September and the beginning of Autumn are one of my favorite times of year in New England. This week in particular was filled with lots of local excitement for the Gibson Family. First we visited a local farm called Phantom Farms in Cumberland, RI. Phantom Farms is a great stopping place no matter the time of year, but autumn is amongst the best. They are known for apple picking, delicious baked goods & treats (like muffins, pastries, cider & candy apples), local vegetables and even a pumpkin playground of sorts for small children with a potato sack maze...oh the excitement in the air. We visited during the week to avoid the crowds which was very pleasant. We felt we had the orchard to ourselves - picking apples, climbing trees, laughing and playing. There are always people at the farm whether it be for a quick purchase or a relaxing visit rocking on the front porch.
Our next stop was next door at Diamond Hill Vineyard where they offer complimentary tastings. The former proprietor, Claire, was very helpful. Diamond Hill is a small family owned vineyard and they could not be more proud of their establishment. The customer service is unbeatable - and always a family member so you are sure to see a familiar face. They produce an estate grown Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rose, as well as a variety of fruit wines. For the fruit wines they now partner with other local farms for their produce and go organic when possible. The store offers a number of other wine themed goodies - from cheese & crackers, salsas & dressings, and a variety of gift items. On this particular occasion we enjoyed the peach wine that had a great sangria recipe printed on the back label as well as the Pinot Noir Rose. We purchased the Pinot Noir Rose which we paired with an apple smoked cheddar cheese and a sliced apple we had just picked next door. The property is beautiful and the family invites you to stay and enjoy the beautiful gardens while you are visiting. There are several tables set up on the patio as well as picnic tables in the lawn. It was the perfect casual atmosphere to visit with a 2 year old. They even had a kids table with crayons and a few books. Our son Rhys was able to run about and enjoy his muffin and cider, while my husband Jim and I enjoyed our adult selections.
It is so important that we support local businesses in our communities. The people who run these establishments are our neighbors, friends, and even family. By supporting local you are not only purchasing high quality and affordable goods, but you are also reducing dependency on foreign oil required to get not-so-local products to the stores near you, driving up costs, polluting the environment and increasing the useage of a finite resource. Small decisions can make a big impact on quality of life - for your family and for the earth!
No comments:
Post a Comment