Market focuses on Virginia goods

If buying local is the mantra of the green movement, the Williamsburg Farmers Market is the place to be for eco-friendly holiday preparations.

"They have to be from Virginia," market manager Libbey Oliver said of the vendors. "We call it a producer-only market. The person at the market has been involved in the growing, harvesting, baking, has actually caught the fish, if it's a wreath they've had a hand in making it, and so forth."

Meals, decorations and gifts are the focus of the historic area's annual Thanksgiving and Christmas street markets tomorrow, next Saturday and Dec. 13. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Vendors from all corners of the state set up in Merchants Square on Duke of Gloucester Street.

Tomorrow's market will feature everything for the Thanksgiving table -- cheeses, mushrooms, meats, seafood, fresh pastas, pies and organic seasonal produce. Colonial Williamsburg plant curator Lawrence Griffith and Williamsburg photographer Barbara Lombardi will sign copies of their book, "Flowers and Herbs of Early America" (Yale University Press; $45) outside the Williamsburg Craft House from 9 to 11 a.m.

The market expands to two blocks next Saturday and Dec. 13 and the focus shifts to Christmas -- fresh and dried wreaths, centerpieces, greenery, berries and trees. Bakers will sell holiday cakes, plum and bread puddings, chocolates, jams and salsas, peanuts and pastries from the Greek Ladies Society of Williamsburg.

If you're not a crafty baker, you can pick up a handmade gingerbread house by Jan Ozolek of James City County.

Heard of bumbleberry pie? The Jamestown Pie Co. will be selling the mixed-berry pastry along with other fruit varieties, pecan pies and chicken and seafood pot pies.

Normandie French Cuisine of King George County will offer tarts, crepes, quiches and cassoulets.

Handmade goat-milk cheese and herb soaps, candles, wool products, ornaments and forced bulbs also will be available. Janet Hunt of Meadow Traditions in Henrico County will have a booth that includes "fairy scapes," mosses and seed pods enclosed in glass containers.

Parking is available at the Prince George Street garage for $1 an hour. Parking in the Francis Street lot is free on Saturdays until noon. All other lots are posted as one-hour or two-hour parking.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Merchants Square Association and the city are sponsoring the market. Additional sponsors are the Riverside Hospital System, Towne Bank and Ukrop's Super Markets.
Contact Julie Young at (804) 649-6732 or .