2023: Another big year for the Friends of Holcomb Farm
You may think things are quiet at Holcomb Farm in the winter months, but you would be wrong. While the fields rest under the ice and snow, our farm crew is busy harvesting and distributing the winter crop. Farm manager Joe O’Grady, aka Farmer Joe, is planning for spring planting. The Stewardship Team continues never-ending trail maintenance efforts. Fresh Access is working with community partners to establish a plan for getting our nutritious food to people who need it in 2023. And we are all making plans for a community celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Friends of Holcomb Farm—to which you will ALL be invited.
As a reminder, the Friends of Holcomb Farm is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization whose mission is to “preserve, promote, and utilize” an authentic New England Farm: the Holcomb Farm. The Farm was bequeathed to the University of Connecticut by Tudor and Laura Holcomb in 1976, Granby assumed ownership is 1992, and the Friends were formed in 1993. Since that time, the Friends have taken the lead, on behalf of all of Granby’s residents, to make the Farm a valuable community asset.
Last year, working with the Granby Land Trust, a permanent conservation easement was placed on 277 acres of the farm’s 312 acres, which assures that the land can never be developed or subdivided. The Town will continue to own the land, and directly manage the main campus, which currently is used for camps, a preschool, educational events, weddings, and other community functions. The Friends lease the farmhouse from the Town to house its farm manager and summer crew. The Friends and Town have entered a new 15-year “lease and use” agreement, through which the Friends agreed to steward all the land, own and operate the farming programs, and provide some of the food we grow to the Senior Center and to families in need through Granby Social Services—all at no cost to taxpayers. We accomplish this through the time, talents and treasure (i.e., donations) of our members, the management of our Summer and Winter CSA programs and retail Farm Store, and by securing grants in support of the work we do.
We will be reporting to the Granby Board of Selectman about all that was accomplished in 2022, so tune in on Feb. 21 if you would like to hear more about last year. Looking ahead, here is an outline of all the things we are working on for 2023 and beyond. Please note, we are always looking for new members, supporters and volunteers, so if any of this sounds of interest to you, please reach out at info@holcombfarm.org
Down at the Farm
As a testament to what a great operation Farmer Joe runs, the whole farm crew is vacationing together this winter in a warmer place before they all return for the 2023 season.
Summer CSA shares are on sale and already going fast. Despite inflation, we held prices flat for 2023, so sign up now: holcombfarm.org/join-our-csa/
We have broken ground for a new greenhouse, as part of our goal of “growing the growing season.” Funding for the greenhouse comes from a grant, augmented by our own successful farming results.
Through the State of Connecticut Neighborhood Assistant Act (NAA) program, through which corporations that donate to qualified programs can receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit, the Friends received funding from Cigna for a new roof on the CSA barn. The roof is a precursor to adding solar panels through a “power purchase agreement,” which will let us lock in electricity costs well below market for years to come. We are very excited to add this to our sustainability efforts.
Food for others
The Fresh Access program continued to expand in 2022, and hopes to do so again in 2023, as the need continues to grow. It seems that a nonprofit that can turn $1 donation into $1.40 of food in the hands of people who need it is a winning formula.
With support from Granby’s Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard and the Thrall Family Farms, we began to add fresh fruit to some of the Fresh Access distributions and are looking to expand this effort.
The Granby Community Fund has continued to support Fresh Access as it provides fresh produce to Granby residents through the Senior Center, Social Services, and the Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen’s weekly community dinners.
Our other community partners—Wheeler Clinic, the Hispanic Health Council and the Healing Meals Community Project—also are stepping-up to help fund the food we provide to them.
Huge thanks again to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and, new this year, the Northwest Community Bank Foundation, for additional financial support for this program.
Out on the trails
With the conservation easement in place, the Stewardship Team can finally pursue its work on trail-building and management, including our award-winning Tree Trail, knowing that the land is forever preserved.
Long-range plans for further development of the Tree Trail are underway, along with exploration of other enhancements to support the trail, including access to water for irrigation up on the East Fields.
Work is progressing on a new sign at the entrance to the trail, at the intersection across from the Farmhouse.
Invasive management continues, focusing currently on cleaning out the pond in the East Fields.
The volunteer “Bridge Club” continues investigating how best to replace the bridge that provided access to the western trails. After the 2021 wash-out of the pedestrian bridge over the Salmon Brook, evidence of continuing migration of the stream, and with the brook now designated as “Wild and Scenic,” simply replacing the bridge as it was is not an option. It will get done, and it will get done right. Currently the process involves securing a scoping study from an engineering firm that will allow a clearer picture of where and what to build and what it might cost. Then, we will be seeking grants.
And all the rest
Our small but mighty board, augmented by additional volunteers, has made celebrating the success of 30 years of the Friends a priority, and we hope to welcome more and more of you to this wonderful community asset.
We are targeting the weekend of Oct. 28-29 for a fun-filled celebration with family-friendly events at the property. Planning is in the early stages, and we would love input especially from the many Granby citizens who have had involvement in this special place over the years.
We are in the process of vacating the “Friends’ Office,” which has been located at the big dairy barn at 113 Simsbury Road, as we begin to develop the CSA Barn into our new headquarters. The Town will be focusing more resources on using this space as it develops and promotes more community use of the campus.
The Neighborhood Assistance Act donation process, described above, also attracted support from State Line Oil and Eversource for the purpose of improving the energy efficiency at the Farmhouse. Thanks to both organizations for helping us to help the Town improve its assets.
The Annual Fund Drive was once again a big success. We are heartened by the confidence the people of Granby and beyond have placed in the Friends, as shown by their donations. Thank you!
We hope this laundry list of activity offers at least a hint of the passion we have for this place; even more, we hope the passion can be infectious for some of you who might be looking to become more involved in your community.
Involvement can range from taking a walk on the trails, to buying a CSA share, to becoming a member of the Friends of Holcomb Farm by donating $25 (or more) annually, to getting some real, authentic new England farm dirt under your fingernails. Join us, won’t you?