by Erikka J. Adams
Erikka is a lover of all things local, a gardener, and soon to be school librarian. She enjoys nature writing and being outdoors in her spare time.
Tucked in a corner of the lot behind Bank of America on Centre Street, Glen and Genevieve Stillman organize a farmer’s market. The husband and wife duo have been organizing this market since its inception twenty years ago in front of Curtis Hall. Other farms have come and gone, but the Stillmans have been steadfast.
“We love JP, can you tell?” said Genevieve during a phone interview.
Stillman’s Farm, along with two other possible suppliers, brings fresh, locally grown produce to area residents on Tuesdays and Saturdays, mid-May through October. Among stock favorites are carrots, spinach, kale, radishes, and cucumbers.
One can also find more unique varieties of vegetables. The Stillmans mix the unique with the common to meet customer requests - a true entrepreneurial spirit. Genevieve went so far as to say “We cater to the customer.” She recounts three customer stories resulting in three new vegetables at the next seasons’ market: shell beans, calabasa squash, and cousa squash.
Supported by the Massachusetts Federation of Farmer’s Markets, the market accepts food coupons, vouchers, and WIC stamps as payment options. This makes fresh, local produce a little more accessible to all area residents. The Stillmans recognize the value in economic and cultural diversity found in JP; it’s what makes this market successful. “It gives us options in farming and how to meet these needs,” Genevieve shared. No where else could they market 15 different varieties of eggplant!
Glen and Genevieve grow the produce on two farms - one in Lunenberg, the other in New Braintree. The farms are run under a Community Sponsored Agriculture set-up, commonly known as a CSA. People who want a share of the season's produce invest money before the season begins, ensuring the farm and its workers the financial means to run and operate the farm.
This year the Stillmans’ CSA has about 350 members, including a few of JP’s best restaurants – Centre Street Café, City Seed and Supply, and Arborway Café. When David and Christy, owners of City Seed & Supply, added green tomato chutney to their menu, the Stillmans began bringing green tomatoes specifically to keep them in supply. Now that is customer service!
This year the Stillmans may be adding a new and exciting component to the market – local honey. Dean Stiglitz of Golden Rule Apairy volunteered to keep the Stillmans hives amongst his own and they have been flourishing ever since. This could be the first year fresh honey is for sale at the JP market. If so, Stiglitz will also bring an observational hive for live demonstrations of bees hard at work.
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