​While living and working in Burlington, ON, Keith Small of TKS Woodworks decided to make a planter for his wife in his downtime during COVID. “He had woodworking experience from working in wood framing and doing odd jobs around the house,” his wife and business partner Tina explained. “So, he made me a planter. It wasn’t a big one, just a smaller one.” But later in the year during a barbeque at their house, a lot of people began to compliment the piece and mentioned it would be something they would buy. Tina and Keith decided to give it a shot and made a few more planters before listing them for sale on Facebook Marketplace. “We were both working our other jobs full time, Keith was framing, and I was working as a PSW, but once I posted them, that was that,” Tina said with a laugh. “Now we’ve run TKS Woodworks full time for two years as of February 2026.” 

In a modern world of mass production and online convenience, it's easy to forget the value of handmade goods and locally created art. Yet local artisans and artists are the heart of vibrant communities like St. Thomas and Elgin County. When you support them, you're not just purchasing a product, we're investing in creativity, sustainability, and connection. 

Farmers' markets play a vital role in making that connection possible. Spaces like the Horton Farmers' Market provide a welcoming space where artisans can showcase their talents, share their knowledge and stories, and build meaningful relationships with their community. 

After becoming a Canadian citizen and graduating with her diploma in Jewelry and Metals from Georgian College, artisan Loren Harrison started her business, QuArtzy by Loren, in 2022. Born in the Philippines, Loren's first career was in business administration - working in the Philippines and in Abu Dhabi after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. "I've always had a passion for jewelry," Loren said with a smile. "And I have always been good at crafts. My husband suggested that since I love jewelry, I should become a professional artisan." With his encouragement, along with her schooling and passion, Loren decided to take the leap and start working from her home studio to bring unique designs to life.

When you walk through the market building at Horton, you might notice something right away. Every artisan stall has its own personality, draw, and charm. From hand shaped pottery to leathercraft hats and more, each item tells a story that's very different from the products you find on a big-box store shelf - mass-produced, identical, and often made far away from your local community. 

Understanding the difference between handmade and mass-produced helps shoppers appreciate the care, creativity, skill, and value behind local artisan goods. 

​For Adam of Paterson Woodcrafts, woodworking began as a quiet hobby; something he did for himself, his friends, family, and for pure enjoyment. “I used to just give it away,” Adam said with a smile. But over time, that passion took root, shaped by decades of deep respect for the craft. 2025 has marked Adam's first year of selling his works publicly - and the Horton Farmers' Market is happy to be his launchpad.

​If you’ve stopped by the Horton Farmers Market, you’ve seen the cheerful and inviting trailer set-up, complete with patio seating and flower centerpieces. A colourful spot to grab some delightful dog treats with equally delightful names. The face behind the booth is Rebecca, and despite being just seven months into the business, Fergielicious has become
a fixture at the Horton Farmers’ Market. 

Roughly six years ago, Brian Leverton of 2 Dogs Candle Co. purchased a candle for himself and his wife to enjoy at home. But after lighting the candle, it didn't burn properly; instead of burning out, it burnt right down the middle. Brian decided to take the candle to a local shop in St. Mary's (Village Craft & Candle) to find out why the candle burned improperly, where they explained the problem. "They put too small of a wick in it, so it couldn't create enough heat," Brian explained. The owners suggested that Brian and his wife take their candle making course to learn more, and after finishing the course they had some finished candles. "My daughter at the time was living in Yellow Knife so she took a few [candles] back there, and then she said 'Can you send me up some more?', and it just kind of grew from there." 

In 2017 Steph started to explore feeding their dogs and cats a raw food diet to meet their dietary needs. It allowed her to feed them real, natural foods, with daily variety while also giving her control over the contents. “When we adopted our second dog, he was very overweight and it was a lot easier for me to control what was going into his food,” explained Steph. “But I could bulk up his food with things like vegetables so he wasn’t just starving and getting into things all day long.” Steph spent lots of time researching raw food diets, their benefits, and what was needed to make sure the food would be nutritionally balanced. Two of her dogs have kidney disease and liver disease, and Steph likes how she can adjust their meals to help support their needs. ​

Around eight years ago, Marisa Kohler began searching for soap and skincare products to help her family’s dry skin. “The [three] kids and I have super dry skin and eczema and I couldn’t find an appropriately priced organic line of soap and skincare products for our whole family,” Marisa explained. “I wanted to see what I could do, so I started researching how to make soap for our family.” After lots of research, trial, and error, Marisa finally created a soap recipe that worked for their skin, had lots of bubbles and organic ingredients. “It took months of learning and failing until we had a bar we all liked, but we were eventually successful!” Marisa said with a smile. “Not only did our skin look and feel better, but the kids loved to help measure the ingredients and pick out new scents.” ​