PAREI moved our popular Local Foods Plymouth (LFP) program to the corner of Route 3 and Fairgrounds Road March 16, 2023. Over 60 donors and 27 timber framers and skilled volunteers built an insulated 18’ X 32’ pavilion, in less than four months, to house LFP’s operations for years to come.
Recently several of the area’s LFP farmers and vendors gathered for a sneak preview of the program’s new home. Phil and Donna Sprague of Huntoon Farm in Danbury along with Amey Bailey of Pike Hill Farm in Plymouth did the honors of cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Huntoon Farm and Pike Hill Farm have sold products through Local Foods Plymouth for over 15 years. “The pavilion is our gift to the local farming community, distributing local foods to people living and visiting the Plymouth area is going to be much easier now,” said Marianna Fishman, LFP Manager.
“We want to thank volunteer Doug Campbell of Wentworth for designing the pavilion and devoting hundreds of hours to the project. This project would not have gotten off the ground without his energy and expertise,” said PAREI Director Sandra Jones. “Not only will the pavilion and surrounding green space be ideal for running the Local Foods Plymouth pick up, it will also work well for educational gatherings, Energy Exchange meetings, mini Farmers’ Markets and demonstration gardens for our Little Gardens Everywhere program.”
Completing the construction of the local foods pavilion is only Phase One of PAREI’s Vision 2030 effort. Phase Two is re-locating the headquarters and the rest of PAREI’s programs to the brick building across the driveway from the pavilion – the west end of the old Brimstone Office Building or aka Tobey’s. “In the PAREI spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, our members have really stepped up to complete the LFP Pavilion for our farmers and buyers. Over $35,000 was raised to cover the materials and services needed to complete it. Thank you!” said PAREI Development Director Trip Anderson. “Now that the pavilion is built, we are turning our attention back to fundraising so we can continue renovating the office space with the goal of moving in by early summer.”
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Phase Two is to Complete the PAREI Office Renovation by July 2023