Granby Open Farm Day 2025 is September 6th.
Angel Horses Inc.
12 Knollwood Lane
The mission of Angel Horses Inc. is to provide a permanent retirement sanctuary for horses that have been teachers and healers in the therapeutic world. These special horses receive nurturing, companionship and love for the rest of their days. In addition, this past year Angel Horses Inc. partnered with other rescues to save three horses from the slaughter pipeline and provide them a permanent and peaceful home. These efforts are made possible through volunteers and generous donations. Angel Horses Inc. is also a place where humans can connect with such sensitive beings. On Open Farm Day, visitors can experience a farm tour and meet the horses, mini donkeys, goats and sheep that call the farm their home. Experience the soothing effect live flute and harp music has on the animals, plus a fun demonstration with miniature horses.
Blooms of Lost Acres
80 Lost Acres Road, North Granby
Blooms of Lost Acres is a woman-owned micro flower farm located at Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby. Founded by Gabby in 2020, Blooms partners with local businesses throughout the Hartford County region to spread happiness through beautiful flowers. Services include flower subscriptions, event decor, DIY buckets, and pick-your-own experiences. Stop by their white barn on Granby Open Farm Day to grab some locally grown flowers at the bloom bar, pick-your-own dahlias, shop exclusive merchandise, learn more about the new farm and enjoy a kid-friendly activity!
Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard
29 Bushy Hill Road
Clark Farm at Bushy Hill Orchard in Granby is one of three farms run by the Clark family. Bushy Hill is a 75-acre farm/orchard growing apples, blueberries, peaches, plums, pears, nectarines and vegetables. The farm is open seasonally, offering a farm to table café, the new Bushy Hill Cidery Pub, ice cream and a full bakery (including its famous apple cider donuts) plus pick your own apples and blueberries. The farm offers a great location for family outings and small events. There are many things to check out at the farm and farm store: sweet and hard apple cider pressed fresh from the farm, a variety of local products, and flowers from their Clark Farms location in Suffield.
On Open Farm Day you will have the opportunity to pick-your-own apples from their 17 varieties, take a wagon ride, and sample those famous homemade apple cider donuts!
Cossitt Makerspace
388 North Granby Road
The F. H. Cossitt Library has served the community since opening in 1891. The branch maintains a full-service lending library including a seasonal Seed Library in the upper level of the building and a maker space in the lower level. The Cossitt Library Branch will offer drop-in activities for adults and youth ages 8 and older from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Open Farm Day. Come by to enjoy complimentary ‘’seeds you can eat,’’ a quick maker project and have a pic taken with the Little Blue Truck on the library lawn.
Friends of Granby Wildflower Meadow
Stationed at Maple View Farm on Open Farm Day
The Friends of Granby Wildflower Meadow planted and is maintaining a native wildflower meadow. It is a welcoming habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, other pollinators and small animals that live in such meadows. The meadow is located on Salmon Brook Street (Routes 10/202) across from Maple View Farm just south of the town center. On Open Farm Day, The Friends of Granby Wildflower Meadow will be stationed at Maple View Farm to offer resources and sell packets of native wildflower seeds.
Granby Grange
212 North Granby Road
Granby Grange #5 has been an integral part of the Granby community for more than 100 years. Originally founded by and for farmers, the Grange has evolved into a vibrant public interest organization where people of all ages come together to network, build leadership skills and enjoy educational and recreational activities. It hosted its third annual Rubber Duck Race and continues to maintain a community garden, sharing the harvest with the Scouts and 4-H members. Granby Grange regularly hosts workshops, dances and a variety of fun and enriching events open to both members and the public.
As part of Open Farm Day, Granby Grange will host its annual Agricultural Fair, open to all home producers. Whether it’s homegrown vegetables, homemade crafts or baked goods, everyone is welcome to enter. Ribbons and cash premiums will be awarded to top entries in each category. Visitors can also enjoy: Teacup Auction and Bake Sale, Scavenger Hunt, Pie Eating Contest, Classic outdoor games including the Skillet Toss, Grange tours, vendors, a mum sale and more.
Granby Horse Council
Stationed at Angel Horses on Open Farm Day
The mission of the Granby Horse Council is to promote the value of horses to individuals and the community. On Granby Open Farm Day, the Granby Horse Council will be stationed at Angel Horses Inc., with an exhibit providing examples of programs about equine care and disciplines. They will also show how the club educates the public about safety and supports the community through scholarships and donations to local organizations. Visitors will also learn about the Horse Council’s activities such as the parade team, trail rides and de-spooking sessions.
