Winterpast Homestead

"The work never ends!" That is what Abby Metcalf will tell you if stop by "Pansy House" at the Piermont Plant Pantry. Abby Metcalf is the driving force behind the Pantry. Surrounded by balsam boughs of all shapes and sizes, Abby makes, with the help of her 2 year old granddaughter Coleen, an eight inch balsam wreath for delivery to the Hanover Co-op. Further down the table Pantry workers are making more wreaths, kissing balls, and garland. Amoung them are the blond heads of the workers children ages 1yr to 4years old: Kimberly, Moria, and Victoira as well as Sarah and Charlie. Lets not forget Wyatt, John and Abby's 4 yr old grandson.

This busy group started on November 1 and will work full throttle until Dec 20th.

^{The seasons at the Pantry, often run ahead of the calender by weeks some times months. The smells of spring filling the green houses in March and the over whelming scent of freshly cut balsam by the end of October.}

The Pantry has full time work for several people and seasonal work for many others. You never know who you might see working in the "Pansy House". AI Metcalf, John and Abby's son is often in cutting boughes down for wreaths and just today John Metcalf, Abby's husband, popped his head into the balsam filled green house pulled up a stool next to a little blond head and stripped some balsam for kissing balls.

The Piermont Plant Pantry and farm are owned and operated John and Abby Metcalf. The farm it is on has been in the Metcalf family since ****. At one time a dairy goat farm, the Pantry now produces flowers, vegetable seedlings, winter squash, along with pumpkins and balsam goods. They run a gift barn, a corn maze and a pumpkin lighting which features upwards of 450 jack'r lanterns.

So if your in need of some holiday spirit and a wreath, stop in at the Pantry and breath in the balsam, it is sure the put you in the holiday mood.