Construction progress continues
By Cat Kadrle
Anyone driving by 87 Simsbury Road in West Granby can see progress being made. The excitement of interior renovation has spilled outward, and now you can see the front entryway being transformed into a welcoming entrance, complete with a covered walkway and canopy for a gathering space. This will be a very special area for all to enjoy the peace and beauty of West Granby and to soak in the connection of community, land, and local agriculture.
Inside, the Wash and Pack, a space for harvested produce to be cleaned and readied for distribution, is nearing completion. Modern HVAC systems designed for the space have been installed, along with appropriate drainage and flooring. The loading dock for unloading harvested produce has been completed, and fresh coats of paint brighten the space as it is prepared for its next purpose. Soon, a walk-in cooler will be assembled and the Wash and Pack equipment will be installed. The installation of a dedicated Wash and Pack space will allow Holcomb Farm to serve the community and Fresh Access partners throughout the year, increasing availability of fresh, nutritious food all winter.
Not to be forgotten, the future farm store has gotten a facelift, as fresh paint is applied and energy efficient light fixtures are being installed. Previous months saw installation of energy efficient heat pumps and removal of walls for a more effective retail space. Every visit to the job site brings new excitement as we are nearing the end of renovation and construction. The Friends of Holcomb Farm and Holcomb Farm CSA and Farm Store are eagerly awaiting the day when the community can experience the space with us. Stay up to date with the progress by following the Holcomb Farm CSA Instagram account and viewing the pinned stories.
FOHF Annual Meeting is June 28 in the New Farm Store
The Friends of Holcomb Farm’s upcoming annual membership meeting will review the previous year. The purpose is to update members on operations and ongoings of the organization, review governance compliance, elect board members and review the organization’s financial health and mission progress. The annual meeting also gives members an open forum to ask questions, provide feedback and interact with each other. Friends of Holcomb Farm membership is composed of current CSA members or any donor who has contributed a minimum of $35 in the current year. This year’s annual meeting will be held on June 28 at the new Holcomb Farm CSA and Farm Store at 87 Simsbury Road. To join the Friends of Holcomb Farm, visit holcombfarm.org and look for the How To Help tab. For more information on upcoming events, look for the Events tab on our website.
News from around the Farm
By Hanna Malzenski
Spring planting
The planting season is ramping up and the farm is officially in its go-go-go mode. The crew has been busy with field chores, seeding, field prep and planting. The early crops for the farm store such as lettuce, kale, scallions, greens, fennel, fava beans have been planted, along with pick-your-own raspberries, peas and flowers, with much more in the planting pipeline. The pick-your-own strawberries and lavender have been uncovered after overwintering and soon we will be welcoming members back for their share of freshly harvested produce. If you are interested in getting your share of fresh, chemical-free holistic produce or picking it yourself, there are still a handful of full and half spots in the CSA and pick-your-own.
Biochar to boost crop productivity
One thing we will be keeping an especially close eye on this season is the productivity of the pick-your-own. Farmer Joe has applied nearly 3,000 pounds of inoculated biochar to the pick-your-own fields. Biochar is a type of enhanced charcoal that is created when organic material is slowly roasted above 930 degrees with very minimal exposure to oxygen. It is rich in carbon, highly resistant to decomposition and can last thousands of years without breaking down. It’s not a fertilizer, but rather a long-term, porous structural component added to the soil. It acts as a medium for microbes, minerals, fungi, the exchange of carbon and storage of water. On a macro-scale, it essentially “locks up” carbon for long periods of time that otherwise would’ve been broken down naturally and cycled back into the atmosphere. It’s too expensive to disperse it over the entire farm in one go, but we’ll start with the PYO fields first and over time we expect to see a big improvement.
Guys are back in town
At the end of April, the farm welcomed Kim Gayle, Mckean Thomas and Danovan Robinson back to their second home after they spent the winter with their families in Jamaica. All of them had to make repairs to their homes after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island, but their families were safe and with the help of the generous donations from the Holcomb community, they had supplies and funds to try to rebuild some sense of normalcy back home. We are so happy to welcome them back and to work side by side with them for another season—the farm crew family feels complete.
Meet the Farm Crew: Farm Store Manager Melody Smith
By Hanna Malzenski
Melody Smith’s first connection to the farm was as a CSA member in 2020 when she and her husband first moved to West Granby. Soon after signing up for the upcoming summer CSA season, Joe O’Grady sent an email to all incoming CSA members announcing a job opening in the farm store. Smith responded with enthusiasm and was a perfect fit. The following summer, she took on the farm store manager position and today she wears many additional hats including bookkeeper and occasional crew member.
Six years later, Smith is one of the key decision makers in the design of the new farm store, placing community, member and customer experience and other local farmers at the center of the vision. “I have always valued the importance of community and the feeling of being a part of something bigger than myself alongside other like-minded individuals. It feels really exciting to be a part of building a space that will allow for people to gather and make memories,” she said.
Over the years as the farm store manager, Smith has continued to foster the relationship of the farm with other fellow producers. This partnership will only continue to grow as the farm store expands. “One of my favorite parts of my farm store manager job is my interactions with other local producers and farmers who are committed to similar values that this farm has. Supporting them and having a space to support them year-round is very exciting”.
Although a big change is happening to the physical location of the farm store, there are some aspects of the farm store and CSA membership experience for Smith that won’t change. “I love our CSA members and customers. I love hearing their stories, watching their families grow, and getting to know them on a personal level. It’s an honor to know that they trust us to feed their families.”
Originally from Ellington, Smith’s love for local agriculture has always been evident—from her childhood participation in the Tolland County 4-H program to her personal home gardens to her support for New England agriculture. She graduated from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and has always had a passion for healthy food and a nourishing diet. When Smith is not on the farm, she is running, walking, spending time outside, reading, gardening, hanging out with friends and family and going to the local YMCA.
Coming events
Connecticut Trails Day is Saturday, June 6. Join us for a leisurely 2.5-mile hike along mowed meadow paths that wind through open fields at the Holcomb Tree Trail and on our woodland trails. This hike will have panoramic views of surrounding hills and feature many of our native trees and interpretive signs. The hiking pace will be well suited for children (who will receive a small prize). Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. Hike is 10 a.m.–12 p.m., rain date is June 7, same times.
America 250 State Tree Scavenger Hunt will be June 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday, we are having a state tree scavenger hunt activity, great for all ages. We have marked the state trees of the original 13 colonies with a special America 250 tag. Using our map handout, try to find all 13 marked trees. Kids who can find all 13 will receive a free Betsy Ross flag. The scavenger hunt event kicks off at the main Holcomb Farm campus. If you cannot make it to the event, the map will be available at Granby Public Library, the Holcomb Farm CSA and Farm Store, and on our website. Kids can present a completed map at the library or farm store to receive a flag (while supplies last).