Please note: This post was written in 2018, and while it should still give you a good idea of the overall experience, it may also contain some outdated information. For the most current information, please visit their website.
2018 Post:
Cut to the chase. Take me to the Momsense.
Dear Winter,
Please stop this nonsense. We’re ready for spring. Seriously.
No thank you,
Audrey
Bean was less than thrilled about play time out in the snow.
OK, so maybe Bean and I are the only members of the family that don’t appreciate the snow, but after our recent trip to Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre in Wethersfield, I am SO ready for warmer weather and spending time in our garden!
Our family veggie garden, circa May 2016.
Bug, quite literally, displaying the fruits of our labor last summer.
I miss it soooooo much. But the great thing is that, if you’re like my husband and I and have the hobbies and interests of people at least twice your age…I mean…if you enjoy getting out in the garden, this is really a great time of year to be doing your seed shopping and getting those seeds started indoors.
A few of our tomato seedlings. <3
Having new things growing inside makes winter feel slightly less terrible, in my opinion. And if you’re looking for a FANTASTIC variety of heirloom veggie and flower seeds, I cannot recommend the aptly named Heirloom Market more.
Heirloom Market in the historic Comstock Ferre building in Wethersfield.
I am resisting the urge to talk WAY too much about Comstock’s long and storied history in the seed business, the Baker Creek heirloom seeds that the market carries, and what the difference is between heirloom, hybrid, and GMO seeds, but trust me when I say this place is an absolute gem and you should definitely purchase seeds there.
And if you aren’t interested in gardening you should still visit Heirloom Market. Why, you ask?
Crazy delicious coffee, decadent baked goods, and fresh-squeezed juices, that’s why. All locally sourced. Plus I challenge you to find another place that is both kid-friendly and serves avocado toast that looks like this…
Blurry, but still clearly delicious.
…or avocado toast at all, for that matter.
Obviously I love this place, so I jumped on the opportunity to write about it and share that love with you. So off my little family of four went on our breakfast-and-seed-purchasing blog excursion. There is a fair amount of free, on-street parking right on Main Street in Wethersfield and we had no trouble finding a spot.
If you happen to go at a very busy time, though, there is also a parking lot right next to the building, one at the church across the street, and another behind the Historical Society just a block or two away and, when the weather is nice, it’s a lovely area for a nice stroll. In short, parking shouldn’t be an issue.
The front entrance has a ramp and would, therefore, be accessible with a stroller but I still chose to put Bean in a carrier so that I didn’t have to wrestle a stroller through the snow and slush. Plus he seems to stay happier longer when he isn’t stuck in his bucket seat.
Upon entering the building, we were greeted by lovely murals commemorating Wethersfield’s agricultural history and the warm ambiance of the beautifully restored Comstock Ferre.
The entrance is the blue door pictured on the left above.
Before heading to the counter to order food, Bug made a quick stop at the little antique desk located immediately to the left upon entering the building to riffle through the small cardboard box located there, containing sundry cars and toys, to find something to entertain him while waiting for breakfast.
Then we moseyed on up to the counter to order.
Note the kids’ sandwich options at the bottom right.
We were there for breakfast and totally went overboard, ordering the breakfast wrap, yogurt bowl, 3 different pastries, and, of course, the avocado toast, along with copious amounts of coffee.
While you wait for your food you can browse the selection of natural foods, household items and organic produce…
…or you can do like we did and immediately find a comfy place to stuff your face full of the delicious pastries you purchased before even having your breakfast.
We were there not all that long after opening, so there was ample seating available. Some is “high top” style, which isn’t always kid-friendly, but there were also plenty of lower tables and even some tiny chairs – one of which we, of course, snagged for Bug.
Yogurt Bowl
Breakfast Wrap
After finishing up our breakfast, it was time for some much-anticipated seed shopping. We went in on a mission to find some specific vegetable seeds for our garden (especially tomatoes and peppers, which we would be starting soon), but definitely left with more than we originally planned to get. There are so many exciting heirloom varieties it’s hard to pick!
So many tomatoes, so little time.
Selecting some watermelon seeds.
A couple of the types of tomato we wound up with (I believe we ultimately went home with four).
Getting the seeds planted at home is such a great activity to do together with your kids too. I know mine gets WAY more excited about eating his veggies when he grows them himself. Bug will not eat raw tomatoes unless they are from our garden and when our cherry tomatoes start to ripen, I can’t STOP him from eating them right off the vine. I have to insist that he at least let me check them first to make sure they’re both fully ripe and clean. But honestly, I can’t blame him. They’re delicious.
An early planting day (seeds pictured weren’t purchased at Heirloom, but you get the idea).
Teeny tiny tomato and pepper seedlings!
Or if starting plants from seed isn’t really your style, Heirloom Market has an awesome Spring Festival where they not only have LOADS of seedlings for your garden, but several local vendors, delicious BBQ, baked from scratch pies and more! Last year’s festival was the first time my family made it over to Heirloom and we’ve been back several times since. The 3rd Annual Spring Festival is on May 26, 2018 from 10AM-3PM. If you intend to get plants make sure you get there on the early end because, though there are literally thousands of seedlings, they do go pretty quickly! Hope to see you there because you’d better bet we’ll be going again 😉
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre
263 Main Street, Wethersfield, Connecticut
Phone: (860) 257-2790
Email: info@heirloommkt.com
Find them on Facebook!
Hours (spring 2018):
Monday, CLOSED; Tuesday-Friday, 8AM-7PM; Saturday, 8AM-5PM; Sunday, 9AM-4PM
Check Heirloom Market’s Facebook page for information on special events!
Pricing (2018):
In addition to seeds, there are various goods to purchase in the market including locally grown organic produce and some basic household supplies, so price ranges pretty broadly. Food prices on the cafe menu, however, run from about $5-$10 and can be viewed online here. Coffees and other drinks are about $2-$6. The baked goods offered change regularly.
Details:
Stroller Friendly: YES, although I do believe there is a small step up into the seed area.
Coffee Mug Friendly: Although you can’t bring your own, coffee and other food can be purchased on-site!
Restroom: YES
Baby Changing Station: NO…well…not YET. I have it under good authority that, during upcoming renovations, a changing table will be installed in one, if not both, of the bathrooms.
Parking: YES, plenty of street parking and area parking lots.
Food for Sale: YES (check out the menu here)
Outside Food Allowed: NO
Cash Required: NO
Age Recommendations: ALL AGES
Dress Code: N/A
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES
Discounts: N/A, though I’d suggest following their Facebook page to get a heads up about changing offerings in the store and in the bakery case!
Birthday Party Venue: YES – Heirloom Market does host private events. Contact Julia Koulouris at julia@heirloommkt.com.
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