Nearby: Coggeshall Farm Museum

It seems surprising now, but I went to Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol nearly three months ago. I suppose that is how one can measure the swiftness of summer, upon realization that the glorious month of May is already three months past. Our New England bounty of oak and maple had already opened their leaf buds, and though our minds could easily refer to the brutal hardships of winter, the land was once more renewed. That renewal was in plain view for us at Coggeshall, a small yet quaint farm museum in coastal Rhode Island. The place doesn't boast too many structures, but there are plenty of animals, and what's more than that, plenty of workshops to enjoy both. I went to their annual sheep-shearing festival, which made for a great visit, but they also have workshops that focus on hearth cooking, backyard poultry, as well as seed collecting. Each Saturday they host a "breakfast in the barnyard" and in late September they'll have an annual harvest fair. As always, it was wonderful to get out of the city and onto a farm and Coggeshall easily afforded me that opportunity. 

Wilson Farm

Wilson Farm, located in nearby Lexington,  is a food lover's paradise. The moment I walked into their store I nearly gasped with delight. This is how a farm's bounties should be displayed: in simple order with thoughtful packaging, surrounded by fresh cut flowers and the glories of the nursery. A rustic barn complete with exposed wooden beams doesn't help either. I found myself connecting to the food as if it came from my own non-existent garden, as if I had only just plucked the lettuce from the backyard and took some basil from the pot by the window. I do love grocery stores, yet I always suffer from a sense of alienation towards the food I see and buy. The same questions that we've all asked ourselves over the past decade never seem to leave my mind: where did this come from, is it organic, is it safe? 

But here, there was no such barrier. I communed with the food and left delighted with all my purchases. Despite the snow that falls today, spring suddenly felt nearer. I left reminded that food ought to be respected and appreciated-not only when we eat a delicious meal out, but when we dine in, with the groceries we have brought into our homes. Leave it to a farm that has been in operation since 1884 to remind us.