How do you meet people in Greenfield? 

Over the years, I have heard many people ask this question. If you don’t have children in the school, it can be hard to meet your neighbors and fellow Greenfielders, and with the Meetinghouse closed for renovations, things are a little quiet. But there is a lot more to Greenfield than meets the eye!

The best way to meet people is always to jump in and help out. The Greenfield Firefighters’ Association is always looking for more volunteers. The GFA fundraises for  equipment for the department and provides food, water and support for our first-responders during emergencies . The GFA and the Fire Department organize the annual pancake breakfast and the wildly popular Fire and Ice parade on the first Saturday in December. This year’s pancake breakfast is June 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Oak Park. You can find the GFA on Facebook; be sure to search Greenfield, NH.

The Oak Park Committee is another group which is always looking for volunteers. The committee runs Greenfield’s wonderful farmers’ and crafters’ market Sunday mornings at Oak Park. This year’s market  will include a flea market and morning yoga classes  The town has exciting plans for Oak Park going forward, including renovations to the playground, repairs to the tennis courts and additional facilities. The market opens for the season on May 18. For information, send email to oakparknh@gmail.com. 

Our most-valuable resource in town may be the Stephenson Library. Director Ella Cademartori manages a full schedule of events  for all ages, from mahjong to book clubs. The library also hosts robotics, line dancing, watercolor painting and quilting. Check the library website for the schedule. The Friends of the Library, who run events, book sales and fundraisers, meet the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the  library, and they are always looking for more volunteers to help the library. To connect Friends of the Stephenson Memorial Library, send email to valli@stephensonlibrary.org. 

Greenfield is a town with amazing natural resources. We have four lakes (if you count Powdermill Pond), frontage on Contoocook River, some of the most-extensive natural wetlands in the state and hiking trails on several mountains, including North Pack, Crotched Mountain and Lyndeborough Mountain. Our Conservation Commission does an amazing job keeping an eye on our natural resources and hosting presentations and events. The commission meets then fourth Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room at the Town Hall. For information, email concom@greenfield-nh.gov. 

The Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse are responsible for one of Greenfield’s largest events, Oktoberfest, which was founded in 2018 to raise funds for renovations to the Meetinghouse. Oktoberfest is always the last Saturday in September, and as of last year, the event has been moved to Oak Park. I promise it is just as much fun helping out at Oktoberfest as it is being a guest. To find out more or to join our crew, send email to greenfieldmeetinghouse@gmail.com or check out our website at greenfieldmeetinghouse.org. 

Town committees are another great way to get involved and meet your neighbors. Our town runs on mostly a volunteer basis and relies on residents to serve on town committees, including the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Cemetery Committee. You do not need professional experience to serve on a board; all you need is some time in your schedule and willingness to learn! For information about town committees, go to greenfield-nh.gov/boards. 

The Greenfield Historical Society works hard to preserve the history of our little town. The museum is open the last Saturday of every month except December from 10 a..m. to noon. Many new people in town stop by the archives to learn more about their historic home. Find out more about GHS at greenfieldnhhistoricalsociety.com.

Finally, any hardcore mountain bikers should check out the Greenfield Trails Association. By hardcore, I mean they are out there at dawn, in the dark and in ice, snow, rain, sleet and wind, riding in conditions that keep normal people inside for weeks. The only time the mountain bikers take a break is during mud season, to keep the trails from being destroyed. Most summers, they have weekly rides and potlucks. If this sounds like fun, find the GTA on Facebook.

Jesseca Timmons is secretary of the Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse and lives near a lot of mountain bike trails.