By Carline Martin
Welcome to The Real Scoop. This monthly column is intended to help homeowners and potential homeowners in our community address a variety of home related and real estate issues. As a Realtor, I am often approached by many homeowners and buyers to provide answers for a variety of questions pertaining to all things home related. In my quest to provide answers, I have relied on my own expertise, as well as that of many trade professionals I have come to know in our community. The information I have provided has been deemed very useful and greatly appreciated, so I have decided to share what I know with the Greenwich community. Here is this month’s selected question:
Q: I am new to Greenwich and still discovering all of the great things the town has to offer. I am learning that there are so many perks to living here that are not publicized. I suspect that other newcomers may feel the same way. We all know and love the beaches and as you point out on your website, the “world-class shopping and dining,” but I think we could all benefit from some enlightenment of some of the lesser-known benefits to living in Greenwich. Would you please discuss a few?
A.: I would be delighted to address your request. I was born and raised in Greenwich and I have spent most of my life living here, yet, I find that I am discovering new things about our town all the time. It’s one of the many things that keeps living here so exciting. For those who may be new to Greenwich or thinking about moving here, let me first highlight some of the more publicized features of our town. For many readers this may seem like I am stating the obvious but you would be surprised what some people don’t know about Greenwich.
Greenwich consists of 67.2 sq. miles and is the largest town on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. It is a 50-minute train ride from Greenwich to New York’s Grand Central Terminal and many residents make the daily commute via Metro-North Railroad. As of the 2020 census, the population of Greenwich was 63,518 residents.
Greenwich is home to many beautiful public parks that include playgrounds, ballfields, basketball, tennis and paddleball courts, as well as many public hiking trails. Greenwich, also, has 4 lovely, public beaches. Of the 4 public beaches, 2 are accessible only by ferry. They are Island Beach (accessible by the Island Beach and Indian Harbor Ferries) and Great Captain’s Island (accessible by the Islander II Ferry). The other 2 beaches are Byram Park and Greenwich Point Park (known to long-time residents as Tod’s Point), both of which offer beach access and picnic facilities. Byram Park, also, has a lovely public pool complex, which has recently undergone extensive renovation, increasing from one pool to two pools and a splash pad playground. For a nominal fee, a resident may purchase an annual beach/park pass for unlimited seasonal entry to all Greenwich parks and beaches. Proof of residency is required. For more information on how to obtain a pass, please visit www.greenwichct.gov/2037/Seasonal-Passes-Tickets.
Greenwich is rich in arts and exploration. The Bruce Museum has been dedicated to presenting art, science and natural history-based exhibits to the Greenwich community for decades. It has grown exponentially over the years and continues to do so since it was deeded to the town by Robert Bruce in 1908. Prior to this, the original building and the surrounding land which is now Bruce Park, was the home of this wealthy textile merchant. Today the museum offers world-class exhibits and educational programs. For more information, you may contact the Bruce Museum at 203-869-0376 or visit during the hours of 10-5, Tuesday – Sunday. No reservations are required.
The Greenwich International Film Festival is an event held annually each June. It is a non-profit organization founded entirely by women. Their goal is to connect the arts with philanthropy through programs and special events. An additional component to their mission is to raise awareness of important issues such as health care, education, environment and human rights by highlighting these issues through film. You may find more information on GIFF at https://www.greenwichfilm.org/about-us/ or by contacting them at 203.717.1800.
If you are a history buff, you may find interest in visiting Putnam Cottage or The Bush-Holley House. Putnam Cottage has transformed quite a bit during the years since it was originally built in the 1600’s. Once known as Knapp’s Tavern, it was a working farm, family home and tavern, as well as host to many notable figures including George Washington and John Adams. Today, however, Putnam Cottage is best known for its namesake, General Israel Putnam, who eluded the British by riding from Knapp’s Tavern to Stamford to alert the militia. The small 3 room cottage is steeped in history enjoyed by young and old, alike. For more information, you may reach the Putnam Cottage at info@putnamcottage.org or at 203-869-9697.
The Bush-Holley House was built more than 2 centuries ago by a wealthy local farmer, named Justus Bush. The home was passed down through the Bush family, operating as a tidal mill, until the property passed out of the Bush family in 1848. After this time, the home became a boarding house, post office and artist colony. Between the period of 1882-1920, this property operated as a boarding house for writers and artists and was known as The Cos Cob Art Colony. The property is now included within the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, since it’s purchase by the town in 1957. For more information about the Bush-Holley House or for visiting hours and tours, you may contact them at 203-869-6899.
