Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/grow/friends-of-holcomb-farm/page/7/)
Born and raised in Ohio, new Friends of Holcomb Farm board member Amy Eisler moved to West Hartford in 2005 with her husband and three young daughters. Having been involved with CSAs wherever she has lived, it didn’t take her too long to discover Holcomb Farm here in Granby.
In the May 2021 Drummer, we spoke of the continuing drought conditions in our region and encouraged believers to embrace the practices of our indigenous peoples and do a rain dance. Well, that was then, and this is now.
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.
The Summer CSA sold out early this year, which is one of the reasons we need to grow more produce, but you aren’t completely out of luck. The Farm Store in the CSA Barn next to the Methodist Church, at 111 Simsbury Road, is opening for the season June 15.
Farmers are known to require skills that go well beyond planting and harvesting. Sophisticated knowledge of soil chemistry and its impact on nutrition come to mind.
Tons of volunteer time from board members Donna Snyder, Rocky Piccirillo and others, as well as some consulting support funded through a State grant, have helped the Friends of Holcomb Farm complete a Five-Year Business Plan for our farming operations at Holcomb Farm.
Being the partner of farmer Joe O’Grady, Emma Hoyt is well aware of the goings on around Holcomb Farm. Last year, in fact, the Drummer published a story about her mobile chicken coop and its productive occupants who are now laying lots of eggs and eating lots of insect pests in the growing fields.
Now entering its third year of development, the Holcomb Farm Tree Trail is really taking shape. The entrance, off Day St. South near its intersection with Simsbury Road, will soon host an information kiosk, and more interpretive signs and maps are planned.
The Friends want to acknowledge the recent passing of our friend and neighbor, Charlie Warren. Charlie and his wife were known for many things; for us, they were Santa and Mrs. Claus around the large Christmas Tree in front of the Farm, for years.
Get a start on your garden and find a great gift for Mom. Farmer Joe O’Grady is promising a three-day event this year, timed to be sure you have no excuse to come up empty-handed for Mothers’ Day.