Tis the season for Local Produce! (New Haven, Hartford: house, buy, theatre)
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I discovered roadside farm stands many years ago, back when I lived in Boston and used to ride my bicycle on weekends to less urban environs. I'd stop and buy a tomato and eat it, as is, for a snack. Boston is also where the famous Haymarket is, where you could buy fresh-picked produce from a variety of farmers.
I've always loved eating *fresh* produce, and Connecticut has some pretty awesome Farmers Markets. So I thought I'd remind you all to support local farms whenever it's practical to do so (or just as a treat - it really is a treat). We have an amazing organic farm here on the North Haven/Hamden line, that has a roadside stand outside the farmhouse, and you get greeted usually by their miniature dachshunds. I don't know its name, but it's near where North Haven and Wallingford meet, off I think Upper State Street, or Hartford Turnpike, or Ridge Road. Somewhere "up" between Rte 22 North Haven and Oakdale Theatre Wallingford. BEST PEACHES EVER!
But there are some hidden gems in the state, that aren't members of NOFA.
Most CT Farmers Markets open for the season in June, a very few in May, and a couple not til July.
Connecticut also has CSAs - an agricultural version of a food co-op. Anyone who buys (or wish they could buy) lots of produce for big families (or vegetarian households) should definitely look into membership. You can find information about that here:
Note that some CSAs offer grass-fed beef, fresh eggs, honey and even locally-tapped maple syrup.
Anyone else know of some awesome local farms or roadside stands? If you don't know the name or have a link to their site, give a general idea of where they can be found by car!
North Haven Fairgrounds is host to the North Haven Flea/Farmers' Market, starting this year (today was its inaugural day) and running every weekend for the season!
I went today, was a disappointing turnout but only because of first-day jitters combined with early morning rain that scared people away (including many of the vendors). Tomorrow though, the weather is expected to be MUCH better from the get-go, and they're expecting over 200 vendors including more of the "farmer's market" produce tents!
Today's selection had quite a few soapmakers, for some reason. I picked up a bar, a citrus-sandalwood, that is perched on one of the shelves of this shower-shelf thing I also go at the fairgrounds today. That shower thing was the bargain of the day - only 50 cents for copper-plated steel wire. Rounded sides converging to a decorative ball in the front, two shelves with wire sides, and one soap-shelf, with two hooks for towels (though it is hanging my pocketbook and scarf from it). The shelves are hanging from a hook on the outside wall of my bookcase, and looks pretty spiffy.
Libby's Italian Ice had a table with some of their famous cookies and chocolate-dipped pretzels, DiSorbo's Bakery came with a truck, SpudsStuds had their truck with baked potatoes -n- fixins, a few funky jewelers with sterling and semi-precious stones, several "flea market" tents including one that had a heap of Craftsman tools and tool cabinets - a bunch more vendors including a few "tag sale" tables from homeowners hoping their junk is someone else's treasure (I was tempted - one solid rock-maple magazine table for only $15 looked like it'd be perfect for the bathroom but I'd have to sand and stain it and I wasn't feeling inspired this morning).
I'm definitely going again tomorrow - they waived the $1 admission fee because of the rain this morning (they almost cancelled it), but tomorrow I'm sure they'll be collecting the buck. You get a raffle ticket with your admission, and the money goes to support the local food pantry. Parking is free.
The fairgrounds are right off I-91, exit 12 (Washington Avenue, North Haven). Coming from Hartford toward New Haven, take a right at the end of the exit, and the fairgrounds are just a block up the road. You can see it from the highway before you exit. Coming from New Haven toward Hartford, take a right and it's 3 blocks up the road.
For anyone who thinks they might want to come another weekend and stay for a couple of days, there's a Best Western right across the street.
North Haven Fairgrounds is host to the North Haven Flea/Farmers' Market, starting this year (today was its inaugural day) and running every weekend for the season!
I went today, was a disappointing turnout but only because of first-day jitters combined with early morning rain that scared people away (including many of the vendors). Tomorrow though, the weather is expected to be MUCH better from the get-go, and they're expecting over 200 vendors including more of the "farmer's market" produce tents!
Today's selection had quite a few soapmakers, for some reason. I picked up a bar, a citrus-sandalwood, that is perched on one of the shelves of this shower-shelf thing I also go at the fairgrounds today. That shower thing was the bargain of the day - only 50 cents for copper-plated steel wire. Rounded sides converging to a decorative ball in the front, two shelves with wire sides, and one soap-shelf, with two hooks for towels (though it is hanging my pocketbook and scarf from it). The shelves are hanging from a hook on the outside wall of my bookcase, and looks pretty spiffy.
Libby's Italian Ice had a table with some of their famous cookies and chocolate-dipped pretzels, DiSorbo's Bakery came with a truck, SpudsStuds had their truck with baked potatoes -n- fixins, a few funky jewelers with sterling and semi-precious stones, several "flea market" tents including one that had a heap of Craftsman tools and tool cabinets - a bunch more vendors including a few "tag sale" tables from homeowners hoping their junk is someone else's treasure (I was tempted - one solid rock-maple magazine table for only $15 looked like it'd be perfect for the bathroom but I'd have to sand and stain it and I wasn't feeling inspired this morning).
I'm definitely going again tomorrow - they waived the $1 admission fee because of the rain this morning (they almost cancelled it), but tomorrow I'm sure they'll be collecting the buck. You get a raffle ticket with your admission, and the money goes to support the local food pantry. Parking is free.
