NATCHEZ — When Owen Shugard looks at his gallery space at 108 North Union St., he sees it full of produce.

The local artist wants to use the space at his gallery for a weekly farmers’ market starting March 21.

“Everybody who has a garden always raises more than they can eat themselves, and this will give people a chance to walk around and talk with different people, drink coffee and buy healthy food,” Shugard said.

After visiting other cities and seeing the farmers’ markets there, he said he wondered why that idea couldn’t be imported to Natchez.

“It is just a great atmosphere at those markets,” he said. “It seems like mornings downtown start out kind of slow, and if we get something going that might change.”

He has been mulling the idea over for a couple of months, and Shugard said that he has had a couple of art shows in the gallery space — his studio is upstairs — but the concrete-floored, high-ceilinged space has potential for more.

“The garage doors up front can just open to let the breeze go through,” he said.

“These days I feel like the building can be put to better use and serve the community by having this farmer’s market.”

But for the idea to work, local farmers and artisans will need to participate.

The space allows for approximately 45 8-foot-by-8-foot booths that Shugard said would be rented out at $10 a space.

Spaces at the market would be open to local produce growers, people selling honey, eggs, baked goods, candles and natural beauty products.

It would also be open to local artists and craftsmen who make products like outdoor furniture, birdhouses, fountains, ceramics and garden tools, or those who sell antiques.

“My wife Leslee is into gardening, and I have been selling antiques and collectables for years and years, so I thought we could do a combination of the two,” he said.

It may take a couple of weeks for the market to really take off, but there is no reason it shouldn’t be a success, Shugard said.

“After all, who doesn’t want to have really great local fresh food?” he said.

For more information about the market, contact Shugard at 601-597-9610.