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Hebron, CT

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Since the mid 1700's, farming has been a way of life for the Ellis family.

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Woodstock, CT

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located next to the historic Woodstock Fairgrounds in Woodstock, CT. In the past 50 years, we have expanded our herd from 40 cows to more than 1200 Holstein milking cows. The location in Connecticut's Quiet Corner suits Fairvue's cows just fine.

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Thompson CT

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Lebanon, CT

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Colchester, CT

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Savitsky Farm is a family-run farm in centrally located Colchester, CT. Farmland since the 1700s, it has been in the Savitsky family since 1953, and is now run by the 2nd & 3rd generations who took it on in 1983.

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Lebanon, CT

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Aries Crossing Sheepherding - LocalHarvest

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Aries Crossing Sheepherding is a local CSA farm in Lebanon, Connecticut. LocalHarvest helps you find local, organic, farm-fresh food near you.

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Moosup, CT

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Delicious Turkey Pies, Local all natural foods, Premium Ice Cream and our own bakery goods

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Lisbon, CT

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LISBON - June is finally here and Connecticut is eagerly awaiting local strawberries. Lisbon farmer Christopher Grant owns Grant's Berry Patch & Farm Stand, and his fields are loaded with sweet, plump treats.

As a very young man, Grant purchased eight acres from his grandmother in 1993. As a child, he'd gone berry-picking at a farm owned by his father's cousin, and the experience was such a great memory that Grant decided he'd like to try growing berries himself.

"I grew up on a dairy farm," Grant said, "and I love working outdoors, love working in the soil."

The original eight acres expanded to more than 20, and Grant grows not only strawberries, but blueberries, raspberries and vegetables. In the fall, he grows pumpkins. Grant's Berry Patch is a three-person operation: Grant, his mother, Ellie Grant, and his girlfriend, Michelle Landry.

"These are the hardest working women I've ever seen," Grant said. "Without my mother running the farm stand and Michelle handling all three farmers markets, I couldn't do what I do."

Grant also owns a landscaping business and, in the winter, cuts wood and plows snow. He's always busy doing what he loves-working outdoors.

One of the biggest draws to Grant's Berry Patch is the Pick-Your-Own programs for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and pumpkins. The strawberry fields open for picking as soon as the fruit is ripe. If the DIY approach isn't your speed, that's not a problem. The farm stand always has freshly picked produce every day, and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.

Greenhouse tomatoes are on the schedule now, as well as summer and zucchini squash, cucumbers, leaf lettuce in shades of green and red, broccoli, basil and kale. More vegetables come available late in the month, including field tomatoes and peas. Blueberries make their appearance in late June, as well, and the sweet corn at Grant's Berry Patch is well-known.

Grant is excited to be expanding into three farmers markets this year: Lebanon Farmers Market, Saturdays, June 20 through Oct. 31; Bozrah Farmers Market, Fridays, July 8 through Oct. 14; Lisbon Farmers Market, Thursdays, late June through mid-October.

For those wanting to try a hand at growing strawberries at home, Grant says the weather can be a problem.

"It can make you or break you," he said.

Lots of rain or too much watering can cause gray mold. If a late frost is predicted, plan to cover the plants. As they grow, strive for three or four crowns per plant for the best output. Once the runners start and daughter plants grow, you'll want to cut them off so the main plant can concentrate on producing bigger berries.

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MEET A FARMER: Grant's Berry Patch got its start with strawberries

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LISBON - June is finally here and Connecticut is eagerly awaiting local strawberries. Lisbon farmer Christopher Grant owns Grant's Berry Patch & Farm Stand, and his fields are loaded with sweet, plump treats.As a very young man, Grant purchased eight acres from his grandmother in 1993.

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Griswold, CT

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Thank you to all our new and long-time customers for a fantastic 2018 season! Friday, December 14, 2018 will be our last day selling trees for the season. We want to be sure we have a selection of quality trees for next year! Thanks again and MERRY CHRISTM

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Griswold, CT

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Gales Ferry, CT

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Holmberg Orchards is a fourth-generation family run farm located in the picturesque hills of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, located just minutes from Mystic, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. The orchards and wine tasting room are open seasonally to the public. The Farm Market is freshly stocked year-round with fruits and vegetables, homemade baked good and tempting specialty foods. Come discover why Holmberg Orchards is a great day-trip destination for couples and families.

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Holmberg Orchards is a fourth-generation family run farm located in the picturesque hills of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, located just minutes from Mystic, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. The orchards and wine tasting room are open seasonally to the public. The Farm Market is freshly stocked year-round with fruits and vegetables, homemade baked good and tempting specialty foods.

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Preston, CT

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North Franklin, CT

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local raw non-pasteurized wildflower honey

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Full Bloom Apiaries - Local Connecticut Honey, Bees, and Pollination Services

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Full Bloom Apiaries is a family-run apiary located in Franklin, Connecticut, owned by Alan Holmberg. We sell local, natural Connecticut honey products, bee pollen, and bees and queens, while also providing pollination services for your agricultural needs.

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North Franklin, CT

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A multi-generational farming tradition has cultivated a dedication to progress at Cushman Farms.

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Preston, CT

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Norwich CT

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A former Norwich dairy farm is producing solar energy for municipal utilities served by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC).

Ceremonies were held Wednesday at Mountain Ash Solar Farm in Norwich to mark the formal opening of Connecticut's largest solar and energy storage system. The site previously had been home to a dairy farm operated by the Stott family for seven generations.

"It is our hope that this project enjoys the same longevity as we provide thousands of Connecticut residents and businesses with clean and renewable energy for years to come," said Drew Rankin, chief executive officer of CMEEC.

There are more than 15,000 solar panels spread across the 15-acre farm. The panels are expected to produce enough electricity over the next two decades to power more than 8,400 homes for a year, according to officials with SolarCity, a California-based company that built the solar farm and will operate it.