The virtues of living in Greenwich are abundant. As a Greenwich native, you can imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that for the past 14 years, there has been a wonderful gem hiding right under our noses. Sleepy Cat Farm is the private residence of Fred Landman and his wife, Seen Lippert. Located on Clapboard Ridge Road, Sleepy Cat Farm is one man’s commitment to educating others on the importance of plants in our every day lives. Over the past 14 years Fred has built on his dream of creating “a garden of which the house could be proud.”
Having spent about 60 years in Greenwich, on and off, Fred purchased his home in 1994. Upon renovation of the lovely Georgian Revival home which was built in the 1940’s, Fred realized that such a lovely home deserved a lovely garden. What began as part of a home renovation project, quickly grew into a project with the mission to “instill public awareness of Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, and the value of plants in our lives.” Over the past 20 years, Fred has cultivated his 13-acre property into a sanctuary that includes stroll gardens, pathways, perennial gardens, flowering shrubs and trees, a vegetable garden, an orchard and even a grotto!
Fred’s wife, Seen, is a professional chef who makes regular use of the property’s vegetable gardens. The organic produce that is grown on-site is used to feed the occupants and staff of the household and what remains is donated to the community. While they used to offer a CSA program every Tuesday from May-October, Sleepy Cat Farm’s produce is not for sale to the general public.
Fred’s garden has continued to evolve over the past 20 years and for the last 14 years he has, graciously, opened his home twice a year to the community. In May and September, members of the community may visit Sleepy Cat Farm to admire the beautiful gardens, take a peaceful stroll or just spend the day decompressing among nature. During my recent conversation with Fred, I asked him what inspires him to open his grounds to the public. His response was very matter-of-fact, that such a beautiful garden is meant to be shared with others and he takes great joy in doing so. I was struck by his analogy that if he were not to share what he has created with others, it would be akin to his wife creating a lovely meal that nobody got to enjoy. By the end of our conversation, I realized that it is not what inspired Fred Landman to create his garden that is important but, rather, what an inspiration Fred should be to us all. For more information on Sleepy Cat Farm, please visit http://www.sleepycatfarm.com/.
If you are disappointed to learn that the fresh, organic produce that grows at Sleepy Cat Farm is not for sale, do not fret. There is another working farm in Greenwich that is sure to delight you. Versailles Farms, located at 56 Locust Road, is entering its 10th growing season. They grow 54 different types of crops and are the largest grower of wild, cultivated shitake mushrooms in Connecticut. They grow their produce for “flavor, nutrient density and good digestion.” Their summer stand is open on weekends from 9-5, from June 15 – October 15. For more information, visit www.versaillesfarms.com.
Augustine’s Farm at 1332 King Street is another working farm in Greenwich that has been in existence for decades. Run by farmer, John Augustine and his wife Kathy, Augustine’s produces seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as eggs and honey, year-round. They, also, sell Christmas trees during the holiday season. During summer months, it is worth the drive from anywhere to get your hands on some of their sweet summer corn. You may contact Augustine’s Farm at 203-532-9611.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience of Greenwich with my clients, many of whom are newcomers. If you are looking for a home, or are, simply seeking more information on Greenwich, please reach out to me. I am always eager to share my expertise with regard to Greenwich and our vibrant real estate market. It would be my pleasure to work with you and guide you through the process of buying or selling your home.
NOTE TO READERS – The Greenwich real estate market remains strong and active. The busy spring market is here with very limited inventory of homes on the market. Buyers are waiting on the sidelines for fresh listings. NOW is the time to prepare to list your home. Please use the link or QR code below to see what your home may sell for. Then, contact me to discuss the details of how we can sell your home quickly and for top dollar.
https://bhhsne.findbuyers.com/carlinemartin@bhhsne.com?fbclid=IwAR0NxQ3j0tZYZuEpqD5zRv7F9jhsAIwGY9Ejwl2CDVkmLqSpTZh5CwFZn18
SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS – If you have a real estate or home related question for which you would like a professional opinion, please email me at carlinemartin@bhhsne.com with “Sentinel” in the subject line. Each month, I will provide answers to one or two selected questions. Email me your Real questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
This article does not offer the opinions of Berkshire Hathaway/New England Properties and is not intended to provide legal or tax advice.
