Community Market

Start the half term at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market

The market’s popular face painter, Megan, will be at the Community Market tomorrow so parents can do their food shopping while children get their faces painted.

Food stalls include those selling organic meat, fresh, locally produced vegetables, delicious cupcakes, home made chocolate, fudge and preserves, free-range eggs laid in Ottery, apple juice made in Whimple and fair-trade food.

There will also be stalls selling cards, jewelry, candles and ironmongery; all crafted locally. New items this month include fabric corsages and hair clips, which make lovely gifts.

 

The market is this Saturday 29th May 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Institute in Yonder Street.

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Fresh Vegetables & Plants at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market

The market is now the only place in Ottery town centre to buy fresh, locally produced vegetables! We also welcome back our plant and locally grown flower stalls.

Everyone’s welcome to browse and shop among the many stalls selling organic meat, home made cakes and chocolate, cards, jewelry, gifts, fair trade goods, nature photographs, eggs, preserves and much more.

Relax with coffee and cake while children have their faces painted.

The market is on Saturday 29 May 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Institute in Yonder Street.

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OTTERY’S COMMUNTNITY MARKET’S 2nd ANNIVERSARY

Everyone’s invited to come and help celebrate the 2nd birthday of Sustainable Ottery’s Community market on Saturday 24th April from 9.30am - 12.30pm. There will be free refreshments available at the market in The Institute, Yonder Street, Ottery St Mary.

The market has gone from strength to strength in the two years of operation. It has grown from just a few stalls to filling up the whole Institute with over 30 stalls every month.

The founder of the market, Diana Jones, said, “The whole idea behind the market is to celebrate the local community's skills and talents, and to promote the goods they make or grow. It all helps in however small a way to become a little more resourceful, a little more self-sufficient, and a little greener. And in however small a way, it helps to reduce our carbon footprint, and to work towards a really thriving local economy”

It has certainly benefited local producers. The Courtneys of Whimple, producers of cider apple products, started off selling apple juice at the market to see if there was a market for it and now their cider apple product business has taken off. Claire Gilies, of The Flower Field, a local, organically grown flower business and a stall holder from the first market, was shy and hesitant about selling direct to customers, now she is very confident and proud of her wonderful flowers and attends many markets in the area.

It has become a real community affair. “It’s a wonderful meeting place for the people of Ottery”, says Ann Masters, who runs the Parish Church Stall, “it’s lovely for the Church to go out into the community and to meet lots of people. The WI does a roaring trade with their refreshments. Mary Edwards of the WI says, “It’s a good way for the WI to get involved in the community, meeting people, some of whom go on to become members”

It is a huge hit with shoppers who have the opportunity to buy local fresh vegetables, eggs, cakes, tarts and quiches, flowers, preserves, chutneys, drinks, honey, plants, even organic meat now. All produced locally and sold in the centre of Ottery. Beatrix Godfrey, one of the market coordinators, says, “The market is also great for tracking down unusual, interesting presents such as wildlife photographs, jewellery, wooden toys, handmade soaps, candlesticks made by a local blacksmith, knitted and embroidered gifts, as well as good value cards, made by hand”

CONTACT: BEATRIX GODFREY bixiebabes@yahoo.com

01404 812213 / 07896 314305

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Supporting Ottery Carnival at Ottery’s

Community Market

(21st November 2009)

Stallholders at the popular monthly Community Market in Ottery are donating their products as prizes for a raffle to be held at this month’s market to support Ottery Carnival.

Prizes will include a basket of fresh veggies, a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers and a selection of handmade cards, as well as many other local products and crafts. The draw will be at about 12.15

“We want to make sure there are fireworks for Ottery next year, as well as showing our support for the Tar Barrels’, says Heidi Blackmore of East Hill Farm, a stall holder, ‘so we need lots of visitors to come and buy tickets’.

Visitors to the market can get a head start with their Christmas shopping with a wide range of fresh produce and unique crafts to choose from including: organic flowers to local honey, fresh vegetables to home-made cakes, small items of furniture to works-of-art, high fashion bags to children’s clothes, jewellery and one-of-a-kind cards; produced by local people for people who think local.

This month’s market is on Saturday November 21st 9.30 – 12.30 at the Institute in Yonder Street.

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Celebrating Halloween at Ottery’s Community Market

There was a tremendous entry, both in number and standard, for the best-dressed pumpkin picture at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market on Saturday 31st October. 

The judges had to pick the best in three categories: Ages’ 0-4 years, 5-8 years and 9-11 years.

The winners were:

   Under 5's Isla Kirk

  5-8 years Max Hooper

  9 & Over Hannah Upchurch

(Note that entries can be collected from Roberts Hardware until Monday Nov. 9th).

November's market is on Saturday 21st November 9.30 – 12.30 at the Institute in Yonder Street.

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Sustainable Ottery’s community market has been running since April 2008 and the emphasis is on supporting local producers and providing with an outlet for their products & reducing food miles for food producers.

There is also an emphasis on environmentally friendly and sustainable goods.

It is held on (usually) the last Saturday of the month at the Institute in Ottery St Mary from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Entrance is free and the WI provides refreshments.

A typical market features some or all of the following stalls:

Fresh vegetables, preserves & chutneysEggs & egg related produceSeasonal vegetables & herbs grown without use of artificial fertilizers or pesticidesFresh Seasonal Flowers grown as organically as possibleKnitted baby & children’s clothesHigh Fashion Knitted BagsHome Made Cakes, Bread & Ready MealsBonsai TreesReconditioned Hand ToolsPictures by local artistsLocal craft items: e.g. Jewellery, Cards, Ceramics, Natural, locally produced soaps & cosmeticsHoney and honey & beeswax productsKaituur: Local outlet for Green, Energy Saving & Sustainable productsHand Embroidered items