Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Business-Ferris-Roadside-Stand

Full Text:

WITH PHOTO: BUSINESS MOVES TO THE ROADSIDE EACH FALL

Autumn goodies such as gourds, mums, pumpkins, cornstalks, farm-fresh

raspberry jelly, and hand made wooden crafts can be found at the Ferris Acres

Farm Stand on Route 302 at Robin Hill, each weekend until they sell out -

usually before the end of October. The stand is open from 9 am to 5 pm on

Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.

The business was established three years ago by Terri Ferris, her husband,

Charlie, and Shirley Ferris, as a supplement to the family dairy operation.

And its popularity has grown so, they need to start planning for it in

January.

Charlie cuts and hand sands all the decorative wood pieces. Terri then paints

the ghosts, pumpkins, sunflower, apple, and cow shapes as well as the

miniature bird houses.

"It's fun, but it's a lot of work. People really like autumn - they like to

decorate for Halloween," said Terri. "We get a quite a few people from New

York, Stamford, and Wilton, who come to see the leaves and stop at the stand.

"It's cute to see them drive off with bales of hay and cornstalks in their

car."

Charlie spaces signs along the road. Some, which only boast one word, will

form a thought or sentence when put together with the next sign in line, such

as "Think" and "Autumn."

"We get a lot of repeat customers, people who might come two or three times

the same day," laughed Terri, who also makes swags with eucalyptus and

farm-grown and dried flowers. "One woman says we're her Christmas store!"

It's been a real feat this summer to have a good crop of pumpkins, said

Charlie. Using recycled water, he was able to tend the plants and coax them

into producing a satisfying harvest.

Customers who visit the farms stand will also find Indian corn, and winter,

butternut, acorn, and buttercup squash for sale.