SANDPOINT — Tucked into the Sandpoint Library once a month, the winter version of the Sandpoint Farmers Market is similar to its summer iteration.

There are vegetables, artisan crafts and baked goods. Many of the vendors are the same, with residents and sellers alike greeting each other like longtime friends or neighbors.

"This is the first year the Sandpoint Farmers Market has brought back the winter market since COVID," said Seamus Newcomb, who serves on the board and operates Cloud Eleven Mountain Farm with his parents, Edward and Julie Newcomb, in Moyie Springs.

It has proved to be a popular addition, with the market packing the meeting rooms and entryway with everything from fresh seasonal produce to baked goods.

"It's something the patrons have been asking about," Newcomb said of the market board's decision to bring the winter market back. "… Everyone thought it would be a good idea and everyone loves that it's back."

Among those thrilled with the winter version of the market is Corrine Manes, who has sold her artisan crafts at both iterations of the market.

Manes launched her business, Corrine's Creations, several years ago as a way to share her love for art and sell the epoxy-based items she created. When people saw her work, they always asked her where she got it, and when she told friends and family she had made it, they wanted her to make something for them.

The items include everything from jewelry to decorative pieces to keychains and magnets, Manes said. She's also begun creating decorative items that mimic the look of a miniature cactus garden or flower pot.

"When I started flower pressing, and I ended up getting a ton of flowers, I started messing around with some things, and my friends were like, 'Whoa, why don't you just try selling it,'" she said.

The flower pressing came about because she would find a beautiful flower in her garden and want to keep a memory of that day or moment, Manes said. To preserve the flowers, she began exploring various epoxy formats and processes, trying one method and then another until she developed a look that matched the product she was creating.

"I've always liked to dabble with crafts and stuff," Manes said. "But this is the first time I've ever tried selling anything, though."

While new to selling at the farmers market, Manes said she loves connecting with area residents and sharing her love of creating with others.

Like Manes, Samantha Podmajerski loves being a part of the market, taking part in both the summer and winter versions. Now in her third season, Podmajerski will soon be launching a brick-and-mortar version of her store — The Granary General Store. She has operated a subscription service when she isn't selling at the farmers market, and the European deli and bakery will have both a cafe and a marketplace element.

Podmajerski began baking bread 10 years ago when her son was born, falling more and more in love with both the science and the process. During the pandemic, she took master classes online from world-renowned bakers that helped take her "bread game to the next level."

"I think it's the ritual of making bread," Podmajerski said of what fascinates her about the process and how it serves to connect people. "I'll talk to people who bought a loaf of my bread and they'll tell me this amazing story about this whole experience they had with their family because of it."

While some prefer to measure and focus on machines and the science of the process, Podmajerski said her bread making is more intuitive, allowing her to adapt to the day, the weather and changes in ingredients.

"I don't think we need to turn it into this scientific thing, because it is, like, an ancient thing that people were doing long before machines existed," she added.

Manes and other market sellers said they love the winter version of the market and appreciate the market board and staff for relaunching the monthly event during the winter.

"It really feels like you are part of the community here, which is really fun," Manes said. "It's an event I look forward to … It's really nice to just get out and be around other people that also get into art and get into farming. The whole environment is just really refreshing to be a part of."

The vendors praised the library for hosting the market, saying it is an outgrowth of its mission to connect the community — from offering books, movies and music to its "Library of Things," which allows patrons to check out everything from birding kits to sewing machines and everything in between.

"I don't think the library gets enough credit for all it does," Manes said. "It's an amazing place. It has all of these things that you can rent for free and it's all for the public. I love it here."

Newcomb loves being able to offer truly organic products to customers. An efficient system and careful planning allow him and his family to pack a diverse offering of produce on less than an acre, tucked into 90 or so 100-foot rows.

"Sometimes there's three different crops in a row, depending on when they mature," he said. "We can get the first crop out before the second — even the third — are close to maturing."

Newcomb said he enjoys connecting with customers he otherwise wouldn't see during the slow late fall and winter months.

"But now they get to come chat and ask questions about what starts I'm doing or what plants I'll have available in the spring," he said. "Or sometimes they'll stop by just to say hello."

    Julie Newcomb adjusts something at Cloud Eleven Mountain Farms booth at the Winter Farmers Maret as she and her son, Seamus', take a break between customers.