Friends of Holcomb Farm

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Take a hike

It is fall in New England, and Granby offers some of the best open space hikes around; the Town’s own Holcomb Farm is one of them. The Friends’ Stewardship volunteers have been busy mowing the east field, maintaining walking paths, planting and labeling trees, installing eight new interpretive signs, installing new boardwalks over muddy areas, and rehabbing the South East Field. Everyone is welcome, and trail maps are easily accessible at holcombfarm.org/trail-map/.

This year, the Connecticut Tree Protective Association celebrates its 100th anniversary of the passage of a Connecticut’s Arborist Law by planting a white oak—the same species as our own Granby Oak—in every one of Connecticut’s 169 towns. Granby’s new oak was planted in Holcomb Farm’s east fields, about a five-minute walk up from the intersection of Simsbury Road and Day Street south. Be sure to check it out while you are there. To learn more about our state’s unique tree-protecting Arborist Law, visit www.ctpa.org

Photo by Eric Lukingbeal

A new boardwalk on Holcomb Farm’s red trail (Laurel Loop) is ready for both human and canine hikers looking to enjoy the fall foliage.

 

Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction support a good cause

The wet spring and warm summer has resulted in a great harvest, and one special way to share the bounty is to join the Friends for the annual Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction, Saturday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m., at Metro Bis, newly relocated to the old Ensign Mansion in Simsbury. All of the proceeds from this event go to the Fresh Access program, through which the fresh, chemical-free food grown at Holcomb Farm is provided, free of charge, to local organizations like the Senior Center and Waste-Not-Want-Not, and area institutions like Healing Meals, the Wheeler Clinic, and the Hispanic Health Council. This year we will have provided over 8,000 pounds of fresh food through Fresh Access; with a successful Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction, we hope to do even more next year.

Photo by Laura Eden

Laura Eden generously donated her original painting, Salmon Brook Autumn, to be one of the fabulous items to be auctioned at the Harvest Dinner on Nov. 9.

What do you get, beyond the satisfaction of knowing your money is helping others right in your own town and region? In addition to a fabulous meal, expertly prepared by Chef Chris Prosperi, you can bid on a wide variety of donations from local artists, businesses and individuals. Here is just a sample: 1) a Laura Eden original artwork; 2) a case of fine wines; 3) a complete Thanksgiving Dinner with all locally sourced foods; 4) a winter ski weekend at a private home in Vermont; 5) a home garden starter kit from Farmer Joe; 6) a handmade quilt; 7) a hand-knit sweater and accessories; and 8) a number of other hand-crafted items and hand-knit items. Please get your tickets now and bring a friend. Go to holcombfarm.org or call 860-844-8616 to purchase your tickets today.

Harvest Dinner will take place at Metro Bis’s beautiful new location at the Old Ensign House, 690 Hopmeadow Street (corner of Drake Hill Road) in Simsbury. Submitted photo

Chris Prosperi cooking demo

In September, Metro Bis Chef Chris Prosperi gave an amazing cooking demo in front of a packed crowd. Chris knows better than anyone what do with Holcomb Farm veggies, and he made several dishes almost entirely from what was available in the Farm Store (all he brought was olive oil, salt, homemade wine vinegar and soy sauce). Using Holcomb Farm tomatoes, eggplant, beans, herbs, peppers, onions, garlic, cabbage, scallions and hot peppers, he made incredible gazpacho, stir-fried beans, and eggplant ratatouille. He even threw in a quick demo on how to make lacto-fermented sauerkraut. The Farm Store, with an abundant harvest, remains open to the public Tuesday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., at 111 Simsbury Road. 

Local produce all winter—order today

Farmer Joe says he is making more Winter Shares available than ever before; still, we expect them to sell out quickly. Here is a sampling of the vegetables included in a 2019 winter share: orange carrots, rainbow carrots, red beets, golden beets, crushed tomatoes, potatoes, parsnips, celeriac, kohlrabi, turnips, rutabaga, black radishes, watermelon radish, daikon radishes, sweet potatoes, onions, winter squash, cabbage, kale, collards, spinach, arugula, lettuce mix, baby kale, and much more. Get your share before they are gone at holcombfarm.org or by calling 860-844-8616.

Photo by Donna Snyder

Farm Store patrons Cat Bautista and Xander Le eye the Holcomb Farm bounty.

Stay on top of Farm news

Want to stay abreast of happenings at Holcomb Farm? Follow us on social media to learn about upcoming events and keep up with what’s in season at the CSA and Farm Store. Like us on Facebook (HolcombFarm); follow the CSA on Instagram (@holcombfarmcsa), and learn about the plants and trees on the trails at the Farm on Instagram (@friendsofholcombfarm).


VOLUNTEERS

The Friends of Holcomb Farm is a volunteer organization, and we are always looking for more people interested in trail maintenance work or getting involved with special projects around the farm. We are especially interested in someone with farm equipment mechanical skills. We are also open to tax-deductible contributions of quality farming equipment. If you have something to share—time or treasure—please contact us at cathy@holcombfarm.org. Thanks!