Annual Member Meeting and Pie Baking Contest
The Friends of Holcomb Farm will hold its Annual Member Meeting and Pie Baking Contest on June 9, at the CSA Barn and Farm Store, 111 Simsbury Road. The pie contest and social hour will commence at 3:30 p.m.; the meeting will be called to order at 4:30 p.m. All FOHF members are invited to enter the contest and sample the entries.
A member is a person or family that has donated at least $25 to the FOHF and/or our Fresh Access program during the past year, possibly through our Annual Appeal, or as an extra contribution when signing up for a CSA share, or other financial contributions. The Friends is a nonprofit membership association formed in 1992 to steward the town’s Holcomb Farm. Today, we do so through operating our farming programs, contributing Holcomb Farm-grown, chemical-free produce to people in need, developing and maintaining public trails throughout the 300+ acres and tackling invasive species and nurturing trees on the property. We will send an email reminder regarding the annual meeting and pie contest to all members in May. If you are not a member and would like to become one, you can do so at our website (holcombfarm.org), by email (cathy@holcombfarm.org) or by calling 860-844-8616.
CT Trails Day Hike
On Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m., we will be leading a hike at Holcomb Farm as a part of CT Trails Day. The hike is open to everyone—even well-behaved dogs on leashes—and is designed for families. This year will include a scavenger hunt up in the East Fields, where new trees have been planted as part of an emerging Tree Trail. Plan now to attend this fun event with your family.
Farm Store Improvements in Time for Store Opening
Led by volunteer-extraordinaire Ralph Eustis, we are busy finishing up the siding, bathroom and shed painting renovations at the barn. Grants, donations and considerable volunteer time have gone into major renovations over the past several years. Our hope is that the resulting improvements will increase community engagement with our Farm Store, opening this year on June 10, and open Tuesday through Saturday throughout the summer. In addition to our own produce—which you can purchase through a CSA membership or buy retail at the Farm—we carry items from about 20 other area farms, bakeries and dairies. Make it a priority to check it out this summer, and we think you will make it a weekly stop on your list of must-dos.
Plant Sale and Pop-Up Farmers Market
On Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Holcomb Farm CSA for a Plant Sale and Pop-up Farmer’s Market at the CSA Barn and Farm Store. We will have thousands of vegetable seedlings (from mostly organic seed) all grown in organic Vermont Compost soil mix in our own greenhouse. Veggie seedlings will include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, kale, spinach, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, leeks, watermelons and more.
Also for sale: seedlings for dozens of cut-flower varieties that are not only beautiful, but that attract beneficial insects and pollinators.
Herbs, such as parsley, basil, chives, oregano, thyme, mint and much more.
Medicinal herb seedlings, sold by Pleasant Valley Botanicals.
Organic seed packets from Fedco Seeds for all the crops that can’t be transplanted: carrots, radishes, peas, parsnips, turnips, greens, etc.
Beef and pork, sold by Maple View Farm.
Freshly baked sourdough bread, sold by Sweet Harvest Bakery.
Chef Prosperi Cooking Demo
Another annual favorite is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, at Lost Acres Vineyard, when the Vineyard will host the Friends and contribute a portion of the day’s proceeds to our cause. We will feature a cooking demonstration and tasting event with Chris Prosperi, owner and executive chef of the celebrated Metro Bis restaurant in Simsbury. Chef Prosperi will feature the Farm’s own asparagus, which also will be available for sale. The Vineyard will be open from 12 to 6 p.m. Chef Prosperi will arrive at 2:30 p.m. and give his demo shortly thereafter.
Holcomb Farm’s own asparagus will have center stage with Chef Prosperi’s demo.