When the peach mecca of Michigan celebrates
the fruit in downtown Romeo Labor Day weekend, the taste for pie and ice cream comes
naturally. Alone for the holiday, I left laundry on the clothesline Saturday
morning in pursuit of my slice a la mode.
Lisa Jaroch (L) and me, Labor Day weekend
In route, I turned
south on Campground to Cold Frame Farm, making the most of my time and petro. Every
Friday and Saturday morning, Lisa Jaroch, co-owner and operator, blends a bread
recipe handed down from an elderly gentleman that she’s perfected with
rosemary. Be advised; she’s prone to sell out before noon.
Lisa also kneads a
garlic-parmesan version for the cheese and garlic lover, and an onion poppy baguette.
She keeps the bread warm on a tray under a tea towel.
Our little vegetable
garden produces our favorites, however, Lisa offers a host of tomatoes, squash,
and greens I find deliciously different. She also sells sunflowers and mixed
bouquets including gorgeous dahlias. I regret there’s not one dahlia blooming
in my gardens.
Lisa and her
husband Matt also keep beehives and sell their raw honey. They include other
artisan foods such as coffee and natural body products to support small, local businesses—one
branch of their vision as farmers.
The couple also
established a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) whereby folk sign up and
pay in advance for their weekly orders throughout the harvest season. While I admired
Lisa’s dahlias, a mother and her three little girls walked single file into the
back of the barn.
“They’ve come to
pick up their CSA order,” Lisa said. “They’re the sweetest children.”
You never know. Someday,
one of those little girls might find herself behind Cold Frame Farm’s beautiful
service counter.
After a pose for a
picture with Lisa for old times’ sake, I drove into Romeo, found a parking spot,
and walked into Starkweather Arts Center. Their gift shop never fails to tempt
me with small pieces of handmade artwork perfect for gifts. A bonus is the
annual Thumb Area Artist Exhibition now on show in the lower and upper galleries.
With my purchase
in hand, I browsed several shops on Main Street and searched for pie and ice
cream and an available bench or chair without success. Why not drive to Verellen’s
Orchard on Monday after the parade instead?
This afternoon at
1:30 I waited for the drumbeat of Romeo High’s marching band. Families lined
the curbs on both sides of Main Street. If ever you doubt that children love
candy, show up for the Romeo Peach Festival parade and see for yourself.
At last, the large, perfectly synchronized
band I remember from the mid 1990’s led the several marching bands from surrounding
communities. The lovely Peach Festival Queen, Madison Janabet, waved like the
Queen of England.
Dear Reader, it’s
impossible to feel alone when you belong to a community that adores sweet
little children—and sustains a tradition that prizes peaches with an annual parade.
By the way, Verellen’s pie and ice cream were well worth the wait.
