With harvest season underway, the grit and tenacity of farmers across the state, including right here in Granby, is evident. From the 2022 drought to a warm winter, unseasonal cold snaps, record rainfalls, extreme heat and wildfire smoke, farms are struggling.
Heaped on top of daily work on the farm is crop loss assessment, storm damage repair, and finding time and money to adjust to climate change realities. Granby’s farmers need our support and deserve our gratitude more now than ever before. Granby Open Farm Day is a great opportunity to show appreciation to our farmers for all they endure, produce, and represent to our community.
Granby Open Farm Day 2023 on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is a free, family-friendly interactive experience for Granby residents and those of surrounding communities.
Each participating farm will offer special demonstrations and activities for all ages throughout the day. New to the line-up this year, the Salmon Brook Historical Society will offer tours of the Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn, as well as tours of the Wilcox House and Barn on Simsbury Road, for a unique view of 19th century farmers and artisans in Granby.
Other Open Farm Day highlights will include wagon rides and apple-picking at both Lost Acres Orchard and Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard, a wildlife exhibit, farm fields tour, tree trail hike, cooking demo with Metro Bis chef Chris Prosperi at Holcomb Farm CSA, grape-pressing demonstrations and free wine samples at Lost Acres Vineyard, rescue horses and live music at Angel Horse Farm, tobacco curing and cigars at Coward Farm/Granby location, and agroforestry experts at Wilhelm Farm. Learn how to preserve fresh herbs and flowers and observe the soap making process at Lyric Hill Farm. Enjoy pony rides and live music at Maple View Farm, hosta dividing demonstrations and acres of unique plants at O’Brien Nurserymen, and a visit with the goats at Sweet Pea Cheese at the House of Hayes. Visitors can shop at a wide variety of farm stores and products.
In addition, The Friends of Granby Wildflower Meadow will be on hand at Maple View Farm to talk about the meadow and offer resources for adding natives to your own garden. Granby Horse Council will be on location at Angel Horse Rescue and Sepe Farm will be stationed at Lost Acres Vineyard offering sheep-shearing demonstrations and knitting classes.
The Granby Land Trust is a key sponsor of Open Farm Day and integral to Granby agriculture by way of its commitment to acquiring and preserving prime agricultural land for use by some of our town’s most treasured farms. Farm visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about GLT during Open Farm Day by visiting its booth at Sweet Pea Cheese at the House of Hayes or by browsing its website, GranbyLandTrust.org
The Granby Drummer and Farm Credit East are also key sponsors of Granby Open Farm Day. Contributing sponsors and friends of Granby’s farms are Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital and Horses & Hounds.
On Sept. 16, grab your Open Farm Day map and schedule of events inserted in this edition of the Drummer, go farm-hopping, and thank your farmers by supporting local farms. Information on each farm can also be found at granbyag.org and in this issue of the Drummer. For more updates on Granby’s agricultural community, follow GranbyAg on Facebook and Instagram.