Morris Farm plant sale gets newcomers, returnees

SUSAN JOHNS
Mon, 05/21/2018 - 7:30am
Shopper Danielle Clarke, daughter Amelia, 15 months, and volunteer Kandyce Powell, all of Wiscasset, interact at Morris Farm's plant sale May 19. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Volunteer Katy Sato-Papagiannis, left, of Alna sells Newcastle’s Marion Mundy a ticket for the birdhouse in the foreground, at Saturday’s plant sale at Morris Farm. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Morris Farm co-president Merry Fossel, left, of Alna meets with sale-goer Beverly Jewett of Jefferson. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Some of the heirloom tomatoes Wiscasset Middle High School students planted the seeds for earlier this spring. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Camden’s Jane Carr loads her buys into the car. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Volunteer Beth Maxwell of Wiscasset wheels a wagon back into the barn. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Christine Hopf-Lovette of Wiscasset volunteers at the sale. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper

    Jane Carr comes from home in Camden to Morris Farm’s plant sale every spring for the heirloom tomatoes. Saturday’s sale was at least her fifth year, and was her first time attending since husband Alan Carr died. They always went to the sale together, so she wanted to come for that reason, also, she said as she loaded her picks into the back of the car.

    Danielle Clarke just moved to Wiscasset from Litchfield and was looking to start gardening at her new home, she said with daughter Amelia, 15 months, in her arms. Master gardener and Morris Farm volunteer Beth Maxwell of Wiscasset pulled a wagon full of Clarke’s buys, including lupines, poppies and rose campion, out of the 1800s barn and into the parking lot next to Gardiner Road, or Route 27.

    Maxwell and other volunteers interviewed said they were giving their time to the nonprofit because because they believe in its work that includes education and community involvement. Maxwell added, she likes to garden.

    After helping at the sale, volunteer Christine Hopf-Lovette of Wiscasset planned to volunteer more of her Saturday at another local nonprofit in another 1800s building, The Maine Art Gallery at 15 Warren St.

    Another volunteer, Alna’s Katy Sato-Papagiannis was selling raffle tickets for a birdhouse she said was donated. Daughter Gigi, 9, and son Ryo, 7, attend Morris Farm’s farm camps.

    The heirloom tomatoes are always a big draw to the sale, Morris Farm co-president Merry Fossel said between helping shoppers. She pointed out the tomato plants, which got their start with Wiscasset Middle High School students counting and planting the seeds in March.

    At Fossel’s encouragement, friend Marion Mundy of Newcastle was attending for the first time. She goes to other plant sales, and Morris Farm’s was the best one she had ever seen due to its variety, information about the plants, and the attractive setting, Mundy said.

    The sale’s proceeds will benefit the nonprofit’s education programs, a press release stated. Fossel did not expect to immediately know the amount raised because some plants would still be for sale after the event, she said. 

    The morning event had sun. Rain held off until afternoon. “We got a reprieve,” Fossel said as she smiled about the weather hours into the sale.

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