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Westport
Town Farm revisits its roots. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, October 04, 2009 View
high resolution photos of the on-going garden project now 93 photos | Dial-up speed |
Broadband/DSL
speed | Bob Kerr: An old farm is a good
place to walk and learn By Bob Kerr of
the Providence Journal 01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 4, 2009
“Except for last Wednesday when I met Steve Connors.” Click here to read more from the projo.com article. Left: Steve Connors in the garden
where students from the Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School
are helping pick vegetables and tidy things up. The Providence Journal / Kathy Borchers Tuesday,
September 29, 2009
Well, the season is winding
down, but we are still harvesting. The summer squash has shut down, but
there are still eggplant and peppers, and the winter squash is getting ready
to pick. We have lots of butternut and acorn squash. Still
waiting to see what will happen with the late summer plantings; depends on
the weather and when the first frost occurs. We are planning a volunteer appreciation and harvest
celebration for October 31, during the
afternoon, and hope you can attend. Please let us know! Volunteers are still welcome for
picking, and clearing out the plants that are no longer producing. We
would like to have the garden cleared out by November so that we can plant
the winter cover crop of Winter Rye. Harvest totals are around 2000
pounds now, all delivered to a grateful Council on Aging, who in turn
delivers the food to people who really need and appreciate it. Please be in touch, and thank
you for what has been so far a very successful harvest -- except for the
tomatoes, which were victim to the ubiquitous blight.
Thanks! Steve Friday, August
28, 2009
Hello Garden Volunteers and Committee: We have had another good week at the Town Farm, harvesting
another few hundred pounds of nice fresh vegetables. The main crops are
now summer squash, eggplant, peppers, beans, a few tomatoes here and there
(blight!), and believe it or not, broccoli. There was a very nice editorial in the Westport Shorelines
submitted by Mary Ellen Gomes, director of the Westport Council on Aging,
this week. Check it out if you can -- it is an expression of gratitude
for all the good food we have been providing to low income senior citizens in
Westport this summer. With the heavy rain expected this weekend, Saturday might
be a wash out for activities in the garden. I will be roto-tilling
today to prepare for more planting, which I hope to get done next week.
I will be at the garden each day, so volunteers are welcome not only on
Tuesday and Thursday. It will be fun -- planting lettuce, swiss chard,
more beans, carrots, etc., for fall harvest. Feel free to call or email
me to inquire about times. The phone in the office is (508)-636-5780. Let's hope Danny does not do any significant damage!
Hope to see you soon, and keep in touch. Thanks! Steve Click here to read Mary Ellen Gomes’ letter. Friday, August
21, 2009 Hello Garden
Volunteers and Committee: We have good news and
bad news. The good news is the harvest is still coming in, with lots of
summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant and peppers. Our total harvest is
around 1,000 pounds now, and nothing has gone to waste. All has been
delivered to the Council on Aging, and has gone to lower income people who
otherwise might not have access to this fresh and wholesome food. The bad news is
that the tomatoes have finally begun to succumb to the blight that has been a
big regional problem this year. We will do the best we can, but the
tomato harvest will fall far short of expectations. With cooler weather
expected, I hope that we can soon begin our late summer planting for
fall harvest of beans, peas, lettuce, broccoli, carrots and other hardy
crops. Depending on the
weather, volunteers are welcome on Saturday morning! Come check out the
sunflowers, they are gigantic. Keep in touch, and
thanks for the help. Steve
The garden is a profusion of color, flowers, overstuffed greenery and
a cornucopia of produce with an autumn hue that hints of fall. Spectacular! Monday, August 17,
2009 Hello Town Farm garden
volunteers and committee: Thanks to all who have been
helping out at the Community Gardens! We have delivered over 700 pounds
to the Council on Aging so far. The tomatoes, peppers, and
eggplant are coming in now, while the summer squash and bush beans are
starting to slow down. The sunflowers are huge! And it looks like
we will have a modest harvest of corn soon. I will be looking at starting
the fall planting probably next week. It is too hot this week. Thanks again, and keep in
touch. Hope to see you soon. Steve Monday, July 27,
2009
We have had a good
two weeks in the gardens. Last Thursday we delivered 165 pounds of food
to the Senior Center, and the week before we sent over hundreds of heads of
fresh lettuce and spinach. The vegetables go to the Center fresh from
