Ralston Yarn & Tea, established in 1959, has served as a community space for Ralston’s adult residents since its inception. Historically, it has been used as a meeting place for some of Ralston’s most influential women as well as a center for community discussion outside of more formal halls.
At Ralston Yarn & Tea, customers can buy from a selection of yarns, teas, and fiber-working supplies, as well as kits and patterns developed by the store and its partners. As Ralston has long been known for mosaic crochet in the fiber arts world, the current owner of Ralston Yarn & Tea, Samantha Cleary, has made strides toward developing and distributing mosaic crochet patterns for community members. All staff members have been trained to guide customers and visitors through any snags in their personal projects.
In recent years, Cleary has also reached out to local schools with the hope of introducing more of Ralston’s youth population to the environment of her store, which has always valued learning as much as the products on its shelves. As a result, she has observed different generations interacting to a degree typically unseen in the public sphere. In the summer, she hopes to open workshop sessions that will further appeal to school-aged visitors.
Ralston, Vermont's "Green Island" City 