Events
What’s so great about Open Farm Day?
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Lots of things! Here’s what some of the participants have to say.
Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/grow/page/41/)
Lots of things! Here’s what some of the participants have to say.
It turns out that tobacco farming in Granby is successful: During the month of August, a third tobacco barn was added to the Coward Farm on North Granby Road (formerly Dr. Davis’s cow farm). The above photo was taken during its construction.
This month I am going to share one of my favorite recipes—it’s not exactly a typical “dinner,” but if you have ever had just chips and salsa for dinner or you just want to be a hit at the next party, then this one is for you.
2021 marks the 28th year since the creation of the Friends of Holcomb Farm. Formed shortly after ownership of the property transitioned from the University of Connecticut to the Town of Granby—per the will of siblings Tudor and Laura Holcomb—the volunteer, not-for-profit Friends have stewarded the property on behalf of the town, and within the Board of Selectman-adopted “Plan of Use,” which outlined agriculture, education, arts, and passive recreation purposes.
Many of the state’s most serious invasive plants appear in home gardens as well as the open areas they rapidly dominate. Garlic mustard, multiflora rose, Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, Japanese knotweed and mugwort pop up and should be pulled by the roots when young.
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.
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.
I am so happy that the local farms are starting to open and we can once again get fresh vegetables and fruits. I love asparagus season and am always on the lookout for a new recipe that showcases this versatile veggie.