

Bullthistle Products specialist Stacie Edick hopes the effort will encourage county consumers to spend their Christmas budgets where they live.

“When you shop local, more of that money stays in your community than if you shop at large chains,” said Edick, adding that shopping locally will ease consumers’ gas budgets and reduce vehicle emissions. “It has a big impact on the local economy.”