Eliza Llewellyn ’14
Staff Writer

On Sept. 23, a ribbon – or vine – cutting ceremony was held at the Wakeman Town Farm and Sustainability Center to mark its official opening. Charlie Colasurdo, a Westport fifth grader and aspiring farmer, cut the thick, leafy vine and officially opened the farm.

People present at the ceremony included Michael Aitkenhead, a science teacher at Staples and overseer of the farm, members of the Green Village Initiative organization, and students who had interned at the farm over the summer.

Jeanne Wakeman, one of the daughters of the farm’s original owners, expressed her joy, “The farm will be in Westport’s history forever,” she said.

Those involved with the farm seek to promote the local food movement; the farm will serve as a location for Westporters to pick up local farmers’ crops. WTF grows everything from squash, to zucchini, to cucumber and is also home to several chickens. “[The farm has] transformed into a beautiful garden,” Aitkenhead said. Aitkenhead lives on the farm and has traded in grocery store veggies for backyard produce.

The farm provides an opportunity for students to get involved in town agriculture. Students interested in volunteering should contact Aitkenhead for a chance to join a supportive community and learn about sustainability.