the gardens, and in most cases, it goes right out the door to people who can
really use and appreciate the nutritious food. The gardens look
good, but the rabbits are STILL getting in, affecting mostly the green beans
and soy beans. The battle continues. Thanks to all who
have contributed their time to this great endeavor. We are very lucky to
have good soil, so all the rain has not been hurtful. It would not be
happening without all the tenacious workers. The tomatoes,
peppers and eggplant, which had been slow, are finally starting to take off. The Barn Dance was
a fun time with about 1000 attendees. We lucked out with the weather,
the food was great, and the music was very good! A success, for sure. Keep in touch, and
thanks for your help and support. Steve Saturday, July
25, 2009
From the left: (1) Geraldine Millham checks out a zucchini; (2) Ty
Gordon stakes out his plot; (3) Steve Connors harvests some cukes; and (4) a
smiling Laura Oliveiro of Dartmouth seems to enjoy weeding. “I think we’re blessed with some great volunteers,” Steve Connors said
Saturday. “The young folks from the Bio-Reserve Corp. are terrific kids.” Despite recent heavy rains the community garden at the Town Farm is
producing an abundance of produce that heads straight to the Senior Center on
Reed Road in Westport. “Last Thursday we delivered 165 pounds of
food to the Senior Center; 30 pounds in broccoli alone,” Connors said. “The rest was summer squash, zucchini,
green beans and lettuce. The beets should be ready this week. We planted
plenty of short varieties, so the timing is just right.” “The seniors should really benefit by
this fresh and nutritious food,” said Laura Oliveiro, a garden volunteer from
Dartmouth. “It’s so great to be able to do this.” Thursday, July 2,
2009 Hello Town Farm Garden
volunteers, workers, and committee members! As you all know, it has been
raining a lot. But the garden is handling the rain ok, it drains very
well. With the help of the Trustees Bioreserve Youth Corps summer
workers we had our first harvest of lettuce and spinach this week, which was delivered
to the Westport Senior Center. This is just the beginning! The hot weather crops like
peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are still waiting for warmer days and
nights. The summer squash and broccoli are doing well, but the beans
have been set back significantly by night intruders -- rabbits or woodchucks
-- and we are dealing with deterring them now. So far so good, but the
rain keeps washing away the impediments that we put down. The battle
will go on. The holiday weekend looks good
for sunshine -- the work schedule is very flexible for anyone who wants to
come to the gardens. Nothing needs to be tended urgently, and I will
arrive at the garden at or around 10 o'clock on Saturday. (If you are
up early, tune in to 90.3 fm, WRIU, I will be joining my friend Mike Duffy on
his weekly radio program, also on the internet at www.WRIU.org). Otherwise, enjoy the Fourth of July Holiday. Beans and summer squash will
start to be ready to pick in the next week or two, slightly behind schedule. Thanks to all who have helped
out this past week. The garden is free of weeds and doing well. Feel free to call me or write
back. (401) 447-5650 is my cell. Steve Saturday, June 27,
2009
The problem with refrigeration is now solved with the Westport Market on Route 177 and Sodom Road volunteering some extra cooler space for the community farm project. “We’re really grateful,” Connors said. “The folks at the Corn Crib on Main Road recently donated flowers, squash, and cucumbers,” Connors said. “The community farm is evolving into a community-wide effort as lots of town residents and businesses are stepping up to the plate to help.”
Marie, Maryann and Laura were busy weeding and preparing a plot for planting. “This is a wonderful effort in raising nutritious foods for the seniors in our area,” Marie said. The Westport Senior Center recently ratcheted up their food bank program, and will be the lucky recipients of much of what the town farm will produce. “The Westport Senior Center has been providing food to needy seniors for a while,” said Mary Ellen Gomes, COA Director. “We always supply it when we have it.” Recently the Friends of the Council of Aging donated $1000 to increase the activities of this important program. Heather Reed Board Chairwoman has taken on the project. “We have been supplying 61 bags of groceries a month with the help of the Bristol Elder Services,” Ms. Gomes said. “We would like to provide more to people of any age who need assistance.” Well, that goal is about to get a much-needed boost as the Town Farm Community Garden Project prepares to start delivering fresh produce in quantity to COA’s food bank. “With a little more sunshine,” Connors said, “we should be able to give them a few more vegetables for their program.” Connors is probably understating his plan. When’s the last time a gardener had a shortage of squash, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce and tomatoes?
