As the signs on the edge of town tell us, Rochester is a Right to Farm town. That “right to farm” is most evident mid- to late summer and into Fall when farmstands selling vegetables, flowers and eggs can be found off just about any of Rochester’s roadways.
At the Rochester Historical Museum, we have Daybooks kept by some of Rochester’s late 1800s to early 1900s farmers. CW Maxim writes about putting fruit from his orchard on his roadside stand and of many trips taking cranberries to market.
The fall cranberry harvest provides us with some of southeastern Massachusetts’ most beautiful scenes. Crimson cranberries floating on deep blue water under a September or October sun is a sight that never gets old.
Along New Bedford Road is a field that was once a pasture for sheep. It was surrounded by a stone wall. This year, the sheep moved, and both wood and wire fencing was put in, and then planting was done. I liked to think all the fencing was to keep the pumpkins growing within from escaping, even though I know it was to keep out hungry wildlife. I still do like the image of an adventurous pumpkin rolling down the road.
As you can see in the picture, the pumpkin patch had a grand harvest with boxes and truckloads filled and ready to become pies, Jack-o’-lanterns or autumn decor.
By Connie Eshbach