More than a dozen local vendors set up at Open Sky farm on Saturday evening as the Sackville organization welcomed visitors for a summer solstice celebration.
Tables were spread across the property as visitors moved between booths and stopped to chat with artists about their work. Musicians performed throughout the evening while others wandered through the greenhouse or settled into lawn chairs.
For farm and operations manager Sarah Poirier, the event was an opportunity to invite more people onto the property and celebrate the changing of the seasons.
“Now that we’re midway through and the solstice falls on the weekend, we thought what a nice idea to get people out and around,” Poirier said. “The farm is so beautiful anytime of year, but June is lovely.”
Open Sky is a therapeutic farm on the edge of the Tantramar Marsh that works with neurodivergent adults and adults facing mental health challenges. Programs focus on independent living skills, mental health self-care and employment readiness.
Participants spend their days taking part in hands-on activities around the property.
“Everything we do here is very hands-on,” Poirier said. “People are learning skills while being part of the farm community.”
Poirier said money raised through the greenhouse goes back into Open Sky’s programs. She said the greenhouse also gives members an opportunity to build workplace skills.
Several of the vendors also had connections to the organization through its programs and greenhouse.
Kat Harrison, who makes polymer-clay jewelry under the name Celtic Horizon and is a member of the Open Sky community, said talking with visitors often inspires future creations.
“I like interacting with the customers because they actually give me some inspiration of potential new ideas to make,” Harrison said. “I have something in the works at the moment that I want to make.”
Potter Kaeli Cook, who works in Open Sky’s greenhouse, said she enjoys being part of an organization that helps people.
“It’s for a good cause and I love working in the greenhouse,” Cook said. “I like working with plants and helping people grow their vegetables and more flowers in the world. It’s just a good place to work.”
Cook said she also appreciates the support for the arts in Sackville.
“I just like that Sackville does these kind of events and brings the community together and there’s always so much art happening here and the town’s very supportive,” she said.
George Chappell, who has been involved with Open Sky for 11 years, spent part of the evening tending the bonfire and greeting visitors stopping by.
“Well, it’s important to me to see how people are doing their own creation,” Chappell said. “I do have one worker that does these earrings that she does by herself. She does an amazing, amazing job. I also does the bonfire a lot of times. It helps me put my wood skills to work to see if I can get it going really well.”
Musician Mike Trask, who performed during the evening, said events like the summer solstice celebration are important in small communities.
“I think these are important for all communities,” he said. “I think it’s super important this day and age for people in close proximity to stay connected.”
For Poirier, the summer solstice also marks a turning point on the farm.
“For us here on the farm, harvest will start shortly after that,” she said. “So it’s just a marking point in the year.”
The greenhouse’s end-of-season sale is now underway, with all remaining plants marked 25 per cent off.
