A previous Drummer article introduced readers to the Bennett family, the new owners of Lost Acres Orchard. Since acquiring the farm in April 2023, they have done a wonderful job maintaining many of its familiar aspects while introducing some new personal touches. As the Agricultural Commission began its plans for this year’s Open Farm Day, it was only natural to invite the Bennetts to continue the tradition of the orchard’s participation in the event. They enthusiastically agreed to do so.
As with all things having to do with the orchard, almost every member of the Bennett family will help out with activities that day (eldest daughter Grace will be studying abroad). Matriarch Melissa noted, “Open Farm Day is a great opportunity for our community to become acquainted with farms close to home.” There will be free tractor rides, grab-and-go lunches for taking along or for seating on the porch or under the tent in the orchard, and bags of apples for sale. Of course, there will be sweet and savory items available in the bakery, including the very popular “made from scratch” apple dumplings. The Bennetts use freshly picked Cortland apples to make these treats.
Although Open Farm Day will keep the Bennetts especially busy, there really aren’t any days that don’t involve dawn to dusk action. The two oldest Bennett daughters have been working at the orchard since they were 14. Grace, now 20, helps to make lunches during the summer season. Madeleine, now 18, enjoys customer service but also lends a talented hand to decorating the popular sugar cookies. Charlotte, 15, helps out where needed in the bakery, and Averie, 11, helps out inside the bakery and outside in the orchard.
It goes without saying that dad Greg is in charge of the “mechanics” of keeping the farm running, but, as Melissa notes, it takes all of them to pitch in for planting and weeding the gardens and harvesting the peaches and apples. She adds that of course the entire operation wouldn’t work without their amazing employees, friends and family who volunteer to help out. “When friends and family from out of town come for a visit, they know to be prepared for us to put them to work!”
Melissa admits they knew that managing the orchard would be a lot of work. The hardest part has been juggling farm life, professional life and personal life. They are very grateful for their children’s friends who help out with carpooling to various events such as sports games. “It takes a village,” she notes.
An unexpected but wonderful surprise of owning the orchard has turned out to be the many regular customers from Granby and surrounding towns with whom they have developed special relationships. For example, there is a small child who comes to visit the cats (there are five of them) a couple times a month, and the 90-year-olds who come often to have an afternoon snack and play cribbage. Some couples come to eat two or three times a week. “We are grateful to have this historic and peaceful part of Granby still available for folks to visit,” explains Melissa.
Well, it won’t be very peaceful on Open Farm Day. The Bennetts will surely be tired by 4 p.m., but they will have met a whole new group of potential customers and hopefully made some enjoyable memories. Be sure to include Lost Acres Orchard to your list of farms to visit on Sept. 14.