The Mountain Ash Solar Farm has something other large scale solar arrays in Connecticut don't have: A 4.7-megawatt energy storage system that collects the electricity produced by the panels for use at a later time. The storage system can provide up to 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Joel Gordes, a West Hartford-based energy consultant, said energy storage systems "are the next big thing" in the utility business.

"Energy storage unlocks the real value of solar because it can reduce the need for peaking plants." Gordes said, referring to power plants that only run during periods of high demand for electricity. "If I was in charge of a utility, I'd be investing heavily in energy storage."

SolarCity's involvement in the energy storage hardly comes as surprise, according to Gordes. The company's chairman is Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Motors, the electric car manufacturer, which is working to make longer-lasting batteries for its vehicles.

Norwich Public Utilities will be able to bolster the renewable energy portfolio it provides to its customer with energy from the solar farm. The municipal utility's renewable energy portfolio is now at nearly 20 percent.

SolarCity is working on four other photovoltaic projects in eastern Connecticut.

One is being developed at the former Norwich landfill, where more than 8,000 solar panels will produce enough electricity to power more than 5,000 homes for a year.

The other projects are in Bozrah and two on U.S. Navy property near the submarine base in Groton.
Call Luther Turmelle at 203-680-9388.

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Former Norwich dairy farm turns into solar energy site

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A former Norwich dairy farm is producing solar energy for municipal utilities served by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC). "It is our hope that this project enjoys the same longevity as we provide thousands of Connecticut residents and businesses with clean and renewable energy for years to come," said Drew Rankin, chief executive officer of CMEEC.

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Norwich, CT

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Vinnie Malerba watches as a car with Virginia plates backs into the alley next to his farm stand and opens the trunk. "We are here for Silver Queen Corn," they say, and so it goes.

Malerba's Farm stand is a beehive of activity while we watch from the sidelines. Customers wanting their amazing corn, tomatoes so sweet you can smell them, peppers, onions, eggplant and more. The stand is packed with goodness in every corner. In addition to the produce you expect are some things you might not: pickles, relishes, jams and jellies.

Malerba is a third-generation farmer for a business that started in 1922. He took over operation of the 90acre farm (10 owned and 80 rented) in 2007 but had been the operator for 30 plus years by then. Being a farmer is hard work, but satisfying: Watching the plants grow in the fields as he rides on his tractor with his faithful friend Maddy; always keeping an eye on the weather because a dry spell, a wet spell, hurricane or other natural disaster can ruin the crops; always being in the fields picking. If you are wondering if the corn is fresh, he picks two to three times a day, so chances are the corn is only hours old.

"Farming has always been hard work, but now, paperwork and regulations make it even harder," Malerba says. "For older farmers it's almost impossible without help because all the forms are filled out online."

The Farm to Table movement sweeping across the country is making it easier for farmers such as Malerba. "People want better quality foods, he says, "less packaging, more flavors. Produce you find in the store isn't built for flavor, it is built for a longer storage life. Buying local means eating produce that has been picked that day or that week, everything is fresh and flavorful."

Buying local supports local farmers and helps them stay in business. If they stay in business the farms remain farms and the community retains open spaces. It is a win-win for the community.

Malerba has always been a wellrooted part of the community; in fact he has always lived on the same street. He believes in being a part of the farming community, serves on several boards and is the chairman of the New London County Farm Service Agency. He also donates to the community when he can and is heavily involved with 4H. "We are contributors," he says. "We want to make the community a good place." And he does, not only by growing good, healthy produce and being involved, but by providing local jobs. Malerba's provides jobs for, on average, 10 employees annually although employment fluctuates based on the growing season.

Malerba's Farm is a threeseason grower. In the spring they have an amazing selection of bedding plants, hanging plants and perennials. Walking through their crops of produce in the summer is a foodie's dream fields of green plants, squash, tomatoes, many varieties of peppers, and flowers around each corner. The summer sun warming the vines makes it smell like heaven. In the fall their selection of mums, ornamental kale, pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks will make fall decorating a breeze.

The children will never want to leave their pumpkin patch, which is complete with a corn tunnel, Halloween games, a hay maze for the wee ones, and a sandbox filled with corn.

Part of enriching the community is making a connection with children. Malerba's Farm invites classes of young children to visit to see how the farm operates and gives them the opportunity to plant their own seed to take home with them. He wants the kids to be able to see where the food they eat comes from, that it doesn't just come from the plastic container at the store. In addition Makerba's Farm participates in the Farm to School program. Farm to school helps to improve the connection children have with fresh, healthy food from local growers. Malerba will sell produce to the school for them to process and use throughout the school year. This program not only makes fresh produce available to the children, it strengthens the economy by buying from local producers and serves as a substantial business opportunity for farmers.

You can find Malerba's Farm at 634 New London Turnpike. They are open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Follow them on Facebook: facebook.com/malerbasfarm.norwichct. Call for more information (860) 887-2913.

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Vinnie Malerba watches as a car with Virginia plates backs into the alley next to his farm stand and opens the trunk. "We are here for Silver Queen Corn," they say, and so it goes.Malerba's Farm stand is a beehive of activity while we watch from the sidelines.

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Salem, CT

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Provider Farm | Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Grass-fed Beef

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Here at Provider Farm, we believe everyone should have access to good, fresh food. That's why we've worked with some friends to get our excess produce to those who can use it. We currently donate hundreds of pounds of organic produce a week to the New London Food bank.

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Franklin, CT

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Brown Paper Bag Harry's Farm - LocalHarvest

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Brown Paper Bag Harry's Farm is a local CSA farm in Franklin, Connecticut. LocalHarvest helps you find local, organic, farm-fresh food near you.