Is Happy Greens Vegetable Farm An Insidious Cult?
A community-run vegetable farm located in Worcester County has recently come under an increased level of scrutiny and is facing growing disapproval from the public. The farm has long been a popular choice for elementary school class field trips, but following complaints made by several of the visiting students’ parents, that may well change. Martha Gaby, mother of one of the students elaborated:
“I was excited for Suzy to see where food comes from and thought that it would get her more excited to eat her vegetables. I don’t know exactly what she was told, but she came back saying all this nonsense, like how the earth is going to crack open like an egg, or how zucchini can be planted to ward off evil. I was furious. The teachers say that nothing out of the ordinary was said in front of them, but I’m sure at some point they must have put these ideas into my child’s head.”
Michael Davidson, another concerned parent stated, “I thought this was going to be an educational experience, but instead Billy keeps leaving our produce in a summoning circle on the floor and saying it’s a tribute for lord Potatomongus.”
Many more complaints have been leveled at Happy Greens, which up until now had seen annual visits by students from Fitchburg Elementary, Elizabeth, Gardner Elementary, Southbridge Junior High, and Chiptooth Kindergarten. However, these class field trips may stop happening should parents continue to take issue with what their children are being taught at the farm. Happy Green’s owner, Mathias Bottle, was quick to respond to the criticism:
“I think it’s unfortunate that these parents are focusing in on our personal beliefs, rather than what a beneficial experience these young students get from seeing where the nutritious food on their plates comes from. Yes, maybe some of our staff can be rather passionate about our faith, but that’s arguably not different than any other religion, and children shouldn’t be sheltered from new ideas. Let these kids think independently and decide for themselves whether or not they view Potatomongus as an imminent threat.”
But Shelly Howard, whose child attended Fitchburg Elementary, was not at all satisfied with Mr. Bottle’s response:
“Our kids absolutely should not be exposed to this lunacy. They have minds like a sponge, they absorb everything they hear. Billy keeps talking about how spuds will smother the wicked. I know he wasn’t saying anything like that before he visited the farm.” Margaret Briggsby, a child psychologist based in Worcester, backed up Mrs. Howard’s concerns:
“Children are very susceptible to what adults around them are saying, even if its not said directly to them. They rely upon hearing second-hand information to learn. If they overhear these radical concepts, such as ‘‘Starch absorbs your sins’, it’s likely to leave a long-lasting impression on them.”
The uproar is already having an impact, with 3 out of the 4 schools previously mentioned having informed parents they will discontinue the annual field trips to Happy Greens. Mathias Bottle, however, remained defiant:
“If they want to take their field trips elsewhere, such as on some useless tour of city government, that’s fine with me. The vast majority of our income comes from the produce we grow. Meanwhile, we’ll keep doing what we’ve always been doing, harvesting from the soil until we ourselves are harvested and turned into soil.”
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