The Oxford Winter Farmers Market located at the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Oxford offers indoor and online shopping November through April. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD – The mad rush for last minute holiday gift buying has arrived and purchases are on the to do list. The Oxford Winter Farmers' Market makes available online shopping for quick and easy gift buying from local farmers and artisans. 

The Marketplace online ordering is from 12 p.m. this Tuesday December 12 and closes at 12 p.m. Thursday, December 14. Cash only pickup is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, December 16, located in the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Oxford at 16 Fort Hill Park in Oxford.

Oxford Farmers' Market volunteer and organizer Trellan Smith said the Online Marketplace is held the first and third Saturdays of every month, November through April. She said the winter indoor shopping hours are on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“The Online Marketplace allows us to connect farmers with customers two times a month through the winter season, which is especially helpful during the holiday season,” Smith said. “The third Saturday Market is ideal for purchasing seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, breads, pies, and other staples right before holiday gatherings.”

“We are so incredibly fortunate to have such beautiful local abundance grown and produced by our neighbors,” she added.

Oxford Market volunteer Tish Roth said the Online Marketplace has amazing offerings and loads more heart than Instacart. She said there is more community connection between the deeply committed vegetable farmers, skilled purveyors of poultry, pork, lamb, and beef and with the wildly talented artists, artisans, and musicians.

“We are our own Eden,” said Roth. “It is successful because it’s a circle; a vital give and receive between local vendors and their local neighbors, not just a one way street.”

Rock Garden Alpacas Farm Store owner-operator Debbie Bohringer said she will be amongst other vendors online this week and offers Alpaca socks, yarns, fibers, gloves, mittens, hats, and more.   

Bohringer said she has nine Alpaca on their farm and has been doing this for about thirteen years now.

She said some fibers are sent out to a co-op where the gloves, hats, and mittens are made. She said she spins yarn, hand knits textured art yarn scarves, and works with fibers; creating many different items.

“Meeting all of the people, watching them explore the market is my favorite part of being a vendor at the Oxford Market,” she said.

Area farmers and artisans do change from time to time and are updated online, offering various seasonal items. Most recent producers have been Fiat Homestead, Fox Trail Farm, Glacy Acres, Oakshire Farm, Black Cat Ranch, Sunrise Farms, Penwingle Farm, Enough and a Little Bit More, Rock Garden Alpacas Farm Store, Kutik’s and Walling’s Maple Syrup.

 The variety of online homemade goods are: soaps, gift certificates, lotions, hats, caramel corn, fresh local brown eggs, granola, microgreens and shoots, sourdough boules, peppers, pies, maple syrup, herbal tea, honey, beeswax candles, scarves, gift filled  boxes, and more.

Creating an online account is quick and easy. Go to ofm.eatfromfarms.com  and follow instructions. On line producers update inventories and add new products prior to online order time. 

 For more information about the online Market, visit  www.oxfordfarmersmarket.org. To reach out with any questions email  yourneighbors@oxfordfarmersmarket.org.