Lost Acres Vineyard on Lost Acres Road
Summer at Lost Acres Vineyards is a celebration of nature. Bountiful is the perfect descriptor for this time of the year, making it an especially interesting time to visit the vines. In July, the focus in the vineyard is hedging the vines to keep the growth under control. In August, the grape clusters will begin showing signs of veraison, which is the beginning of the ripening of the fruit. Out in the vineyards we are pulling leaves off the vine. This promotes good air circulation through the vines and exposes the developing grapes to the warm sun. We are also dropping fruit to reduce yields and increase concentration in the glass.
This summer we will be hosting special food and wine pairings on Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m. In July and August, we will feature different local farms, highlighting a recipe showcasing the farm specialty paired with one of our wines. Stop by for a sample of food, wine and take home the recipe, the wine and the farm product to make at home.
Sepe Farm Broad Hill Road
Summer is for grilling! You’ll get all your favorite chops and steaks when you order your whole or half lamb right from the farm. Visit our web site at www.sepefarm.com or call the farm directly at 203-470-4084 to place your order. You can also keep up with farm events at www.facebook.com/sepefarm, including our wool blanket project! After shearing, all of our 2014 wool is being made into blankets that will be available in late fall. It’s an amazing process, be sure to check back every now and then on our facebook page to see how it works!
Sweet Pea Cheese / House of Hayes East Street
All the goats and cows are busy enjoying our pastures! All that green goodness goes straight into their milk and into our products. Farmer Hayes is busy designing the corn maze, and Daniel is busy planting corn and baling hay. We are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Stop in or visit us in East Granby at the Farmers Market on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. www.sweetpeacheese.com
Hemlock Knoll, LLC Loomis Street
Hemlock Knoll has been very busy this Spring. Show season started the first weekend of May at Eastern States Exposition with the 4-H’ers showing at The Big East Regional Youth Beef Show. Everyone had a great time and showed very well. The piglets arrived and are growing very quickly. A veal calf came and is enjoying the fresh goat’s milk twice a day. 4-H’ers have begun working with their projects for this year’s fair: goats, swine and beef. The weekends are full of activity on the farm. We have also had born on the farm a bull calf and a heifer calf. They can sometimes be spotted in the front field! We have plenty of pork and veal for sale, contact Aimee at 860-653-6447 or gilbert-aimee@cox.net.
Lost Acres Orchard and Farm Store on Lost Acres Road
Summer, oh it is finally here. The apples and peaches are growing nicely on the trees. We are almost finished hand thinning the peaches. Many of you ask, why are you hand thinning the peaches? The answer is that the tree can only nourish a certain amount of fruit. We remove about five peaches for each one that we leave on the tree so that the one can develop into a nice sized piece of fruit. The first peaches should be ready for harvest the last week of July. We do not have pick-your-own for peaches as the trees are quite fragile. We have several varieties of peaches that ripen at different times so we usually have them available until mid-September. Our porch is open for lunch Tuesday thru Saturday from 11:30-2:30. Lighter fare and desserts on Sundays-open 12:30-5. We will be at the East Granby Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. Come and see us along with about 15 other local farmers and businesses. Please check out our daily updates on Lost Acres Facebook or send us an email to receive our weekly Orchard News.
O’Brien Nurserymen-Wells Road
The O’Brien Nurserymen have been enjoying the cool spring! The cool weather has allowed plants to flower for extended periods. The hostas have never looked better.
As we head into summer we will feature sedum and daylilies during our Open Garden Days. Have you ever seen our daylily display that we set up on our tables? They’re worth the price of admission, and of course admission is free! Visit our web site for more information and for the calendar of Garden Days: www.obrienhosta.com.
Summer at Lost Acres Vineyards is a celebration of nature. Bountiful is the perfect descriptor for this time of the year, making it an especially interesting time to visit the vines. In July, the focus in the vineyard is hedging the vines to keep the growth under control. In August, the grape clusters will begin showing signs of veraison, which is the beginning of the ripening of the fruit. Out in the vineyards we are pulling leaves off the vine. This promotes good air circulation through the vines and exposes the developing grapes to the warm sun. We are also dropping fruit to reduce yields and increase concentration in the glass.
This summer we will be hosting special food and wine pairings on Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m. In July and August, we will feature different local farms, highlighting a recipe showcasing the farm specialty paired with one of our wines. Stop by for a sample of food, wine and take home the recipe, the wine and the farm product to make at home.
Sepe Farm Broad Hill Road
Summer is for grilling! You’ll get all your favorite chops and steaks when you order your whole or half lamb right from the farm. Visit our web site at www.sepefarm.com or call the farm directly at 203-470-4084 to place your order. You can also keep up with farm events at www.facebook.com/sepefarm, including our wool blanket project! After shearing, all of our 2014 wool is being made into blankets that will be available in late fall. It’s an amazing process, be sure to check back every now and then on our facebook page to see how it works!
Sweet Pea Cheese / House of Hayes East Street
All the goats and cows are busy enjoying our pastures! All that green goodness goes straight into their milk and into our products. Farmer Hayes is busy designing the corn maze, and Daniel is busy planting corn and baling hay. We are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Stop in or visit us in East Granby at the Farmers Market on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. www.sweetpeacheese.com
Hemlock Knoll, LLC Loomis Street
Hemlock Knoll has been very busy this Spring. Show season started the first weekend of May at Eastern States Exposition with the 4-H’ers showing at The Big East Regional Youth Beef Show. Everyone had a great time and showed very well. The piglets arrived and are growing very quickly. A veal calf came and is enjoying the fresh goat’s milk twice a day. 4-H’ers have begun working with their projects for this year’s fair: goats, swine and beef. The weekends are full of activity on the farm. We have also had born on the farm a bull calf and a heifer calf. They can sometimes be spotted in the front field! We have plenty of pork and veal for sale, contact Aimee at 860-653-6447 or gilbert-aimee@cox.net.
Lost Acres Orchard and Farm Store on Lost Acres Road
Summer, oh it is finally here. The apples and peaches are growing nicely on the trees. We are almost finished hand thinning the peaches. Many of you ask, why are you hand thinning the peaches? The answer is that the tree can only nourish a certain amount of fruit. We remove about five peaches for each one that we leave on the tree so that the one can develop into a nice sized piece of fruit. The first peaches should be ready for harvest the last week of July. We do not have pick-your-own for peaches as the trees are quite fragile. We have several varieties of peaches that ripen at different times so we usually have them available until mid-September. Our porch is open for lunch Tuesday thru Saturday from 11:30-2:30. Lighter fare and desserts on Sundays-open 12:30-5. We will be at the East Granby Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. Come and see us along with about 15 other local farmers and businesses. Please check out our daily updates on Lost Acres Facebook or send us an email to receive our weekly Orchard News.
O’Brien Nurserymen-Wells Road
The O’Brien Nurserymen have been enjoying the cool spring! The cool weather has allowed plants to flower for extended periods. The hostas have never looked better.
As we head into summer we will feature sedum and daylilies during our Open Garden Days. Have you ever seen our daylily display that we set up on our tables? They’re worth the price of admission, and of course admission is free! Visit our web site for more information and for the calendar of Garden Days: www.obrienhosta.com.
The Garlic Farm Simsbury Road
June has been scape madness at the Garlic farm! Our farm stand opens for the summer on July 5. We’ll have sweet corn, squash, onions and more. We’re looking for a huge tomato and garlic year…see you at the farm! www.garlicfarmct.com
Garlic Farm store
Old Beach Farm
Old Beech Farm has some new arrivals. These happy babies are 2-3 months old. Photo by Sally Fitzpatrick