*****SAT., SEPT. 19 *****
Check back here on Saturday morning in case of inclement weather to see if event is postponed to Sun., Sept. 20
FREE FAMILY FARM TOUR, 10 am to 4 pm at six local farms.
- Begin your tour at any location. (See Map in Photo Gallery below.)
- Children of all ages can obtain a personal "Passport to Our Farms!" that will be stamped at each farm visited.
- Passports with the most stamps from the six farms on the tour will be have a chance to win a prize at "Supper in the Barn" (5 to 7 pm)
- Free souvenir gift will also be available at each farm on the tour.
FARMS INCLUDE:
- Finnegan's Farm West, 55 Upland Road, New Milford
- Happy Acres Farm, 2 Taber Road, Sherman
- Harris Hill Farm, 106 Ridge Road, New Milford
- Mayapple Hill Farm, 222 Merryall Road, New Milford
- Windswept Tree Farm, 12 Evergreen Lane, New Milford
White Silo Farm & Winery, 32 Route 37, Sherman
Plus Sunny Valley Farm, a project of the Nature Conservancy, located at 8 Sunny Valley Road, New Milford is holding their annual Open House. Stop by for a visit as well.
SCROLL DOWN TO THE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW FOR PICTURES AND MAPS!
SUPPER IN THE BARN, 5 to 7 pm at Harris Hill Farm, 106 Ridge Road, New Milford. Tickets for the barn supper are $25 for anyone over 15 and $10 for those between 5-15. Children under 5 come free. Farm animals and corn maze.
- Menu: Pulled pork, smoked barbecued chicken and local corn-on-the-cob feast with all the fixings made by the Cook House and local food advocate, Chef Kerry Gold from New Milford Hospital. Dessert will be apple crisp made with locally grown apples from Averill Farm and famous Ferris Farm ice cream. The crisps are being baked fresh by the New Milford Youth Agency, whose student interns market the produce they grow at Harris Hill Farm to local grocers.
- Proceeds Proceeds go to expand the agricultural scholarship fund for New Milford’s college-bound students who wish to pursue studies in agriculture-related fields. The fund was set up in memory of Vivian Harris, passionate, longtime advocate for farming The agricultural scholarship fund is under the auspices of the CT Community Foundation. Click here to learn more about The Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund.
***To make a tax-deductible donation directly to The Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund, administered by the CT Community Foundation, you may:
- Mail a check payable to: Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund to 106 Ridge Road, New Milford, CT 06776
- Visit: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/harris-fund.
THREE WAYS TO PURCHASE YOUR SUPPER TICKETS:
- Online: Click on the "Tickets" button to the left.
- By Mail: Mail your check, payable to: Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund to 106 Ridge Road, New Milford, CT 06776
- In-Person: Purchases tickets at Nutmeg Olive Oil Company, 25 Main Street (on the Green, next to Robertson Jeweler's), Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 4 pm.
For more information call 860-355-0000 or email [email protected].
***** WHAT WILL YOU SEE AT THE FARMS ON THE TOUR? *****
Finnegan's Farm West is a dynamic organic vegetable, herb, fruit and flower farm/CSA—with cattle and chickens. Come see what can be accomplished on a small 16-acre farm.
- Tour Highlights: Learn about organic growing practices and what the rewards and challenges are for starting a one-man farm from scratch.
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10 am, 11:30 am 1:30 pm, 3 pm
- Location: 55 Upland Road, New Milford; Telephone: (203) 496-6122
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finnegans-Farm-West
Happy Acres Farm currently raises grass-fed beef and is diversifying to include other pastured livestock, fresh produce and educational programming.
- Tour highlights: rotational grazing, farm stand, brush clearing, goats, chickens, produce, friendly dairy cows
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12.30 pm, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.30 pm
- Location: 2 Taber Road, Sherman, CT 06784; (860) 354-5856
- www.facebook.com/happyacresfarmct
Harris Hill Farm was purchased by George and Vivian Harris in 1958 as a dairy farm raising Brown Swiss cattle until 1987. The family continues to own the farm and operates a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the fall.
- Tour highlights: corn maze, farm animals, and pick-your-own pumpkin preview.
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10 am to 3 pm
- Barn Supper: pulled pork and barbecued chicken with all the fixings! 5 to 7 pm. Supper tickets must be purchased in advance.
- Location: 106 Ridge Road, New Milford
- www.facebook.com/pages/Harris-Hill-Farm/152051994833384
Mayapple Hill Farm offers grass-fed lamb and pasture-raised pork. Sheep, llama and alpaca yarns, batting, roving, sheepskins and fiber products. Natural soaps, maple syrup, pasture-raised eggs and pesticide-free vegetables.
- Tour Highlights: hands-on knitting and felting demonstrations for kids and adults. Farm animal petting area.
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: Throughout the day 10 am to 4 pm
- Location: 228 Merryall Road, New Milford, CT; (860) 799-7612
- www.facebook.com/pages/Mayapple-Hill-Farm/108228719324493
Windswept Tree Farm is a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm, which offers a wide variety of trees, wreaths and holiday gifts.
- Tour Highlights: discussion of farm operations (Christmas Trees 101!), tree planting (can be dirty!), tree shearing demonstration and tree identification.
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3 pm
- Location: 12 Evergreen Lane, New Milford (right off Route 37 on the Sherman town line). (860) 355-9907
- http://www.windswepttreefarm.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/WindsweptTreeFarm
White Silo Farm & Winery specializes in small batch fruit and grape wine production. In addition, it offers gourmet farm products and grows a variety of berries, fruits and vegetables.
- Tour Highlights: Guided outdoor tour of the farm and vineyard and indoor tour of winery. Eighth Annual Raspberry Festival featuring six dishes made with fresh raspberries ($5/$6 per plate). Live music.
- Tour and Demonstration Hours: 1 to 4 pm. Free admission to festival.
- Location: 32 Route 37, Sherman CT; 860-355-0271
- www.whitesilowinery.com
