To the Editor:
The leaves are
almost gone from the trees and I can feel the cold air hanging around
longer. Sunlight no longer surrounds me as I prepare dinner. The many
colors of summer and fall are slowly replaced by browns and white and
the starkness of winter. Soon hearty bean soups will replace our salads
once filled with freshly picked fruits and vegetables. This is as it
should be in New England. Winter is a time for nestling in, a time to
rest and replenish, readying with the earth to awake again in spring.
The farmers' market is also ended for this growing season. Gone are
the colored tents filled with that morning's harvest. But like spring,
it will be back with renewed vigor.
Looking back, from
my first vision of a farmers' market in Bedford, I imagined much of
what it turned out to be. I saw the tents, I imagined the dizzying array
of greens, reds, oranges, yellows and purples in the berries, tomatoes,
beans, peppers, squashes, flowers and more which would be displayed
for sale.
I smelled the aroma of fresh coffee, heard the chatter of the farmers,
and felt the serenity of being outdoors.
But I never imagined the people the young kids laughing and chasing
each other, the older folk out for a leisurely afternoon, men and women
wanting to slow it down, if just for a bit, the wonderful chatter, among
neighbors, old friends, new acqaintances, the new connections between
farmer and shopper.
I never could have
imagined how much the market would mean to its visitors. And I could
never have imagined how much the visitors would mean to the market.
What made this
market? The best steering committee ever Christine Moser, on board
from the very beginning with her never-ending energy and enthusiasm,
and Kirsten Romano, Honey Weiss, Linda Lin, Jill Powers, Greg Rehme
and Bill Winn. They continually amazed me with their ideas, their dedication
and their talents.
Our sponsors, whose
belief in this project was so important, and ensured that we could fund
the project: Thank you again to Centrix Bank & Trust, Bedford Ambulatory
Surgical Center (BASC). Bedford Neighborhood Club, Olde Towne Day and
Bedford Garden Club. Special thanks for our wonderful banner to Mike
Robinson and Joe Matta of GDS signs. Thanks also to Goedeke's and to
UnWined's very own and locally grown Scott Kinney for all those tasty
samples! The town of Bedford was incredibly supportive. Thanks to Keith
Hickey, Brian Ross and Martha Gaudes.
Thanks again to
the Bedford Town Council for its support. And, of course, a most heart-felt
thanks to our farmers and other vendors, especially those who signed
on from the beginning, without having any way to judge whether Bedford
would support a farmers' market.
So what made the Bedford Farmers' Market? Without a doubt, all these
people and businesses in varying ways, joined together to form the market.
But once formed, what nourished this market? You did, the people in
this and surrounding towns all of you who came to the market.
Our community sustained and nurtured this market and its farmers. And
in the end, it is because of you that the market will return next year.
So thank you from
all of us, the farmers, the steering committee, the sponsors, and the
town. Thank you! At the beginning we asked you to come to the market
and help us grow.
You did and we
grew to over 20 vendors! But you did more than that. You made a little
magic happen right here in Bedford.
You came together and formed a "place" a gathering place
for the town.
It's a place where
we come together because of our shared appreciation for what the market
is the fresh air, the fresh food, the beautiful flowers and indeed
each other all of it and us the blessings of this earth.
We're coming back
next year. Our pumpkin-decorating activity and our trick-or-treat with
the farmers are now annual events at the market, with special thanks
to those participating nonprofit groups. We're planning so much else
more music and a place to kick back, more celebrations.
We're thinking
about even more meaningful ways to be part of the community and we'll
share them with you as they become more fully developed. We can't wait
to start planting whoops, I mean planning so that we'll
be ready for next season.
We want to give back to you for all you have given us, for you made
our vision come alive with more color and wonder than we ever could
have imagined. Thank you, and see you at the market next June.
Deb Sklar
Bedford
This
story ran in the Bedford Bulletin 11/7/2002.
©
Copyright 2002 Neighborhood
News.u