The fairgrounds are right off I-91, exit 12 (Washington Avenue, North Haven). Coming from Hartford toward New Haven, take a right at the end of the exit, and the fairgrounds are just a block up the road. You can see it from the highway before you exit. Coming from New Haven toward Hartford, take a right and it's 3 blocks up the road.
For anyone who thinks they might want to come another weekend and stay for a couple of days, there's a Best Western right across the street.
Oh wow, I didn't know about this. I'll probably get there at some point.
I think I know about the other farm you mentioned too, but for the life of me I can't remember the damn name. edit: Is it up near Antonio's Pizza?
Sort of, yeah. But on the other side of the road. You know that flea market they have every Saturday in that lot of the old rickety BBQ stand? It's not that far into Wallingford, and when the road forks to I think it's Upper State, you'd continue on the road and NOT fork left to Upper State. Going toward Hamden. It's on the right side of the road up that way somewhere.
The farmers aren't ready yet, since crops haven't been harvested due to a late spring. But there was a guy out with a truck filled with plants, including lots of potted herbs and tomatoes and other veggie plants, ready to "de-pot" and put in your garden. They're hoping some of the early harvest stuff will be ready next week.
There were TONS of vendors though today. I picked up some coconut oil/lavender semi-solid body "lotion" (it's more like a solid, but if it gets too warm in the house it'll turn liquid - refrigerating it keeps it from dripping out of the jar) from a woman named Jessa who makes all this stuff from scratch. There's a guy with a truck who binds carpet remnants and sells them cheap (he's in the carpet business professionally and does this on the side). Picked up a mat for the front and back doors, for only $3 each.
There's a tent that has a "Make your own tie-dye" shirts and pillowcases and towels and stuff - called Let Live and Dye (cute huh?). An antiques truck that has a bunch of pretty awesome knicknacks and containers and what-nots. There's the obligatory Pampered Chef and Avon tables, there's a woman called Chi Chi who hand-crochets little dresses and accessories for 18" dolls (like American Girl), really adorable. Lots of hand-crafted higher-end semi-precious stone jewelers who tumble their own stones (Cosmicperception was my favorite). TONS of soap makers - from quality boutique-commercial stuff like ZumZum, to a lady who calls her olive oil soaps "Olive My Skin" (another clever punny name!).
One particularly interesting crafter had benches and stools and step-stools he made out of solid slabs of wood from trees he chopped down on his own property. Very creative, beautiful and artistic functioning pieces.
Lots of food - the Cupcake Chick was there today, and Crazy Lady Bakery came with more of their awesome biscottis. Plus the Spud Stud truck, Christiano's, and some others too. I didn't see DiSorbo's today but they were there last week. I might've just missed noticing their catering truck.
Lots of knicknacks and chatchkas for the flea-market tables, some of the stuff you'd typically expect, and some not-so-hidden treasures.
They're expecting even more tomorrow. The front parking lot was completely filled, it was starting to spill over to the side lot when I left. I imagine tomorrow they'll probably have to extend to the back lot. Hopefully we'll see some herb sellers - I know I've already harvested some of my oregano and the winter savory is just about ready to start cutting. I don't have a table at the market though.
The farmers aren't ready yet, since crops haven't been harvested due to a late spring. But there was a guy out with a truck filled with plants, including lots of potted herbs and tomatoes and other veggie plants, ready to "de-pot" and put in your garden. They're hoping some of the early harvest stuff will be ready next week.
There were TONS of vendors though today. I picked up some coconut oil/lavender semi-solid body "lotion" (it's more like a solid, but if it gets too warm in the house it'll turn liquid - refrigerating it keeps it from dripping out of the jar) from a woman named Jessa who makes all this stuff from scratch. There's a guy with a truck who binds carpet remnants and sells them cheap (he's in the carpet business professionally and does this on the side). Picked up a mat for the front and back doors, for only $3 each.
There's a tent that has a "Make your own tie-dye" shirts and pillowcases and towels and stuff - called Let Live and Dye (cute huh?). An antiques truck that has a bunch of pretty awesome knicknacks and containers and what-nots. There's the obligatory Pampered Chef and Avon tables, there's a woman called Chi Chi who hand-crochets little dresses and accessories for 18" dolls (like American Girl), really adorable. Lots of hand-crafted higher-end semi-precious stone jewelers who tumble their own stones (Cosmicperception was my favorite). TONS of soap makers - from quality boutique-commercial stuff like ZumZum, to a lady who calls her olive oil soaps "Olive My Skin" (another clever punny name!).
One particularly interesting crafter had benches and stools and step-stools he made out of solid slabs of wood from trees he chopped down on his own property. Very creative, beautiful and artistic functioning pieces.
Lots of food - the Cupcake Chick was there today, and Crazy Lady Bakery came with more of their awesome biscottis. Plus the Spud Stud truck, Christiano's, and some others too. I didn't see DiSorbo's today but they were there last week. I might've just missed noticing their catering truck.
Lots of knicknacks and chatchkas for the flea-market tables, some of the stuff you'd typically expect, and some not-so-hidden treasures.
They're expecting even more tomorrow. The front parking lot was completely filled, it was starting to spill over to the side lot when I left. I imagine tomorrow they'll probably have to extend to the back lot. Hopefully we'll see some herb sellers - I know I've already harvested some of my oregano and the winter savory is just about ready to start cutting. I don't have a table at the market though.
This sounds like a lot of fun. The wife and I are headed there tomorrow mid morning. Looking forward to it!
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