| NOVEMBER 26, 2011 -- New membership at the Southington Grange has sparked new ideas and energy.
The Southington Grange #25 has been in existence for 126 years. Granges were established after the Civil War to help farmers and lobby on behalf of agriculture. When farming started to decline the group started concentrating more on its civic duties and the community during the 1960s.
But with new members and a willingness to bring back old traditions and pair them up with 21st century ideas, the Grange is ready to revitalize its organization.
Patty Boissonneault, a Southington resident and professional chef, joined the organization in September. Ten other members also signed up this year. Boissonneault is interested in sharing knowledge about locally grown food. It's not only healthy but it benefits local farmers and farmers markets.
Many of the grange's 65 members no longer live in the state or are in poor health, Boissonneault said. The organization still follows rituals and traditions and its presence in the community is small.
"We're trying to infuse the grange with more contemporary knowledge of farming," she said.
Southington resident Dennis Putala has been with the grange for the past 10 years. Putala enjoys plants, animals and gardens and when a friend asked him to join a decade ago he couldn't pass it up. Two months ago he became president of the organization. Enough people came to Putala and told him the organization needed to get back on track. Members know him and believed he could lead, he said.
With the help of new members, four in their late 20s or 30s, Putala fells the grange is moving in the right direction. Plus having a society focused on eating fresh local foods and a first lady, Michelle Obama, who works in her own garden also helps, he said.
"At our last meeting we were brainstorming ideas for the grange and things to work on," he said.
Members are working on sprucing up the grange building at 200 Knowles Ave. Fresh paint will soon cover the walls of the facility.
"Members are very willing to help. They get excited," Boissonneault said. "Even if they don't have ideas, we need a pair of hands and energy."
More events are in the works. "Have Your Pet's Picture Taken with Santa" is scheduled for Dec. 11. Boissonneault said children can do crafts and Christmas trees will be for sale. When the spring comes the grange will bring back its plant and vegetable sales, Putala said.
Despite the new members, there are still not enough people to get everything done.
"It's a hard thing to do," she said. "It'll take years, but I like it to be elevated to the status of UNICO."
Boissonneault said if the group can raise awareness, increase membership and encourage people to farm, garden and eat locally then they're doing their job.
Putala would also like to see the grange become handicapped accessible and a place where more people come for birthday parties, showers and other functions.
More information is available at ctstategrange.com.
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