Sustainable Holidays at the Oxford Community Market

A drive through Oxford in late November is a moving picture of colors and Christmas. From the spectrum of fall leaves embellishing the Ole Miss campus to the luminescence of Christmas lights decorating the historic Square, the intrinsic charm of Oxford during the holiday season is something that you can’t help but come back to. Like ornaments adorning this picturesque image, Oxford’s many local restaurants, shops, and groups decorate the city in a unique charm. Rooted in that charm is the Oxford Community Market (OXCM), illuminating the craftsmanship and hard work of local vendors and farmers alike. The market features the best local produce for every season. From summer’s hibiscus, to fall pumpkins, and carrots in winter, you can always find fresh and locally sourced produce perfect for any dish or celebration. While a trip to the Market offers a wonderful opportunity to shop local, it is equally as likely that you will meet and talk to some amazing local vendors–focusing their businesses on the intersectionality between accessibility and sustainability. The result paints a portrait of community in a way that is hard to recreate elsewhere.

“The market is on Tuesdays, but the community is every day,” Valley of Giants owner Nathan Richardson aptly puts it. While community members can visit and shop at the Oxford Community Market every Tuesday at the Old Armory Pavilion, OXCM has engagement in the community throughout the week. From the neighborhood resilience garden to food days, and weekly meal deliveries, OXCM is a hub that sets the stage for all sorts of positive activity aiming to address larger, systemic issues of health and food insecurity. What makes OXCM so unique is that aspect of “community,” attracting vendors, community members, and students alike, all engaging around common interests. As owner Betsy describes it, “community is at the heart of the market…building support for the entire local food [and social] system.” There are countless opportunities for people to bring their own skills and ideas to the table and to implement them in ongoing community projects.

Even on a smaller scale, one does not have to undertake any large or ambitious project to make a difference within the community. It is possible to support your local businesses and food systems while also getting your holiday shopping done and OXCM is a great place to start. OXCM is currently hosting its annual Holly Jolly Holiday series. For the first three Market Tuesdays in December, farmers will be there with late fall and winter produce that people can use for their holiday meals. Keeping with the holiday spirit, vendors will have special holiday items and packaging. Whether locally sourced foods, homemade goods, or gift packages, holiday items from OXCM make great, wholesome gifts. Buying your holiday gifts from the Market is truly a gift that keeps on giving, providing a meaningful gift to the recipient, a good holiday experience for the shopper, and a sense of community support and boosted repertoire for local vendors.

For more information, follow Oxford Community Market on Social Media

 

-Story by GSIP Intern Allegra Latimer