Friday, June 26,
2009 Hello Community Garden
volunteers and workers: A quick update -- we had a good
week of work, the gardens are looking fine. This Saturday we should
start to harvest some spinach and lettuce, and work on the tomato plants,
which are getting bigger! Hope you can make it for a
little while in the morning. Thanks. Steve Friday, June 19,
2009 Hello Garden
volunteers, workers and Garden Committee: Well, it has been
another week at the gardens and things are looking good, despite the less
than perfect weather. We have had some great volunteer help, and the weeds
are not as abundant as they were. We still have room to plant a few
more rows, but otherwise the first crop is in and coming along. We will
be harvesting spinach and lettuce next week. The fence repairs
seem to have stopped the rabbits or woodchucks that were eating some of the
plants. Now we need some warm days and sunshine to help the summer
crops thrive -- tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc. are hanging in, but this is
not the kind of weather they take off in. Next steps will include staking the
tomatoes, continuing to keep the weeds at bay and harvesting. We have
lined up some deserving recipients for the upcoming harvest. Thanks for the help
in recent weeks. I hope we can continue with good groups on Saturdays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. Summer officially
begins on Sunday; let's hope that the weather will conform to the calendar! Special thanks to
the Trustees Youth Build group who came to the garden on Thursday -- we had a
very productive day. Keep in touch. Steve Saturday, June
13, 2009
Weeding and harvesting continues under the watchful eyes of the local
inhabitants! Friday, June 12,
2009 Hello Garden
Volunteers & Garden Committee: Here's what is new
at the gardens this week. Too much rain, not enough sun. The
weeds are loving it, so we could really use a good crew this weekend if
possible. Weeds like to take over a newly tilled field in the first
year, so they have to be kept in check. Also, we will be
picking spinach soon, and I even picked a few heads of broccoli. The
lettuce is also coming along well. The tomatoes are getting taller, and will
have to start to be staked soon. A few sunny days will get things
going. I will be there rain or shine on Saturday. Thanks, hope to see
you soon. Steve Thursday, June 04,
2009 Hello Garden Volunteers and Town
Farm Garden Committee: Despite the cool weather, things
are coming along well at the Gardens at Town Farm. One field is
fully planted, and the other still has some space for short season crops like
beans, turnips, beets, and lettuce, as well as a little more space for more
winter squash and corn. Planted so far include tomatoes, peppers,
eqqplant, summer squash, broccoli, spinach, beans, peas, lettuce and
cucumbers. Something has gotten into the
garden this week, either rabbits or woodchucks, so I have been working to
strengthen the fence at ground level. More work to do on that. The rain today and tomorrow will
be good for the garden, but warmer days and nights will really help the
summer vegetables begin to grow stronger. The weather looks good for the
weekend, so if you have some time, please come over to the Gardens for some
recreation. Thanks. Keep in touch, and call if you
have any questions or comments. Steve (401) 447-5650 (508) 636-5780
(office) Monday, June 1, 2009 Dear Garden
Volunteers: I am sorry that I
had to miss Saturday's work day at the garden. I was really not feeling
well at all. On the one hand, it is too bad that we missed a day, but
it has been so cold and wet this spring that nothing is growing quickly
anyway. I am sure that the plants will catch up. This week I will be
working on more planting and some weeding. You are welcome to join me
any time you are available. Thanks. Steve (401) 447-5650 (508) 636-5780 (office) Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Hello Community
Garden Friends: Here's what is
going on at the Town Farm -- One field is
completely planted now, just waiting for some more seeds to germinate.
The weeds are starting to show up, so there is some weeding to do! Thanks to those who
came to help on the holiday weekend. The other field is
all tilled, with about 10 more rows of seeds and seedlings to plant. It
is coming along nicely, and we are on target to have the whole garden planted
by June 1. The weather is not great, but the weekend is looking
good. Let me know if you have any free time to spend on Saturday.
