Plants! Plants! Plants!
Get a start on your garden and find a great gift for Mom. Farmer Joe O’Grady is promising a three-day event this year, timed to be sure you have no excuse to come up empty-handed for Mothers’ Day. Swing by the Holcomb Farm barn at 111 Simsbury Road, just south of the West Granby Methodist Church, for the 2021 Holcomb Farm Plant Sale, Thursday, May 6 through Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be thousands of vegetable seedlings; 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. Seedlings for dozens of cut flower varieties that are not only beautiful, but that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Herbs include parsley, basil, chives, oregano, thyme, mint and much more.
Looking ahead, the Farm Store opens for the season on June 15. This is always an exciting day at the Farm—you do not have to be a member of the Holcomb Farm CSA to come purchase Holcomb Farm veggies and other exciting products from area farms. The Farm Store will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 30.
Holcomb Farm Plant Sale
Swing by the Holcomb Farm barn for the Holcomb Farm Plant Sale, Thursday, May 6 through Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Trees! Trees! Trees!
Come visit the spectacular Holcomb Tree Trail, on the east side of Simsbury Road, across from the big old white farmhouse. The tree trail continues to evolve thanks to grants, donations and the tireless efforts of Tree Trail volunteers. This past month, 20 trees were planted, including fruit species, mulberries, dawn redwoods, tulips and oaks along with eight blueberry bushes. More shrubs will be planted along the gravel road shortly, using a $500 grant from the Connecticut Ornithological Society.
More volunteers have signed up for trail maintenance and tree trail work. In parallel, Dave Desiderato who serves on the Conservation Commission, has started an initiative for invasive species removal by the Salmon Brook bridge, which had a work party in a joint effort.
We will be adding two benches for people to relax and contemplate life in the iconic East Fields, with a view of Broad Hill. Watch for a kiosk with more trail information to be erected near the trail entrance—right where Day Street South intersects Simsbury Road. Working with the town, the Friends arranged to harvest fallen black locust trees. Seven tree trunks were delivered to a local volunteer’s sawmill, where they were milled into 4” x 4” posts for future interpretive signs.
The Holcomb Tree Trail is a public resource, owned by the town and stewarded by the Friends of Holcomb Farm, and all are welcome. A Tree Trail walk is planned with the Senior Center for May 4. And we invite all to stop by anytime!
Rain! Rain! Rain!
As this is written, a cold rain falls, but it is safe to say it is not enough. The region has been in quasi drought conditions for some time, which makes farming and tree-planting efforts doubly challenging. There is some great information on current conditions on the United States Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu
As of today, we are only “abnormally dry,” but that’s not a good sign in mid-April. So, we thought maybe if we encouraged a little community rain dancing, all our farmers and gardeners—not to mention the trees and lawns and streams and frogs—would appreciate it.
Expert resources suggest the rain dance was traditionally associated with Indigenous Americans in the southwest, but with the changing climate, perhaps it’s time that we New Englanders in the land of steady habits embrace learning new techniques.
Feathers and turquoise were often a part of the garb, representing wind and water. Early settlers are said to have paid the American Indians for their talents with valuable trade items. “The steps of the rain dance itself are quite intricate, and unlike circle dances, which are seen in many Native American ceremonies, the men and women stood in separate lines and made zigzagging patterns.
It is significant that, while many Native American rituals involved only men, or at least, were more concerned with their influence, the rain dance involved both men and women, showing the importance of rain to the entire community. This rain dance was meant to bring rain for the entire year or for a specific season.” (Source: Indians.org)
If you decide to give it a try, there are plenty of instructional sources on the web—from authentic Indigenous Peoples’ ceremonies, to #raindance on TikTok. Whether through dance or not, please join us all in giving thanks for the life-giving rains that bless us.
The Farm Store opens for the season on June 15.
You do not have to be a member of the Holcomb Farm CSA to purchase veggies and other exciting products from area farms. The Farm Store will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 30.