Porter Creek Mercantile Brings The Local Farm To Your Table

Porter Creek Mercantile brings the farmers market indoors where customers can find out exactly where their food comes from. Chad and Denise Northcraft along with their partner Erin Saylor opened the Mercantile in Tenmile on July 3. They opened the store as a spinoff of 42 Connect, a preorder system that was setup during the Covid pandemic to help connect customers with local business that produce food or other goods. “The idea was taking all those vendors (42 Connect) and put them indoors,” Owner Chad Northcraft said. “Our 42 connect is a pre-order system that was setup because of Covid. When people got back to work, we transferred to the mercantile. People can still preorder and come pick it up Thursday, Friday and Saturday.” The Northcrafts also own and operate DC Modern Roots which is a vegetable farm in Winston which provides local produce at the Mercantile. “Vendors were doing farmers markets,” Chad Northcraft said. “42 Connect was an access for us to put a preorder system in place with our veggies. We stock the mercantile with produce, baked goods, canned goods, fermented foods, salsa, honey, eggs, meats, tees, coffee, and flour from a farm in Myrtle Creek. “ They also have a local flower grower. “We created an indoor farmers market, eliminating the vendors to have to be there all the time, instead we handle it for them,” Chad Northcraft said. “Its local goods, we have old fashion soda and candies. 90% of our vendors are from Douglas County.” The Covid pandemic which affected supply chains nationally and regionally created an increase for Douglas County to create its own self sustainable food supply. “People kind of started getting back to their roots, wanting to know where their product was coming from,” Chad Northcraft said. “Knowing it was here the whole time, and it was from here. They can meet the farmer or producer and learn how they grow or make their products.” The Mercantile even has crafts vendors that upcycle old materials for a new purpose. “Casey O’Toole he recycled wood from an old barn and took railroad spikes to makes coat hangers,” Chad Northcraft said. “We have pottery makers, handmade greeting card makers with seasonal cards for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Leather workers, yarn, lavender. We’re focusing on gift ideas for Christmas where people can come shop local for the season. A lot of new tea that is coming in too.” Porter Creek Mercantile is located at 116 Haven Ln, Tenmile, OR 97481. Hours: Thursdays 11am-12pm Preorder pick up day Friday 11-4 Saturday 10-3 Their hours may change in the near future with seasonal shopping upcoming.