07/31/2026
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Inaugural Mercantile to be held Saturday in Sebring
Barry Foster|Pulse of the Heartland|Barry Foster Show
SEBRING — What began as a magazine dedicated to telling the stories of Florida’s homesteaders is taking another step into the real world.
On Saturday, August 1, Jamie Bateman, founder and editor of The Florida Homesteader magazine will host The Mercantile. This inaugural event will bring together farmers, artisans, bakers, beekeepers and craftspeople from across Highlands County and Central Florida for a free community marketplace at Selah Acres on Selah Road in Sebring.
“This will be the first of our Mercantiles, which we hope to hold twice per month, that is, every other week.” Bateman said. “In the future we plan to offer hands-on classes with the vendors where folks can learn about the products they produce and even learn the trades to do in their own homesteads or homes.
Admission is free, and visitors will have an opportunity to meet many of the people featured in the growing homesteading movement while shopping for locally produced food, handmade goods, natural products and farm-raised products.
“Our goal has always been to connect people with the families who are producing quality food and handcrafted products right here in Florida,” Bateman said. “The magazine tells their stories. This event gives people the opportunity to meet them face-to-face.”
This will be the first of a series of such gatherings, set to run the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Although not all of the vendors will be present this time, visitors will find fresh sourdough breads and baked goods from Platt Creek Sourdough, locally raised Florida Cracker beef from Arbuckle Cattle, raw honey from CBbees, fresh produce from Double K Farms, handcrafted tallow products from Southern Pine Tallow, herbal remedies from Margist Market, homemade spice blends from Maribel’s Home Pantry, and raw milk products from Brucker Bunch.
Several local artisans will also be participating, including Bar Rocking N Farms, featuring handmade sewn products, Cindy Rose Photography, showcasing Florida wildlife photography, and Madeleine’s Potholder Company, operated by 12-year-old entrepreneur Madeleine Gazdagh, who is making handmade potholders while saving for her future college education.
Bateman and her husband, Billy, will also offer products from Selah Acres, including fresh eggs, seasonal canned goods, gluten-free baked items and other farm products, while The Florida Homesteader magazine will have magazines, apparel and merchandise available.
Although the event highlights locally produced food and handmade products, Bateman hopes visitors leave with something even more valuable—a greater appreciation for the growing network of Florida families embracing a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
Across the state, interest in homesteading continues to expand as more Floridians seek locally grown food, practical skills, and stronger community connections. The Selah Acres Mercantile aims to celebrate that movement while introducing neighbors to the people producing many of the items they use every day.
In addition to the vendors, the Batemans will have their livestock including donkeys, goats and chickens on hand to supervise the crowd (especially the children).
This event will also be chronicled for an upcoming edition of the Florida Homesteader Magazine, so wear your best bib and tucker.
