MORGAN PILZ/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Bluebird Farm’s Greenhouse, located on Racetrack Road in Ocean Pines, was packed during the first Sunday weekly farmer’s market held Nov. 11.

By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Nov. 15, 2018) As the weather gets cooler, area residents and visitors will still be able to enjoy perusing locally grown produce and homemade goods at a new indoor farmer’s market, which opened Sunday, Nov. 11.

At the market, around 20 vendors displayed their goods in a greenhouse at Bluebird Farms on 11207 Racetrack Road, near Ocean Pines.

Farmer’s Market Organizer Robin Caldwell said she approached Bluebird owner Nancie Corbett to ask, “What do you do with that beautiful huge greenhouse during the winter?”

“She said, ‘Well, I really don’t do anything. I do Christmas trees in the winter and wreaths,’” Caldwell said. “I was in there and it was just so warm and beautiful, and it was cool outside. The next day I called her and said, ‘Nancie, how about if we make a beautiful indoor farmer’s market,’ especially because there’s a need for it.”

Caldwell, a professional caterer, said the idea came to her after spending many Saturdays as a vendor at the Ocean Pines farmer’s market in White Horse Park.

“I feel the winters around here can get a little bit long, so just having something people can go to on a Sunday will be great,” she said. “The local vendors just do not want to be a vendor in the farmer’s market in the winter. It’s just too cold. We’re not trying to compete with anybody, we’re just trying to offer the services and the products in the winter months.”

Another motivator for Caldwell was the rainy summer, which washed out potential profits on several weekends.

“This year it got rained out a lot and it’s disappointing when it happens,” she said.

Activities are being planned during the indoor market, such as visits from Santa Claus every Sunday during December, and wreath-making classes until the New Year.

“We will be having a lot of different activities,” Caldwell said. “In January, we’re going to keep it going and we’re doing indoor goat yoga, some flower-arranging classes, and cooking classes just to keep them interested.”

The market opened for the first time on Sunday, with promising results for Caldwell.

“It was a really great turnout,” she said. “I’m sure this week will be even better.”

The market will close in the spring, when Bluebird Farms resumes using the greenhouse to grow plants.

The farmer’s market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Sunday, with expanded hours planned for holiday weekends.

For more information or to inquire about vendor spots, contact Bluebird Farms on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bluebirdfarmsproduce or call 410-208-4475.