Page 40 - North Haven Magazine Issue 25 Autumn 2022

Everyone enjoyed a great dinner! Photo by Ann Clark. Kim Brockett and her Mammoth Donkeys visit the dinner.

by Sally Brockett

arm to Table Dinners are a lot of fun and a wonderful way to enjoy a delicious meal with family, friends, and
Fneighbors, and to meet new friends in the process! If you are not familiar with this type of event, it focuses
on bringing local, fresh food from the farm to the dining table. There are a lot of fresh vegetables used in the
preparation of the meal, and the menu varies depending on the focus of the planning committee. The location
is typically a farm setting and there may be farm animals as well as farm equipment to enhance the atmosphere.

The North Haven Historical Society and the Daytime Gardeners of North Haven collaborated with Jill DeChello,
Event Organizer and Editor of the North Haven Magazine, to present the second Farm to Table Dinner held at
the Brockett Farm in Montowese. One hundred and fifty guests took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the
evening, and fortunately, the weather cooperated by becoming a bit cooler and less humid than the days preced-
ing the event.

Featured Attractions
There were several feature attractions at this Farm to
Table Dinner that might not be a part of many events
such as this. The huge tent was situated in a large field
next to the Brockett 120-year-old barn which is the
home of Walt Brockett’s workshop (in the old hayloft),
and Crista Jo’s Glass Studio in the old horse stall sec-
tion of the barn. Guests enjoyed visiting these shops
and learning about the wood working done by Walt,
and the artistic glass creations made by Christa.

Farm Animals
The farm animals, owned by Kim Brockett and Mike
Capelli of Doubledale Farm in Guilford, visited in Guests visit Christa Jo’s Glass Studio. Photo by Sally Brockett
pens nearby and guests learned about the Mammoth
Jackstock Donkeys, a Heritage Breed that is currently soaps and products from GloGlo Organic Soaps &
endangered. These huge donkeys are known for their More for the raffle. Walt Brockett contributed a black
gentle, calm nature, though they can be a bit stubborn oak bowl made in his woodshop in the barn. The black
at times. George Washington originated the breed oak tree had to be removed from the Montowese Fire
and there are only 2500 remaining in the world today. House property and Walt saved a piece to make the
Sharpy, one of Kim’s donkeys, is featured on a special bowl on his lathe. A pine charcuterie board, similar to
U.S. postage stamp collection honoring endangered those used by Jill DeChello for the meal but smaller,
breeds. was also in the raffle. The black walnut table with ma-
ple trim was a favorite raffle item. The unique table,
Raffle Items designed and created by Walt, featured a technique for
Gloria Abbott provided a candle-making demonstra- the inlaid maple pieces on the legs that Walt personally
tion and donated a basket of her handmade organic developed.

40 North Haven Magazine - Autumn Issue 2022