Allison “Chucky” Allen, Author

On Saturday, March 22nd, we celebrated the start of our 2025 annual plant sale and welcomed visitors to an open house tour of our organization’s new addition at the Main Street Cultural Center. The Farm team presented a vibrant array of plants and herbs, featuring onion sets, collards (both large and small), sunflowers, tomatoes (large and small), turnips (large and small), flavorful mustard greens, kale, cabbage, jalapenos, marigolds, and abundant trays of greens.

And let’s not forget the Food Club! They brought a mouthwatering spread of jams – peach, blueberry, mango, vanilla – just imagine them on a warm, buttery biscuit straight from the oven! Plus, there were homemade teacakes, vanilla muffins, bananas, whole carrots, big round onions, pepper sauce, apples, celery, and so much more. If that made your stomach rumble, you definitely don’t want to miss the next one!

A Utica resident, niece of Ms. W. Jacobs (of the Utica Library), caught my eye as she held a sunflower. I snapped a photo as she smiled, securing the plant with both hands. As she drew it closer, her smile waned when she spotted a spider. Her mother, noticing her flicking at the flower and her contorted face, inquired about the trouble. “A spider,” she explained. “Just pick another one,” her mother advised. “No, I want this one; it’s got something special,” she insisted, giving the spider a final flick. With the unwanted guest gone, her smile returned as she walked to the checkout.

Sunflowers bring joy and positivity, symbolizing strength, good fortune, admiration, and loyalty. They remind us of hope and optimism in difficult times. ~Author Unknown~