 
 
 Pictures provided by Mariann Bigelow The Garden Grapevine by Suzanne Knutson, Wilton Bulletin, 10/6/05 Why Ambler Farm Matters With roughly 2,000 people turning out to enjoy the impossibly perfect weather and farm-related activities, Wilton's residents had a chance to get acquainted with this town's most unique community resource. People of all ages mingled amid the bucolic setting while children scampered underfoot racing from one activity to the next. Whether making scarecrows, getting up close and personal with a corn snake, or simply admiring the collection of antique cars on display, there was something for everyone. For my daughter, the hayride was a huge hit because, as she put it, "There was this huge bump in the ground, and every time we hit it we almost went flying out of the wagon." A little drama goes a long way for a nine-year-old. My son, on the other hand, was partial to the apple slingshot where he spent most of his time elbowing his way to the front of the line with all the dads who were lined up for a turn. Alas, I spent the entire day hunkered down in the white barn amid stacks of tens, fives and ones. As treasurer of the event, I didn't get to enjoy the live music or watch as an artisan made natural brooms. I didn't get a chance to watch my daughter navigate her way through the hay maze or even get a chance to buy a homemade pie. Instead, I apologized over and over again to desperate volunteers for not having enough singles to make change. I ask you, why don't people carry singles anymore? The next time someone asks me to make change for a 50, I'm going to punch him in the nose. I was pleased, however, to hear that all of the dahlias I had cut from my garden that morning had been sold. I was also gratified to find out how many people had bid on our silent auction items, which were donated so generously by supporters of Ambler Farm. But perhaps most thrilling was the fact that so many people purchased memberships to Ambler Farm. Many of these folks didn't know much about Ambler Farm before the day's event, but it didn't take them more than a few moments for it to sink in that this was a place worth saving. Simply put, as one of the last working farms in Wilton, the 200-year-old Ambler Farm represents an important link to our town's agrarian heritage. The fields are scenic, the stone walls are authentic and the trees are magnificent. We can always build 5,000-square-foot homes. We can even erect more stores and shoehorn in another bank or two. But it is fair to say that nobody will be building more Ambler Farms. For this reason, we must preserve the one we've got. The immediate mandate for Ambler Farm is to renovate and preserve the existing structures before they deteriorate any further. Looking forward, the opportunity exists to initiate school programs, offer a wide range of Arts Council Programs and activities for senior citizens, and foster an appreciation for the natural sciences and farming traditions. Furthermore, given the success of the organic vegetable garden maintained at the farm by the Wilton Garden Club, it is possible that crops could once again be grown there on a much larger scale. Imagine having freshly harvested, locally grown food that's free of herbicides, pesticides, plant hormones, and growth regulators? Better yet, imagine being able to demonstrate to our children that food doesn't have to come in cardboard and plastic. Ultimately, however, Ambler Farm is not just about agriculture, it's about quality of life, as 2,000 people realized on Ambler Farm Day. SUZANNE KNUTSON IS A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER AND GARDEN WRITER BASED IN WILTON. E-MAIL HER AT SUZANNE@LAVISHLANDSCAPES.COM. |
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