Andover Winter Farmer's Market: think local

By John Church ANDOVER — A mid-winter farmer’s market was held at Hillside Barn Park in Andover this past Sunday. The market was created to spread the idea of locally grown food and locally produced craft items. The event benefits consumers as an additional place to shop and benefits farmers and artisans as an additional source of income. Organized by Andover residents Eric Derby and Eric Olsen, the market attracted 30 vendors to the old barn. “This is where consumers can by local food from the highlands bioregion,” said Derby. Derby explained that different local environments produce different foods and products. Steep rocky fields are suitable for certain crops while flat fields with rich soil are suitable for others. Other fields support grazing animals, like alpacas. “Alpacas eat pasture grass and second cutting orchard grass,” said Mitch Sparrow, of Humming Meadows Alpacas in Newton. “We show our alpacas in the ring during March and April and shear them in May.” The farm has 25 Huacaya alpacas, one Suri alpaca, and expects eight newborn alpacas in the spring. Alpaca fiber is spun into yarn and made into a variety of products. Other vendors sold prepared foods, such as perogies and stuffed cabbage, canned and dried fruits, and frozen beef and lamb meat from grass fed animals. Non-edible items included decorative horseshoes. “These are hand sanded, used, iron horseshoes,” said Carol Fredericks of Stillwater, partner in 2 Broke Broads, pointing toward a selection of ornate horseshoes. “The ancient Greeks thought iron could ward off evil spirits.” Horseshoes are commonly thought to be lucky rather than evil spirit repellents. “You have to hang the shoe open end up,” said Fredericks. “If the open end is down, all the luck will run out.” Fredericks can decorate a shoe in any theme. Sports teams, vehicle brands and beverage brands are popular. “If a customer has vintage jewelry I can take it apart and use the individual pieces to customize a horseshoe,” said Fredericks. Other tables included informational displays describing the features of local parks and the Avian Wildlife Center of Wantage display included a live screech owl.