Carrots and Fennel for Sale at Ambler Farm

It’s hard to believe, but in only four short weeks, we’ll be saying ‘hello’ to the autumnal equinox. Sure the summer thunderstorms persist and the heat and humidity don’t allude to orange leaves, but there’s a change in the way the wind blows, as the skies become darker earlier each evening.

As the days of summer go by, the ground continues to be fruitful for Ambler Farm on Hurlbutt Street, and each passing week brings new additions to the harvest, including fresh Fennel.

This past weekend, the popular end of summer, the early fall root vegetable, the carrot, made its debut at the farm stand despite a persistent pest and disease problem this year.

“I think the pest problem has to do with the insulation from the snow cover this past winter,” explained Ambler Farm Farming Manager Ben Saunders. “It was like a blanket and it kept the pests alive.”

Still, organically grown crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes will be for sale from Ambler Farm at this Wednesday’s upcoming Farmer’s Market at the Wilton Historical Society.

“And I have some nice fennel that will be at the market this week,” said Saunders.

Fennel, with its bright white bulb and spring green leaves, can be considered both herb and vegetable and is often used in early fall soups.

“You can prepare fennel like any other vegetable,” said Saunders. “You just heat it up and eat it. It’s also great raw.”

The bulb variety, which is different than the seed bearing variety, has celery-looking stalks and soft dill-ish leaves. The taste is often compared to licorice or anise. Some Thanksgiving roast-turkey recipes call for a whole fennel bulb in the cavity during roasting.  

Fennel is a relatively easy crop to grow in your own personal garden and can last well into the colder temperatures of late fall. It’s also popular in butterfly gardens, as it is a favorite of the swallowtail butterfly.

So if you’re looking for some fresh fennel and carrots, head on over to the ever-friendly Ambler farm stand, and get some greens.