Oxford Farmers Market welcomes students back

Miami University students and families commonly spend their Saturday mornings near Memorial Park at the Oxford Farmers Market.

Oxford welcomed over 4,000 first-year students during Welcome Weekend, bringing many new faces to the Oxford Farmers Market.

Vendors range from family farmers to jewelry makers and highly esteemed bakers. Several vendors are certified organic producers or use earth-friendly practices to make their goods. The Oxford Farmers Market website says the market includes 10 farms, nine food producers, 10 artisans and opportunities for visitors to meet new people every weekend.

Vendors come from all over southwest Ohio, with some from Oxford, Fairfield, Ohio and parts of Indiana. They share their creativity through live music, produce and handcrafted creations.

John Malan and Susan Eacker show off their creativity at their stand. Malan makes beaded jewelry, spoon rings and copper bracelets. He said he makes a line of T-shirts as well.

Eacker makes denim jackets, each one different from another. She said they have been coming to Oxford since 2008 and owned a store at 33 West High St. for about eight years. The store, named the Green Door, sold their handcrafted items, like jewelry made out of discarded utensils.

“[Spoon rings] have that fabulous pop from the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Malan said. “I’ve been [making jewelry] since ‘86, so I’ve made a lot of things for people.”

Visitors can buy locally grown produce from multiple vendors at the farmers market, including Casa Ramsey Farm, 7 Wonders Farm and many others.

Another unique stand is Quiet Harmony Ranch; a working elk ranch in New Paris, Ohio.

Their products include elk sticks and jerky, different sized dog chews and frozen meats. They even offer free samples.

According to the Quiet Harmony Ranch website, visitors of the ranch can buy elk products at the Trading Post, their store, explore trails and see elk close up at the Elk Park. Visitors also have the opportunity to play with pedal cars and participate in gaga ball at Action Acres.

Kenny Rouse is one of the many honey producers at the farmers market. Rouse said he and his wife have an apiary in Somerville, Ohio and have been an Oxford Farmers Market vendor for four years.

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Rouse said their honey business began after they bought a property previously used for agriculture. He said they wanted to keep the land agricultural, so they started brainstorming.

“My wife started doing some research on what we could do, and we decided on bees,” Rouse said.

Rouse said Larry Johnson, of Johnson Family Farms, introduced them to beekeeping. At that time, Johnson was teaching others how to beekeep. His wife attended one of Johnson’s classes and was hooked.

“She was the one that really drove the train to get us there, but then I took it to the next level,” Rouse said.

Rouse said he and his wife started out with two beehives and now manage 22. They also participate in Oxford’s Annual Bee Festival.

Along with raw, natural honey, Rouse and his wife also sell infused honey flavored with raspberry, lemon, bourbon barrel and more. They also provide creamed honey for buyers, which Rouse said is more like a spread than traditional honey.

“We try to use real plants, like dried lavender, in our [honey],” Rouse said, “that way we’re not adding artificial flavors.”

Rouse isn’t the only vendor Johnson brought to Oxford. Kim Dugan of Botanical Blends by Kim was also introduced by Johnson. Dugan comes from Fairfield, Ohio. This is her seventh season at the Oxford Farmers Market. She sells handcrafted organic elderberry syrup, jellies, tea and essential oil products.

Dugan said her business with Oxford started on her Facebook page. She said she posted her leftover jars of syrup on Facebook and then started selling at the Fairfield Market. She said she met Johnson at the Fairfield Market and he talked her into coming to Oxford.

Dugan said some of her most popular items are her elderberry syrup, all-natural bug spray, all-natural hand sanitizer and different calming essential oil blends for migraine relief.

There are numerous other types of vendors, like flower farmers and different artisans. Visitors can get a “small town hospitality” feeling at the Oxford Farmers Market and meet all kinds of new people.

The market is open year-round on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon just behind Memorial Park in Uptown Oxford.

feeta@miamioh.edu