Home Place: Orange CT

Monday, September 16, 2013

Cash Mob CT at Sunflower Farm in Orange CT

On Saturday, 9-21-13, you can support a local Connecticut business, and get some great deals!

How?

By participating in September's Cash Mob CT at Sunflower Farm in Orange CT

from 11:00am to 1:00pm

If you haven't participated in one of the local Cash Mob's here in Connecticut, you should! It's a great way to support some local businesses. All you need is $20.00 and a yearning to shop (yup - that I've got!) and it's a great way to inject some of that economic stimulus into a locally owned business. Because that's where it will make a REAL difference!

Each month the folks at REX Development, work with Cash Mob CT, to select a town or city that is part of the 15 municipalities that make up the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) to descend on to be "Cash-Mobbed". Then, we voters do the rest! Local businesses are nominated - and a final vote is held where the Mob-Winner is selected and announced.

Past winners have been RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Flutterby in Guilford, the Bethany Farm Market in Bethany, Sweet Cioccolata in Wallingford, the Sweet Shoppe in East Haven, Something of Bev's in Milford, Books and Company in Hamden, Totally Awesome Goods in Branford, Metamorphosis in West Haven, CT, and Country Paint and Hardware in North Branford, CT.

Just like you, I have to watch my pennies, but I can spend $20.00!

We can ALL do our part to help the local economy - one dollar at a time!

I have to be honest though. I have a wedding to attend on Saturday, but that didn't make a difference! I decided to visit Sunflower Farm a week early to get some pictures and scout some of the bargains that will be available for YOU on September 21st. And, of course, I got to do my own little "mini-mob"!

I got to meet and chat with the wonderful owners, Sabrina and Ernie who will be celebrating the farm market's 30th anniversary next year! What started as a small flower garden, selling cut flowers and Ernie's favorite sunflowers, has since blossomed (couldn't help myself) into a nationally known flower and garden market. I've heard about their famous air-brushed pumpkins and will need to return in October to purchase one.

Meet Ernie and Sabrina, owners of Sunflower Farm

Sabrina is a dynamo! As soon as I introduced myself and explained that I attend many local events, she told me all about the Milford Downtown Farmers' Market and their upcoming First Annual Apple Pie Contest on October 5th. She almost had me convinced that even I could bake a pie for it...but you and I know better than that! You can learn more about the Milford Downtown Farmers Market HERE and some info on the Apple Pie contest HERE.

Ernie told me that his main function at Sunflower Farm was to help people carry their items to their cars, but I later learned he's the one with the marvelous green thumb... responsible for the perennials, dwarf sunflowers, giant sunflowers, annuals, and the most gorgeous mums!

First and foremost...THE MUMS...beautiful, perfect fall mums are available for only $10.00! HUGE ONES! This has to be the best price for this size and quality, anywhere in CT, hands down!

But they're more than just a purveyors of flowers. They also carry a small variety of seasonal fruits and produce, baked goods, and unscented and natural soap, essential oil soap, and other natural products, most made the old-fashioned way, with no GMOs.

Here's some candid pics of what can be found at the Sunflower Farm!

Pickles, Relishes, Salsas, and More!

Natural soaps and lotions

Sea Salts & Natural and Soy Candles

Locally grown fruits - peaches, apples, and nectarines

Fresh baked goods and organic honey

Sabrina and Ernie

I was able to purchase some of the cowboy's favorite relish, a cabbage relish called Chow-Chow, some nectarines, and, OF COURSE, a beautiful golden-yellow mum! Sabrina rang me up - and Ernie carted my purchases to the car. My pre-mini-cash-mob was complete!

Please don't miss this wonderful Cash Mob event and visit Sabrina and Ernie at Sunflower Farm! You won't be disappointed!

Sunflower Farm in Orange Connecticut

767 Derby Milford Road,

Orange, CT, 06477

203.795-6829

On the Web: http://sunflowerfarm.com/

"Like" them on facebook: HERE

Open 7 days a week - til Christmas
(Then, 4 days a week Winter-Spring)

*****

Have you participated in a Cash Mob?

What are your favorite places to shop local?

I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Odyssey Greek Festival

OPA! OPA! OPA!

The online urban dictionary describes the exclamation OPA as many things:

It is a word or pronouncement of celebration; the celebration of life itself.
It is another way of expressing joy and gratitude to God, Life, and others; that all that really matters is health, family, and friends. It is an affirmation that you’re where you’re supposed to be; and that you need to stop and celebrate.

Urban Dictionary, 2012 "OPA" Retrieved 9-1-12 from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=opa

Well, the cowboy and I were certainly where we needed to be when we stopped by St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church to help them celebrate their 32nd Annual Odyssey - A Greek Festival, this Labor Day Weekend! St. Barbara's in located on Racebrook Road in Orange, CT.

We were greeted on our arrival by the wonderful Sharon in the Information Booth who was so helpful with explaining where everything we wanted to visit was located and at what times and places we could find the entertainment and made sure we had an info pamphlet. Everyone in the booth was knowledgeable about EVERYTHING and wanted to ensure that every attendee had a great time! Also...no entrance fee or parking fee! This is a festival that every family can afford!

We got there just in time to see Marie Basel and Olympia Hadjmichael preparing a cooking demonstration of a variation of baklava, the traditional Greek dessert made with phyllo dough, honey, nuts, and various spices.

Marie and Olympia did a great job and had a captive audience with standing room only!

Watching all that dessert being prepared and the aroma of all the warm honey made us move over to one of the many food tents. There were many menu options, from full course dinners...