Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/author/shirley-murtha/page/13/)
The morning of Oct. 9 found a few members of the Holcomb Farm Tree Trail group planting milkweed and Joe-Pye weed on the wood-chipped bank on the left close to the entrance off Day Street. After thorough weeding, the group inserted 180 seedlings into the bank, compliments of David Desiderato and grown in one of Farmer Joe O’Grady’s greenhouses.
The Granby Land Trust, along with Granby Public Library and the Friends of Cossitt Library, sponsored a program by John Weeks, Wings Over Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, on Oct. 5 in the North Barn at Holcomb Farm.
Fifty years ago, David Bale, David Hildreth and Dennis Lobo met in the Bales’ kitchen and organized a race to be held on Earth Day that year. The year was 1971, it was the very first Earth Day, and the road race they planned started a tradition that celebrated its 50th year on Sept. 18.
The Friends of Holcomb Farm board president Bob Bystrowski opened the annual meeting on August 21 with the proclamation that the Farm has kept us all focused and stable as we head into the third calendar year of the pandemic.
A very special guest visitor attended Granby’s Open Farm Day, held on Sept. 18, courtesy of Pam Traun’s Angel Horse Rescue. Rusty, a sweet little 11-year-old mini, happily accepted the pets of children and adults alike, who were astounded to learn the little guy’s story.
The horse farm at 31 Wells Road has sprung back to life as a non-profit organization whose mission is to help traumatized individuals, such as veterans, front-line workers and the grief-stricken, to deal with their trauma. Its title, Emerald Springs Equine Services, tells you that horses are an integral part of this process, but not in the way you might be thinking.
There has always been a lot to like about Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard, what with the blueberry and apple-picking, the cider donuts, the fresh veggies, honey and a now a new chef with some very progressive ideas about breakfast and other meals, but the newest addition has added an exciting element: a great bar serving hard cider!
Having driven by the empty town-owned field across the street from Maple View Farm for 24 years, Susan Ranstead often thought how beautiful it would be if this field were filled with flowers. This year, she decided to take action to see if it would be possible.
Farmington native Brittany Gauthier wanted to experience what it would be like to work on a farm, to be directly involved with the food she ate. A history of farming on her mother’s side of the family and her early career as an educator for Whole Foods Market had given rise to this curiosity, although it took her a few years to actually get her hands in the soil.
Thanks to the success of the COVID vaccination program, things are beginning to return to normal, and one of those normal things is having Granby’s Open Farm Day!