New England farms offer a wealth of produce in the summer and early fall, but winter can be a trying time for local food enthusiasts. When the last Farmers Market of the season in Portsmouth closed on Nov. 3, many thought it would be months before their next opportunity to get fresh regional produce. But, on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the first ever Winter Farmers Market was held at the McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Institute in Dover. A second Market will be held there on Saturday, Dec. 22.

“I discovered that, at the end of the regular Farmers’ Market season, a lot of farmers still had goods,” said Sara Zőe Patterson, coordinator of the Seacoast Eat Local campaign. She raised the prospect of a Winter Farmers’ Market with farmers and consumers last November. “The biggest hurdle was finding the appropriate place,” Patterson said.

In addition to the space, the Culinary Institute also provided an ice sculpture, several vegetable carvings and kitchen space, which students and instructors used to demonstrate how to cook with local foods. “We don’t really have the access to be able to do that in a similar way in other venues,” Patterson said.

After only an hour of being open, volunteers counted 300 visitors. Ten minutes later, another 50 people had entered to visit the 27 vendors, who had come from as far away as Plymouth and Westbrook, Maine. When the market closed at 2 p.m., a total of 1,200 people had walked through the doors.

Visitors had their pick of a variety of goods, including carrots, turnips, radishes, chard, kale, lettuce, onions, garlic, honey, maple syrup, milk, cheese, chicken, lamb, pork, beef, venison, squash, pumpkins, Brussels sprouts and a variety of baked goods.

According to Patterson, the markets were scheduled a few days before Thanksgiving and Christmas to capture the holiday rush. Although these markets are the only two scheduled for this winter, after hearing several people ask if it was possible to have regular markets throughout the cold season, Patterson is exploring how to make it work. One possibility is having smaller markets, she said. 

Holding markets during the winter means farmers must change their methods, planting later in the season and planning for different kinds of vegetables. While some farmers have the infrastructure and capital to adapt their operation to new and different demands, others do not, Patterson said. That means there would be fewer farmers involved in regular markets and more demand on those remaining. “But such a successful market proves to them that their efforts would be worthwhile. If it’s worthwhile for them, they’ll do it,” she added.

The December market already has a waiting list for vendors. Visitors can expect more of a holiday theme, with jams, jellies, maple syrups and other products packaged as gifts. Patterson thinks the December market will be bigger than the one in November.

“It’s a huge sign for everyone—consumers, farmers and people paying attention, that the farmers can meet the demand, and that the demand, itself, is huge. It’s a really big symbol that we’re doing the right thing,” Patterson said. —PL

unwrap the gift of free parking

As downtown business owners brace themselves for another busy shopping season, the Portsmouth City Council has authorized the Parking and Transportation Division to forego parking meter collection for a couple of weeks. From Monday, Dec. 10 through Wednesday, Dec. 26, parking in downtown Portsmouth will be free.

The 16-day feeless parking period was approved through a Council vote on Monday, Nov. 19. “It’s a thank you for your patronage,” said Jon Frederick, Portsmouth’s parking manager. The service has been offered in previous years, but, this year, the period was extended to include the day after Christmas, Frederick said.

Each meter will display cards reading: “Season’s Greetings—Free Parking.” The electronic pay-and-display parking meters in downtown locations will display similar signs. Although parking will be free, parking enforcement officers will continue to enforce the time limits at the metered spaces. Other parking violations, such as parking in a handicap space or in a loading zone will also still merit a ticket.

Frederick encourages holiday shoppers and visitors who wish to spend more time downtown than is allowed on the meters to use the High-Hanover parking garage. Several downtown merchants belong to the Downtown Parking Validation Program that allows them to provide their customers with up to four hours of free parking at the garage. Participating merchants display a blue sticker with the letter “P” in their storefront windows.

several transportation projects on the Seacoast

Bridge rehabilitation on Interstate 95 in Portsmouth, a new roundabout on Route 1A in Rye and new overhead signs on Indian Brook Drive in Dover are among the latest projects announced by the N.H. Department of Transportation. 

The I-95 roadwork began on the southbound side at exit 3A on Tuesday, Nov. 20, as crews began the first phase of rehabilitating the bridge that carries traffic over the Boston and Maine Railroad. Work on the northbound side was scheduled to begin this week, reducing traffic to three 11-foot lanes. The work section is separated from general traffic by concrete barriers, and the speed limit through the work zone has been reduced to 45 miles per hour.

Traffic patterns on I-95 should return to normal in May 2008, when phase 1 of the $2 million rehabilitation project is complete. The second phase will begin in October 2008 and is scheduled for completion sometime in 2009. Evroks Corporation, of Winnisquam, is conducting the work.

A new roundabout at Foyes Corner on Route 1A in Rye officially opened last week, a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Located at the intersection of Pioneer, Sagamore and Elwyn roads, the roundabout is considerably smaller than a conventional traffic circle, but is expected to improve traffic flow by 30 to 50 percent while reducing the risk of crash-related injuries by up to 76 percent, according to the DOT. 

Additional paving and landscaping will be conducted next spring, with the $870,000 project scheduled for completion in June 2008. Gove Construction Services Inc., of Portsmouth, was the contractor for the roadwork. According to the DOT, the project will improve traffic, reduce fuel use and pollution, and save money on traffic signals and electricity. Four state-built roundabouts have opened in the last year, including other locations in Plymouth, Meredith and Keene.

Most recently, the DOT announced that it would erect two new overhead sign structures on Indian Brook Drive in Dover, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 27 and 28. The work was expected to cause minor traffic delays during the mid-morning hours.