Granby Land Trust
Stationed at Sweet Pea Cheese on Open Farm Day
The Granby Land Trust (GLT) works with local farmers to help them hold onto, and permanently protect their farms. In some situations, the GLT will acquire agricultural parcels to prevent them from being developed, then lease the land to local farmers at no cost. Farmland is a finite and irreplaceable natural resource. Preserving it is crucial for ensuring a stable and reliable food supply. Preserving farmland also helps us control flooding, protect wetlands and watersheds, conserve biodiversity, improve air quality and mitigate climate change. Perhaps most importantly, it helps ensure that our children will have enough land on which to grow their food. To show your support for this work, become a member of the GLT. Visit us at Sweet Pea Cheese on Open Farm Day; or the website to learn more!
Granby Native Plants
Located at Holcomb Farm CSA
GranbyInvasivePlants.weebly.com
David from Granby Native Plants has been writing the NOT WANTED column on invasive plants for the Granby Drummer since 2019. Granby Native Plants grew out of David’s work against invasives, and his goal to produce and distribute native plants at scale to replace invasives. On Open Farm Day, Granby Native Plants will be offering more than 500 perennial plants native to Granby (or very near), grown from seed and free of jumping worms—they will be in half-gallon containers for $10 or less. Take home information about the plants, such as growing conditions and the benefits to bugs, bees, beetles, birds and the rest of us. Ten percent of sales will go to the CSA in recognition of their leadership.
Plants include cardinal flower, two types of liatris, hairy wood mint, four garden-friendly varieties of goldenrod, Culver’s root, spotted bee-balm, Joe-Pye, and two varieties of spirea.
Holcomb Farm CSA
111 Simsbury Road, West Granby
Holcomb Farm is a 312-acre historic working farm that is open to the public year-round. Farmed from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s by the Holcomb family, this “jewel of Granby” is now owned by the Town of Granby and managed by the nonprofit Friends of Holcomb Farm (FOHF) for the benefit of the Granby community and beyond. The property includes extensive fields of produce, all grown without chemicals, a Farm Store that stocks a range of products from a number of local farms, 10+ miles of maintained and marked trails, and an educational arboretum (our “Tree Trail”). The farm offers both summer and winter CSA subscriptions, which are very popular.
On Open Farm Day, learn about Tools of the Trade and see our lineup of small-scale agriculture equipment in the field next to our parking lot. We will also host a Farmer, Potato Carnival Games, and a Holcomb Farm Trivia Contest.
Lost Acres Orchard
130 Lost Acres Road, North Granby
Lost Acres Orchard grows peaches and apples, along with sunflowers, raspberries, blueberries, and a variety of vegetables from the farm gardens as the seasons permit. In the later summer and fall, you can buy peaches and apples by the box/bag. The orchard’s kitchen/bakery stays open year-round selling pies along with a variety of baked goods, dinner entrees, soups, quiches, jams and more. Please visit our website, Facebook, or Instagram for the latest information and hours of operation.
On Open Farm Day, enjoy complimentary wagon rides through the orchard between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The bakery will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with pastries, pies, jams and more. Farmhouse (grab and go) lunches will be available 10:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
Lost Acres Vineyard
80 Lost Acres Road, North Granby
A former apple orchard, Lost Acres Vineyard reclaimed this land and it is now home to five acres of wine grapes. Established in 2008, Lost Acres Vineyard opened for their first wine tastings in 2011. Owners Kevin Riggott and Michelle Niedermeyer continue the Lost Acres Road long tradition of free-spirited, cider-distilling farming with the production of grape wine.
On Open Farm Day, the Lost Acres Vineyard will have free samples of their popular estate grown Clemons Spring wine. Grape pressing demonstrations with an old-style wine press will yield grape juice for sampling. Visitors can take a winemaker’s tour of the cellar to learn about the winemaking process. Food by Avon Prime Meats will be available 12 to 5 p.m. See the sport of Equestrian Vaulting up close, with a demonstration by Copper Hill Equestrian at 1:30 p.m. Sepe Farm will have sheep shearing demos, a felting activity, a wool spinning demo and knitting classes.
Sepe Farm
Stationed at Lost Acres Vineyard on Open Farm Day
Sheep shearing team—Peter and Carolyn Sepe, Erin Sepe Pirro and Jonathan Pirro—will be at the Lost Acres Vineyard to demonstrate fall sheep shearing, wool spinning and a felting craft for kids. Knitting classes will take place at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Pre-registration is required for knitting classes at morehousefarm.com/granbyag
Lyric Hill Farm
134 Hungary Road
Lyric Hill is a small family farm dedicated to sustainable growing practices and educating the public. It uses fresh milk from a herd of Alpine dairy goats and a variety of herbs and wild harvested botanicals (grown and collected on the farm) to make soaps and other eco-friendly, farm-based products. The farm store is open year-round.
