Farm Members Brave Weather to Construct Benches

Chairman of the town’s Community Farm Advisory Committee Dennis Serocki could be found on Sunday February 16th, at 8 am plowing the driveway at 34 Rogers Road with his own tractor at the town’s community farm. Spring was certainly not in the air with freezing rain and sleet. The mission on this day was to allow access to the greenhouse where fifteen growing benches were being constructed. The wood for the benches had been cut on the property and was milled by local resident James Tarali of Highland Street. The lumber was cut to length by Mike Zoda while Nathan Vass, Serocki and his wife Kristen pieced them together, Wire mesh will cover the tables which have pvc piping as legs to prevent mice from nibbling on the plants. The project  is now 70 percent complete. The sowing of seeds begins on March 15th when the newer propane heater is turned on. The first seedling fundraiser sale at the site will take place on Saturday April 19th (Patriots Day) and Sunday April 20th from 9 am to 3 pm. Early spring crops such as lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, and pansies will be available. Warmer loving plants will be for sale in the following weekends. Committee members hope residents will make use of the fundraiser which offers lower priced plants rather than purchasing their backyard garden plants from the “through the roof” prices at big box stores.

Dennis Serocki told the Reporter the Farm Advisory Committee is looking for two residents to fill open spaces on the board. Committee members oversee the 32 acre property. If interested, simply drop off a letter of  interest at the select boards office in town hall

The farm recently completed electrical upgrades to the barn on the property and is looking to build a pavilion on the property with funds from the town’s Community Preservation Board. The building will afford shelter for trail walkers on the farms hiking trails and garden plot renters of which there are thirty. Saturdays and Sundays exercises in bench building was capped off with Serocki serving burgers cooked in the pouring rain along with salad while smoke filled the greenhouse drifting in from outside. Can spring be far off?