If You Dream It, He Can Carve It

Many patrons head to the on Saturdays to stock up on locally-grown produce, baked goods, and natural beauty products.  However, there are also vendors like Don Highfield who specialize in and sell handmade arts and crafts.

Highfield, a wood carver, is a Rome, Ga. native and current Athens resident who spent an entire season selling at the Oconee Farmers Market a few years ago and has recently returned to set up shop once again.

His interest in wood carving began in the early 1990s as a student carving carousals at Horsin' Around Carving School near Chattanooga, Tenn.  After that, there was no looking back. The artisan settled in Athens about 10 years ago and sells his pieces in many local stores.

Highfield's work includes cottage signs, canes, hiking sticks, and unusual Santa figurines, which a number of customers have started collecting. He also carves special requests.

"People ask me to do something, and I say, 'sure, I can do that,'" he said.  Not long ago he created a bridge troll, for example.

Attached to his pieces is the label, "Artifacts of Athens, Woodcarving."

Highfield also enjoys "free carvings" --taking a natural piece of wood and "seeing what's inside of it and trying to bring it out."

One free carving turned into a lady with ivy for hair and a flaming skull on the other side.  "That was unique," he remarked.

Highfield said he and other artisans add to the overall value of farmers markets.

"Just having arts and crafts really gives people a sense of 'back to the earth,' if it's all handmade," he said. "It's about growing your own food and making what you need."

At the Oconee Farmers Market, you can spot Highfield, tools in hand, carving faces or Celtic knots.

Here is a list of items vendors will have on hand this Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the back lawn of :

• Greens
• Beans
• Blackberries
• Fresh
• Yellow and pattypan squash
• Zucchini
• Cucumbers
• Fresh garlic
• and Angus cross beef
• Milk
• Local/wildflower honey
• Sourwood honey with comb
• Pies (strawberry-rhubarb, chocolate chess, blueberry, and apple with cheddar crumb topping)
• Whoopie pies
• Cookies
• Muffins
• Strawberry jam
• Fresh flowers
• Live plants
• Birdhouses
• Lip balms
• Olive oil soaps
• Solid perfumes
• Herbal air fresheners
• Glow-in-the-dark soap for kids
• Shea butter products
• Boiled & fried peanuts
• Pork skins
• Beef jerky
• Pickles on a stick