Farmers’ Market: A near miss

14 years ago

Farmers’ Market:

A near miss

    For many years, the distinction between northern Maine and Canada was wet ankles as we waded the river at will. But times have changed. Concerns for national security and the federal stimulus package have converged where the roads cross the borders ringing Aroostook County. Funds exist to allow the Border Patrol to replace some of the broken-down hovels that in some cases have served since the rum-runner days of Prohibition. 

    Plans to update border stations might seem a win:win for state residents and especially for the contractors who bid on the jobs. However, behind the Easton station is the home and farm of Joe and Barbara York. For awhile this spring, it looked like the Yorks were going to have to move. The plan for the new border facility was going to “take” their driveway and cut off their access to the road. Having spent decades establishing their fields and propagating their crops, neither Joe nor Barb had the heart to think about starting over somewhere else. Barb stated very clearly that, “ if they had to move, they might take some things just for them,” but most of the plants would be abandoned.
    This would be a tragedy both for vendors and for customers at the Market. The Yorks are longtime members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market in the parking lot of the Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday mornings. They bring garden perennials to plant in spring, gorgeous cut flowers through the summer months, and pungent fresh garlic bulbs in the early fall. Barb’s blooms and skillful arrangements, not to mention her pleasant smile and helpful assistance, would be sorely missed. We won’t even think about trying to go all winter without a store of garlic to perk up our taste buds and maybe our immune systems.
    However, every once in a while we win one, even with the federal government,. Several months of worry have turned out to be a moot exercise. The “feds” have pretty much confirmed that a right-of-way for the Yorks is fully doable. So while we may need wait patiently until spring to once again fill our homes and gardens with sight and scent, we will not need to do without … a real win:win but also a near miss!
    Editor’s note: This weekly column is written by members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market. For more information or to join, contact their secretary/treasurer Steve Miller of Westmanland at 896-5860 or via e-mail at beetree@xpressamerica.net.