SKILLED residents held a bustling fair with a difference – with every single product having been made in their village.
The award-winning Sustainable Youlgrave environmental action group organised the Youlgrave Village Market on Saturday to showcase the top quality foods, arts and crafts available on villagers' doorsteps.
And the first event in the village hall was so successful that its organisers want to make it a bi-monthly event.
Lucy Stirling, joint leader of Sustainable Youlgrave community sub-group, said: "It was amazing, I can't believe it. We had 14 stallholders and the place was completely rammed with people.
"All the hard work we put in to promoting it, like sending personalised invites to every household in the Bradford Valley, really paid off.
"I know quite a few of the stallholders made more than they had expected, which was great."
Around 14 stalls sold a diverse range of hand-made, ethically-sourced products from 10am until noon – including chutneys, jams, wool products, wood crafts, artwork and jewellery. Organisers hope fruit and honey will also be offered in future.
Youlgrave Parish Council has confirmed allotment-owners can sell surplus fruit and vegetables at future markets.
Lucy, 32, said: "We're really pleased by this and are encouraging allotment-holders to sell the produce they can't find a home for. The whole idea is to prevent food wastage and to encourage people to buy locally."
She added: "I know lots of people are sceptical about climate change, but hopefully this type of event and encourage more engagement between Sustainable Youlgrave and the wider community.
"I think it's about acorns to oak trees – it'll take a long time, but we've so many schemes and they are raising awareness."
The group, which won the national Future Friendly awards in 2008, runs projects in the Bradford Valley to combat global warming, including environmentally-friendly bags, bee hives, anaerobic digestion and a community orchard.
The next Youlgrave Village Market will be held at the village hall on Saturday March 13, from 10am to noon
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