Greenfield MA – A place to be green

Over the weekend my wife and I went to a winter farmer’s market in downtown Greenfield MA. It was a wonderful event and we were happy to see that it was very crowded. If you haven’t ever been to a farmer’s market it is a cheap way to eat local and get some great ‘in season’ produce, meats and breads. Normally farmer’s markets are not held in the winter, but thanks to the town of Greenfield, one was pulled together for a one day event. That ‘be green’ attitude is what Greenfield is all about, and walking around downtown, you really feel it.

After going to the farmer’s market we stopped in at Café Koko, a wonderful little no-frills, great atmosphere place to grab a sandwich, a cup of coffee/tea or just people-watch. They even have a long café table that faces the outside window so you can watch the people on the street. We will definitely go back since the food was great and the atmosphere amazing.

Next, we wondered down the street and popped into Green Fields Market, a co-op food store. We had thought we had died and gone to ‘local / organic food ‘ heaven. They have everything you would need including bulk bins of grains, local meat (beef), local cheeses, home made breads and produce. It truly was a wonderful shopping experience, and believe me, we didn’t leave this store empty handed.

Me, being a little bit of a ‘solar-nut’, couldn’t pass up stopping in the Greenfield Solar Store. Anyone interested in alternative fuels including solar electric, solar hot water, biodiesel, and solar cooking should stop in here. It is a small store and probably built more for gathering information about alternative fuels, but I found it very inspiring to see a store dedicated to alternative fuels.

So, if you live in the area, are looking for a place to spend a few hours, or just want to experience how a ‘green’ town can feel, take a trip out to Greenfield MA, you will be glad you did. It is only 45 minutes west of the Gardner/Templeton area, and well worth the trip. We know we will be going back quite often. Then again, this is life according to Troy