Aaron Bowers does not simply eat a pie, like one traditionally eats a pie. Chewing, breathing, swallowing — all of these actions take time. But Bowers doesn't have that kind of time. At least not when he's competing to be the first to, using no utensils except his face, finish an 8-inch blueberry pie at the Verrill Farm pie-eating contest. The Arlington resident has held the title the past four years. "You have to breathe sometimes, or you'll pass out," Bowers said. "But minimizing chewing and breathing is the key. It's a matter of being willing to push your body out of its comfort zone of …

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast at Verrill There's no better way to celebrate the heart of local blueberry season than enjoying a fresh batch of blueberry pancakes with good friends. Verrill Farm on Wheeler Road has just the thing to satisfy your blueberry fix --its annual Blueberry Pancake Breakfast this Saturday from 9 a.m-noon.  All of the berries used in the pancakes will be from local farms, and the pancakes will be drenched in Massachusetts maple syrup and served with bacon/sausage and coffee or juice for $7.50, or $4.50 for kids under 10 years old. But don't spend all of your appetite on …

In Week 4 of our "On the Farm" series, we take a look at what's going on at some local farmstands. Blueberries at Hutchins Blueberry season is finally here and the folks at Hutchins Farm on Monument Street are picking the popular berries all week. Blueberry season should last until mid-August, Hutchins farm manager Brian Cramer said. Berry lovers should call the farm in advance to make sure that the berries are ripe enough for Hutchins to be picking that day. If so, blueberries should hit the farmstand at around noon. Pick them up quick before they sell out! And while you're at Hutchins, …