Great Outdoors

​Time Travel to a Granby Farm in the 1960’s

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By Emma SmithMost people would like to be able to vividly recall both the happy times and the difficult, challenging childhood events of their lives. Grandma Moses, a famous primitive artist, began painting at age 75 and, when asked what inspired her, she stated it was scenes from her childhood on a farm in upstate New York. She even placed herself in some of the artwork she created.Susan Jones is a former Granby resident who can think back to the past a little easier than the rest of us. Her da […]

Great Outdoors

Liam O’Leary

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​By Shirley MurthaAs go the legs, so goes the horse, as any horse owner will tell you. A serious injury to a leg puts a horse’s life in the balance. To have a veterinarian who knows how to determine what the problem is, how to treat it and to do so with great compassion, is what horse owners hope for. Granby horse owners have been lucky for the past 38 years to have Dr. Liam O’Leary, whose recent retirement was felt deeply in our town, across the state and beyond.When it comes […]

Great Outdoors

Holcomb Farm’s Harvest Dinner and silent auction

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You’re invited to attend an elegant harvest meal and silent auction that celebrates the spirit of the community while helping to feed hungry families, to be held Saturday, Nov. 7, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Metro Bis Restaurant, 731 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury.Seating is limited so don’t delay purchasing tickets for this once-a-year event. Tickets are $90 per person, are not refundable and may be purchased through this secure web site: holcombfarm.org/harvest-dinner. Many exciting items continue […]

Great Outdoors

Holiday meal planning ideas from Holcomb Farm

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Ah, November, a time when many of us think of holiday celebrations with family and friends. Here are some ideas for using local sources for your holiday meals.How about a fresh, local, free-range turkey? Holcomb Farm is taking pre-orders for fresh turkeys from Ekonk Hill Farm in Moodus. Advanced orders must be received by Nov. 7. Pick up will be at Holcomb Farm on Tuesday, Nov. 24. For more information visit www.holcombfarm.org, or call 860-844-8616.What’s a holiday meal without plentiful […]

Great Outdoors

The journey from grape to glass

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by Shirley MurthaMid to late September and into early October truly is the harvest season for Lost Acres Vineyard. It is then the grapes are ripe for the picking, starting the journey that will eventually take them to the glass of wine that accompanies your dinner.photo 3 caption:The contents of the crate are turned into the crusher/destemmer, resulting in a pulpy mash.photo 4 caption: The pulpy mash is poured into the press, from which is extracted the liquid that will become, after fermentatio […]

Great Outdoors

​Open Farm Day at Holcomb Farm

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Sept. 13 gave us another successful day to celebrate farming in Granby. Holcomb Farm is grateful to the Granby Agricultural Commission for planning and executing a day where all our farms are showcased and appreciated.At Holcomb Farm CSA, visitors poured in throughout the day to tour the growing fields and learn about the Community Supported Agriculture farm share program. The Farm Store at Holcomb Farm was also popular with Open Farm Day visitors.Other Open Farm Day attractions at Holcomb Farm […]

Great Outdoors

​First Church dishes the dirt on community garden

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By Marilyn SponzoRemember the old adage: good things come to those who wait? The First Congregational Church community garden is certainly a case in point.Three years ago, a few intrepid gardeners, all members of First Church, decided to grow popcorn to distribute in the community. On a small plot generously donated by the Granby Grange, they planted their first crop—and waited. After a long, hot, dry summer only a few straggly ears emerged.Fast forward to 2015.  With an additional ye […]

Great Outdoors

​Angel Horses, Inc needs volunteers

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By Shannon LeydonDo you love working with animals? Well, you may enjoy volunteering with the Angel Horses and their friends. Angel Horses are a group of retired therapy horses that have come here for their final home. The horses currently living at the barn are Sonny, Doc, D’Artagnan, Cinder and Keeper. There are also goats (Gladys, Elvis and Buddy) donkeys (Ashley and Kiko) and a sheep named Sheepie. If they didn’t come here, they could have been sent to auction, and that outco […]

Great Outdoors

Open Farm Day 2015

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Open Farm Day 2015– Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Information is available on the website, www.granbyAG.org. Clark Farm at Bushy Hill 29 Bushy Hill Road, Granby Bushyhill.com In June of 2010 Allen and Becky Clark purchased the 75-acre orchard from Hal and Nora Law. Since then, the Clarks have continued to honor what the Law family began and now that the rehabilitation of the Apple Store and the Creamery has been completed, this farming family&rsq […]

Great Outdoors

Local girls compete in national pony event

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By Andrea Bugbee Five members of the Granby Pony Club competed in the 2015 Pony Club National Championships East held July 22–26 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. These members are: Emma Forster, 13, of Bloomfield; Teagan Lapuk, 15, of Granby; Kiera Roddy, 15, of Granby; Jenna Turrini, 16, of Southwick, Mass. and Faith Wang, 15, of Southwick, Mass. All riders in Pony Club Championships previously qualified by attaining top scores at regional rallies throughout the country. […]