Farmers Market Offers A Taste Of The Garden

By Kendra Bobowick

Licking his lips after a helping of blueberry-peach pie, Dylan Rakauskas reluctantly turned away from the Whistle Stop Bakery stand. With a sign announcing free pie tasting, the Whistle Stop was one of roughly a dozen vendors at The Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills (formerly the Sandy Hook Organic Farmer’s Market) for its first day of the season Tuesday, and now in its tenth year.

The market, offering local wool, vegetables, fruit, flowers, fresh-baked pies, and fresh-brewed teas and lemonade, saw a steady flow of shoppers this week, with flowers or treats in-hand.

Holding his 3-month-old daughter Maggie while helping customers, Dan Slywka of Daffodil Hill Growers in Southbury sold greens, beets, and potted flowers. Across the lawn, Lori Buchetto and her daughter Bonnie purchased fresh produce from Jim and Sue Shortt of Shortt’s Farm & Garden Center in Sandy Hook.

Seated behind a spray of wild flowers were John and Marion Mead of Middlebrook Farm and Orchard. Sold out of the radishes they brought before 5 pm Tuesday, they enjoyed the shade under a red umbrella where the vase of black-eyed Susans, yarrow, and spirea decorated their table. They hope to have a crop of blueberries with them next week. Enjoying another splash of colorful flowers at another stand was Hannah Schwartz, 14.

Next-door was A.J. Collier of Rowanwood Farm with her alpaca products, organic soaps, and other items. At a center table was market coordinator Mary Fellows, who agreed the market’s first day was going well at the new location. As visitors enter the Fairfield Hills Main entrance, the market is visible to the left on the lawn behind Danbury Hall, and across from the sports fields.

Nearby the fresh-baked goods at Beldotti Bakeries of Stamford was a Community Energy stand promoting the use of wind and solar energy. Michael Delehanty was available to inform residents of ways they can participate in the state’s clean energy program.

Arranges bunches of lettuce and radishes for the Waldenfield Farm stand out of Washington, Conn.,  was Patrick Horan. He was touting four types of lettuce, kale, and sugar snap peas, and a speckled romaine.

On display this year was the Lexicon of Sustainability, photographers’ prints propped on easels and made available to Newtown thanks to resident Barbara Toomey. She explained that through an application process she received the prints that convey educational scenes of sustainable agriculture. She will be showing the display at schools and town parks in coming months. Learn more at LexiconOfSustainability.com.

The market is open from 2 to 6 pm on Tuesdays this season. Call 203-313-9908 for more information.