Garden Grows with Nostalgia

A woman recently called veteran farmer Francis Poulin with a familiar complaint.

"She said, 'I am sick and tired of buying tomatoes at the store that don't even taste like tomatoes,' '' he said.

Poulin can relate. For nearly 30 years, he operated Creeper Hill Orchards on his farmland on 20 Creeper Hill Road.

His appreciation for fresh, healthy, homegrown produce inspired him to open his land for the first time this year for community gardens.

For $40 a season, people can rent and tend a 20-foot by 20-foot plot on his property.

From June 1 through the frost, these community gardeners can plant and harvest whatever crops they choose.

Poulin will supply the water. He also has tomatoes, onions, peppers and summer squash that can be planted.

"We've got the land and the equipment,'' he said. "I thought we'd give it a try.''

He has three-quarters of an acre ready for planting, with room to expand if the project takes off.

These gardens can yield a plentiful harvest of fresh produce, which can help families in financially difficult times, he said.

"I want to give the people a little break,'' he said. "After what they've grown through, I think they deserve it.''

He hopes the gardens will help him maintain a working farm in an era when agricultural acreage has diminished.

"All the land is going to houses, which is too bad,'' he said. "I know we need the houses, but I'd like to keep it as a farm if I could, and this is as close as I could.''

He knows his late wife, Peggy, would agree. She supported the community gardening concept but did not live to see it.

She died in October.

But she will not be forgotten. Poulin may distribute a packet of  marigolds to every gardener.

They were her favorite flower.

For more information, call (508) 839-2683.