Our farm store will be open all day on Open Farm Day.
Maple View Farm
192 Salmon Brook Street
Maple View Farm is a fourth-generation livestock farm on 50 beautiful acres right in the center of town. Over the years the farm has been operated as a dairy, beef production and retail meat sales. Now the farm offers comfortable and charming accommodations in the farmhouse. Walk through the flower garden, say hi to the horses and wake up to the sounds of the farm. Currently the farm grows a large garden, makes hay on their fields and operates an apiary. In addition to the farm family, two horses and a handful of chickens call Maple View Farm home. On open Farm Day, stroll the grounds, meet Farmer Kate to hear about the history of the farm and learn about bees from a full-time beekeeper in the apiary.
Michaud Family Farm
249 Granville Road
Nestled on 16 acres, Michaud Family Farm is a family-owned operation that was established in 2024. The farm operates on a 200+ year old property that was once a small dairy farm. The Michaud family has spent the last few years revamping the farm back to its formal glory as a working farm. They specialize in growing a variety of crops, including vegetables, specialty pumpkins and cut flowers with their famous U-Pick sunflower field in the summer. They will be offering U-Pick cut flowers on Open Farm Day, as well as a kid-friendly gardening activity.
O’Brien Nursery
40 Wells Road
O’Brien Nursery is known far and wide for their hosta offerings and has grown into a destination for unique shade perennials, in addition to a wide selection of conifers, special Japanese maples, and numerous dwarf ginkgo selections. On Open Farm Day, Nurseryman John O’Brien invites the community to discover the pleasure of plants and explore an impressive six acres of display gardens. Hosta dividing demonstrations will be held at 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Salmon Brook Historical Society’s Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn
208 Salmon Brook Street
salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com
The Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn was built in 1914 by Fred M. Colton and donated to the historical society by his daughters in 1976. The front part of the barn provides a view of village life in the late 1800s. It includes representations of an old meeting hall, post office, village store, dressmaker’s shop and more. The back of the barn offers a look at Granby’s agricultural past with a sampling of farm tools and machinery, items used in cider mills, grist mills, blacksmithing, maple sugaring, hog slaughtering, bee keeping, harness making, ice cutting and a large tobacco section. On Open Farm Day, visitors can tour the barn, including historic farm implements.
Salmon Brook Historical Society’s Wilcox House and Barn
143 Simsbury Road
salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com
The Captain Sadoce Wilcox House, built c.1800, and the Lyman Wilcox Barn, built c.1857, are part of the West Granby Historic District. Until 2019, when the property was purchased by the Granby Land Trust and the house and barn were given to the historical society, the property had been in the same family for six generations. For the last century, the family used the house as a summer residence, leaving much of the interior unaltered. The property provides visitors with a unique view of the life of 19th century farmers and artisans in Granby. On Open Farm Day there will be two special presentations—weavers will be operating our restored four-post loom and a hearth cooking expert will be demonstrating how foods were prepared and served.
Sweet Pea Cheese
151 East Street
Sweet Pea Cheese is a seventh-generation dairy farm run by the Hayes family. Both dairy cows and goats are milked on the farm. The milk is used to bottle and make many yummy dairy products, including soft cheese, feta, yogurt and cheese curds. On Open Farm Day you can visit the animals and sample some of the many flavors of chèvre (soft goat cheese). The farm store will be open too, so bring your cooler.
Wilhelm Farm
329 North Granby Road
Wilhelm Farm is a family-owned farm and forest. From the road, passersby see hayfields, gardens, and farm buildings, but beyond this lies an additional 35 acres of woods. Wilhelm Farm has a conservation easement on it, held by the Granby Land Trust, which preserves the land for agriculture and forestry and restricts future development. The owners, Ann Wilhelm and Bill Bentley, are the third generation of the Wilhelm Family to own and steward these resources. Ann, Bill, and their sons Russell and Rick manage the land to produce environmental services (bird and wildlife habitat, water and air quality, hydrologic control, and carbon sequestration), while sustainably producing food for the family, timber and non-timber forest products. They are investing in several agroforestry practices, including silvopasture, forest farming and living snow fence.
On Open Farm Day, enjoy self-guided tours all day of the forest and farm and guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Experts from service-providing agencies will be on site to answer questions and provide information. Points of interest include a pollinator habitat, goats at work clearing invasive plants, and beautiful, tranquil Mountain Brook.