It would be great to get it all planted. Channel 10 was not
able to come two Saturdays ago, as planned, but they might send a camera down
this weekend. I will let you know. Thanks. Steve (401) 447-5650 (508) 636-5780 (office)
Friday, May 22,
2009 Hello: Just a quick note
to let you know that I will be at the Gardens on Saturday and Monday, this
holiday weekend. I am sure that many of you have plans, but if not,
feel free to drop by the Town Farm for a while. There are more plants
to put in the ground! Everything we have put in so far is doing ok,
seeds are germinating and transplants are greening up. Hope to see you. Steve Connors Saturday, May 16, 2009 Project continues to draw volunteers.
Garden progressing nicely says Town Farm manager Steve Connors.
“This week
many generous donors provided vegetable and berry plants, giving our project
a big boost,” Steve Connors said. “These individuals and our volunteers are a
big part of the reason this project is getting off the ground.” Connors,
who is organizing the garden at the Westport Town Farm, said he’ll have about
1000 plants that will be put into the ground. “There are
100 leeks donated by Jane Loss that were planted today. And we got off to a
good start with the blueberries (donated by Sylvan Nursery) and the wild raspberry patch.
Spinach and broccoli are next.” Diamond
Farms of Westport donated 100 tomato plants. If nothing else, recipients of
the community gardens’ produce will be eating healthy foods. “There are
tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, and onions,” Connors said,
“and we’ll also be seeding beans, summer squash and pretty much everything
you need to make a good salad.” Connors started most of these plants in cold
frames at his home early this spring. Others were donated. “We’re
hoping today will be a good kickoff point for the Town Farm’s growing
season,” he said, adding that the earlier work day produced an encouraging
group of enthusiastic volunteers. “We are working on the garden on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays in three-hour stints.” Produce
from the farm will be given to food banks in Westport and nearby communities.
“The Westport Senior Center is very interested in participating in this
distribution model,” according to Executive Director Peggy Stevens of the
Westport Land Trust.
From the left: (1) Debbe Hueneke ponders her next move in the flower
garden while (2) Annie Connors take a moment’s respite from planting leeks to
smile at the photographer. (3) Carolyn Halbardier of Westport puts her trowel
to good use in the flower patch. The gardens are at 830 Drift Road, and volunteers can help out
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Tools will be
available but volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own rakes, hoes
and other planting tools.
It’s no longer
your grandfather’s poor farm. What many see today as one of the more scenic and rustic of Westport riverfront
properties, with magnificent and expansive views of the East Branch, the buildings
were once used to house the indigent and less fortunate. Later in its history
the Poor Farm was temporary lodging for tramps who were expected to work off
their board and room the next morning, but seldom did. The Westport Infirmary (Town Poor Farm) shuttered its doors in August,
1956. The two-story antique farmhouse,
overlooking the Noquochoke River, had been used by the town to house its
needy for 115 years. Click here to read about the
history of the Town Poor farm. Click here to read about the Town Farm’s grand
opening.
From the left: (1) TTOR Town Farm manager Steve Connors; (2) freshly
urethaned (sealed) tables in front of the farm’s barn; (3) volunteer Janice
Dey raking out the garden’s stone walls; and (4) volunteers erecting the
donated cedar posts to create a deer-resistant garden fence.” Community Gardens take root. A pleasant
and fulfilling experience awaits volunteers, who can come to the Town Farm
for the morning, afternoon, or an hour to plant, cultivate and harvest fresh,
wholesome vegetables for those in need. Gardening is good exercise, as
well as a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a beautiful setting. For
information on volunteering, contact Steve Connors at (508) 636-5780. - - - - End - - - - © 2009 Community
Events of Westport All rights reserved. |
“I seldom envy other people their jobs. I
like mine a lot. Oh, sure, lead guitar for The Stones would be nice, right
field for the Tigers. But within the realm of real possibility, I don’t often
look at someone at work and think I’d like to change places.”
“We’ve
got over 100 tomato plants in the ground,” Steve Connors said as he was
stringing cukes at the Town Farm Saturday. “We were going to harvest spinach
and lettuce today for the Westport Senior Center, but there’re closed this
weekend, and we have no refrigeration to keep the produce fresh. I guess
we’ll wait till Monday.”
