I don't mean to be a b!&@h, but isn't it a little exclusive to have a farmers' market that people have to drive to? Now that I've gotten that negativity out, the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens are having their first farmers' market this Wednesday July 9 from 10-2.
I'll certainly check this place out; the market sounds great. I'm just saying, it's not conveniently located like the Saturday market on Bedford St. and that limits who can go to it. However, I don't deny that the Bartlett, a beautiful park, will be a more pleasant location than busy, belching Bedford... if you happen to be free in the middle of the day on a Wednesday.
I question the timing of that, but maybe local restaurants will buy produce there. I bet most people there will be women with young children, but I could be wrong.
The photo in this post is of a picnic a friend and I had at the Bartlett last August. The place is beautiful and not very far past the Merritt off High Ridge. The Bartlett's market will run until Oct. 1. You can read more about it in this Stamford Times article.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
New Farmers' Market in North Stamford
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18 comments:
Uh, girlfriend. Not the entire population of the city is within walking distance of downtown. You know, that group of us who actually own houses with yards in the city in which we blog.
If driving freaks you, there are buses that run up High Ridge and stop right near the Bartlett. See ya!
The last time I was at the Bedford St Market (last summer), none of the produce was even local. It was shipped in from PA. A big ole truck was sitting right there with the name of whatever PA farm it came from. I'm not sure if the market at Columbus park is the same deal or not. I'd much rather drive and support our local purveyors. That said, I really like the New Canaan market & frequent it almost every weekend.
Wow. Um, yeah I can't afford a house with a yard in Stamford. Come to think of it, I can't afford a house without a yard in Stamford either.
The lack of a decent farmer's market or a permanent grocery store in or near downtown is a big failing.
I agree with Amanda...Like I've said earlier...the downdown "Farmers" errr FRENCH market is actually a bunch of people selling produced purchased from wholesalers. (I've asked) Those guys are NOT farmers as the ones in NYC's Union Sq. are...Each stand at Union Square has the name of the farm along with pictures and some history as well as any certificationws (organic, biodynamic etc)
Advocate has article on Bartlett A. today. You are the scoopinator, K.
Okay, it sounds like the Bartlett Arboretum market and all the other farmers' markets in New Canaan, Darien, etc. are able to be true farmers' markets, with produce and items from local farmers and/or craftspeople. Why then is downtown Stamford's "French" market all subpar and wholesale? What is so difficult about getting local farm stuff to the downtown location?
Isn't the market downtown brought to you by UBS? That may be your answer.
Believe me, I fully support anything that gets people to the Bartlett. But I know not everyone can make it to a Wednesday farmer's market.
OK, strike that. I know HARDLY ANYONE can make it.
I've been meaning to give this a try http://www.mypersonalfarmers.com/ (produce delivered from Hudson Valley farmers; it's not a CSA share - those seem impossible to come by 'round these parts).
Back to the Bartlett, I hope the market proves to be along the lines of Greenwich's, New Canaan's and Westport's, and nothing at all like that dreadful whatever-it-is held downtown.
I googled CSA, what Patty just mentioned. It's Community Supported Agriculture. Descrip from website:
Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products. A CSA is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.
Speaking of farmer's markets, I just put pics up at my flickr site of the farmers' market I went to in Mississippi. I think it's pretty small but we got great peaches and blueberries there.
I do think I'll have time Wed. to go check out the Bartlett's market! I'll bring y'all the scoop!
Ahh, sorry, S.T., for not explaining further.
I've tried with no luck for a few years now to find / get in on the few CSAs that deliver to Stamford. There was an article in the NYTimes recently, in the Connecticut section, on what a small number of farms we have here in CT for such a large population. Here's the link (I tinyurl'd it because it was so long)
http://tinyurl.com/5k559m
If you'd rather not click on a tinyurl from someone as untrustworthy as yours truly, try searching "connecticut organic farm" on the NYT site instead.
If I could humanely rid my yard of its burgeoning groundhog population, I wouldn't need a CSA share. Pre-groundhogs, I was practically ready to start tossing tomatoes at cars on High Ridge Road just to get rid of them. But perhaps that's a story for another time.
I was going to check out the darien farmers market after work on wednesday (it's open til 6) because i need to go to darien anyway, but maybe i'll check this one out as well during my lunch break ...more convienent than downtown to me...two farmers markets in one day? why not!
The downtown markets were walkable by a very small segment of the city's population, and if you had to drive, parking in the middle of the day was a misery. To be honest, farmers markets appeal to a relatively upscale demographic, and North Stamford is probably just the right spot from the sellers point of view. As far as the hours are concerned, I suspect they reflect the need for the vendors to get in and out without dealing with rush hour traffic. Can't say as I blame them. I can't wait to get to the Bartlett and see what's for sale!
Before there was a French Market and before it moved to its current location on Bedford St, there was a bonifide local Farm Market on Columbus Park with great apples and Honey and other items. Yes the Powers that be, the Great DSSD decided that they had to try something a bit more 'upscale" and threw out all the locals. It was really a nasty thing because the FM used to accept WIC so the people got healthy food for a reasonable cost. Ne New French Market still accepts WIC, but the prices are significantly higher ( and it is not just that it is five years latter)! On the fun side the French Market was going to try to have some sort of open cooking cart with slabs of meat hanging in the air for all the flies to land on. Guesss who nixed that idea. :)
i'm one of those moms who will be checking this out tomorrow. thanks for the reminder! i also hear that the farmer's market at fodor farm in norwalk on sundays is really good!
So the Bartlett Farmers' Market is only open to those who:
a) Aren't working - or
b) Can take time off of their job in the day and drive up there - or
c) Can take the time to wait for a bus going up there, and then waiting again to take the bus back.
Sounds like something more for soccer-Moms, the retired or the independently wealthy. Good for the affluent types, but a little too Darien or Greenwichy for those who have to work for a living - especially those who commute.
Get the wholesale French Market produce up to Bartlett, and bring the true Farmers' market downtown.
Yeah, I am SO not down with that 10am start time. If it's gonna be a Wed, at least do it at 8am, right, so people have a tiny chance of getting there if they work? I see on the site that the park opens at 8:30. So, if people need a half an hour to set up, the thing should at least start at 9.
It is weird that we are having trouble getting a FM that everyone's happy with. It sounds like Bartlett has truly local stuff, but Bedford St. has the best time.
Steve P. - you left out "work-at-home dads with two kids not at camp and bouncing of the walls." We are way hairy than soccer Moms. Well, most of them.
It is true, once upon a time Stamford did have a very respectable farmer's market in the Columbus Park area. What remains is unfortunate and is not very appealing. The Bartlett location is an interesting one but the timing does stink- being in the middle of the day. And as far as restaurants purchasing product there, what chef can go shopping from 10-2 unless they only serve dinner?
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