Autumn Meeting:
Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 pm.

We’ll hear findings from the West Side Traffic Study —  seek opinions on the proposed Medical Marijuana Production Facilities & Dispensaries – describe our new “Parents as Co-Educators” program  – and share updates on the West Side Merchant’s Association and Fairgate Farm (Click here for more agenda details) At Fairgate Community Center. Light dinner at 6 pm; meeting begins promptly at 6:30. 

 

Fairgate Farm

Children at the Childcare Learning Center meet the worms of Fairgate Farm! 
We brought our worm factory to the school earlier this year.

New Program: Parents as Co-Educators

In partnership with Family Centers, NeighborsLink and the Childcare Learning Center on Palmer’s Hill, Vita’s Parents as Co-Educators program launches a small pilot this fall to help foreign-born parents support their kids’ success in school and life. 

 

adults 44 kids demo

 

Beet-picking at our Farm to Table Workshop, where adults tried out whole-grain barley with lemony beet greens (and other beet-based recipes), while kids made and played with beet-dyed pink playdough.

Summer Fun at Fairgate Farm

The October 17 Harvest Festival will celebrate our fifth growing season, with many farm improvements and new crops, including fruit trees (plum, peach, apple and more). Other highlights included a successful Strawberry Festival in June; expansion of our volunteer program, with many new corporate supporters and individual “farmers” joining our ranks, and an enthusiastic group of returnees and new visitors participating in our Farm to Table 6-week family workshop series.

 

 

pickling-canningyoga-lotus-pose

 

 

September Events at Fairgate Farm

Yoga on the Farm: A class for all levels (even those who’ve never tried yoga before!) at Fairgate Farm, led by our own Cora Ragaini, one of our Farm to Table Workshop chefs. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6 pm, open to all and free! Bring a beach blanket or towel, plus your mat if you have one; if not, no worries – we’ll have extras!

 

Pickling Workshop: Learn to quick-pickle cucumbers, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes and other autumn fruits! Stamford Hospital chef Gavin Pritchard and Farm Production Manager Maxon Keating will demonstrate, provide recipes and share samples for this delicious, DIY pickling class. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6 pm. Free and open to all.

 

 

parents kids craft table 2

Harvest Festival: October 17, 12 – 2pm

We’ll celebrate a bountiful year at our annual Harvest Festival, Sat., October 17, 12 – 2 pm. Like all Fairgate Farm festivals, it’s free and open to all! Plans include pumpkin painting and other crafts – face painting, stories and other activities for small children – samples of our “fruits of the farm,” including watermelon and grilled corn, plus recipes and cooking demonstrations, including juicing – pickling – and more!

 


Maxon with interns summer 15 2Farm Production Manager Maxon Keating with teen interns Crystal Nyanteh and Marc Charles, from the City of Stamford Mayor’s Youth Employment Program.

Volunteers & Interns: Summer 2015

Community involvement is key to our Vita initiatives – and our ranks expanded significantly this summer! We have lots of new farm volunteers, including interns from the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program and new corporate partners (Click here to see the Stamford Daily Voice story on our corporate volunteer programs.)