CLARENVILLE, N.L. — The Clarenville Farm and Market had an official opening this past Saturday, June 23, for their new permanent structure building and bathroom facilities.
Those in attendance thanked the various funding agencies and sponsors, as well as the board and volunteers and others, for their contributions and hard work in making the Farm and Market a reality.
Board chairman Keith Pardy said without these people, the Farm and Market would not be able to be what it is today.
The day was filled with music, activities, and of course, vendors selling all sorts of wares.
Ross Traverse, board member and horticultural expert, spoke at the opening as well. Traverse said gardening is like cooking; there is a basic recipe.
“You have to have the right ingredients in order to grow plants,” he said.
While at the Farm and Market, Traverse was shown a thoughtful keepsake, a framed Telegram newspaper article.
Diane Hodder showed the story to Traverse, which tells the story of her father, Arthur Hodder, and the first attempts to grow corn in St. John’s in 1954. Arthur Hodder was the chief inspector of the federal department of agriculture for Newfoundland and Labrador.
“(My two siblings and myself) were called, ‘Children of the Corn,’” joked Hodder.
Traverse appreciated being shown the piece of history. He says he learned so much from Mr. Hodder over the years.
“This is amazing,” he remarked.
The Farm and Market hopes to obtain a copy of the article to present in the future.
