October News
As mythical Persephone packs her bags, the farm is getting ready for another New England quiet season. But with all the hubbub around the fields and barns, it is apparent the autumn task list remains long. Things are far from quiet now. We are plowing under summer crops, seeding winter cold frames and cover crops, and repairing fencing. The highlight of the month, our Hayride and Harvest weekends start in a few days: the pumpkin patch is ready, the haywagon is greased and hitched, and the pigs, turkeys, and chickens are rehearsing like mad. We have had another eventful summer decorated with new friends, volunteers, and CSA members, all bound together by good, nourishing food.
Amid difficult times, we are lucky enough to see (and taste) some heartening signs of renewal. Enthusiasm for local seasonal eating continues to delight us. This season our crops have come to tables in some new and delicious ways. Ross’ Bread, a new bakery in Ridgefield, made local seasonal zucchini focaccia with our squash and scallions. Red Ban Bakery made asparagus and goat cheese tarts with our asparagus and goat cheese from our friends at Rainbeau Ridge in Bedford. CSA members took to the challenge of their weekly shares, and we got to sample some of their recipes: peach preserves, dill pickled beans, ratatouille, kale and potato soup, strawberry shortcakes, arugula pesto and on and on and on. We hear about other farms taking flight, too: our friend Chris Cassielo has left New Pond Farm and has now turned his forward thinking dairy expertise to Arethusa Farm in Litchfield and Ancona’s Market is carrying Arethusa Farm milk (local milk!) here in Ridgefield along with our vegetables and eggs. The best way to create and preserve local farms is to eat and enjoy local food. One person told us of a CSA party in which she challenged herself to serve only food grown at The Hickories.
And now to announce:
HARVEST WEEKENDS START THIS WEEKEND: Hayrides, the Pumpkin Patch, and a Pick Your Own organic vegetable garden (new this year) open this weekend here at the farm. The patch will be open 10am-6pm every Saturday and Sunday (and also Columbus Day) in October. Come pick your favorite jack-o-lantern, and enjoy a cup of cider and a autumn hayride to see what is happening on the farm: pigs, chickens, heritage breed turkeys and more! New this year is a vegetable garden in which families can explore and sample some of our fall crops. Try your hand as a farmer, and harvest your own peppers, lettuce, broccoli, kale, and even kohlrabi. It is a great way to connect children with the magic of a farm – and a fool proof way of getting them to eat their veggies! Join us in helping get the word out about our harvest weekends. We rely on our farm grapevine network to publicize the event. See you at the farm for our Harvest Weekends!
Best, Dina and Rob
