The Farmer's Table Story
The Farmer’s Table, born seven years ago, was created by a group of friends, along with strong supporters and volunteers to celebrate our local farmers with an annual dinner. The dinner has been very successful in strengthening the connection between those who grow our food and those who benefit from it — our community — which is essential to our farmers' survival and success.
Since our first dinner at a Warren farm in 2011, farmers in New Milford, Litchfield, Washington, and Morris have hosted the annual event. As these dinners have moved from farm to farm, they have expanded the conversation and awareness among farmers and local residents of the farmers’ concerns, journey, and mission.
Since our first dinner at a Warren farm in 2011, farmers in New Milford, Litchfield, Washington, and Morris have hosted the annual event. As these dinners have moved from farm to farm, they have expanded the conversation and awareness among farmers and local residents of the farmers’ concerns, journey, and mission.
Hopkins Vineyard
Host to the 2017 Farmer's Table Dinner
Learn more about our 2017 host, Hopkins Vineyard
Photos from the 2017 Farmer's Table Dinner
Press
Our Mission
The Farmer’s Table provides an opportunity for people in our diverse community to gather together with our farmers to enjoy a meal prepared by local chefs using local ingredients. This dinner allows advocates of healthy, locally-grown produce and product to get to know the very people who make that meal possible.
What started as an informal two-way conversation over delicious seasonal food has evolved into a purposeful dialogue among farmers and their supporters. Recognizing the potential impact of this unique dialogue, Sustainable Healthy Communities has invited the Farmer’s Table to become an integral initiative in SHC’s support of area farmers.
Beginning in 2015, our goals include not only that opportunity for conversation, but also the chance to create additional programming in support of the farming community in Litchfield County.
Through our dialogue, local farmers have highlighted issues they feel are essential for their growth and survival. With our team, and funds raised by the annual dinner, we are focusing on the issues of ongoing agro-education and helping to create broader access to farmers’ produce and products by a wider group of consumers.
What started as an informal two-way conversation over delicious seasonal food has evolved into a purposeful dialogue among farmers and their supporters. Recognizing the potential impact of this unique dialogue, Sustainable Healthy Communities has invited the Farmer’s Table to become an integral initiative in SHC’s support of area farmers.
Beginning in 2015, our goals include not only that opportunity for conversation, but also the chance to create additional programming in support of the farming community in Litchfield County.
Through our dialogue, local farmers have highlighted issues they feel are essential for their growth and survival. With our team, and funds raised by the annual dinner, we are focusing on the issues of ongoing agro-education and helping to create broader access to farmers’ produce and products by a wider group of consumers.
How the funds have been used
- Local Farmers at the Table. Twenty farmers who provided the locally grown produce and product for the Farmer's Table dinner were guests at the dinner. (Farmers were paid market rate for their product. Donations from farmers are not soliticited).
- Farmer's Forum. Over 100 Litchfield County farmers attended the free January 30, 2016 Farmer's Forum at Wamogo Regional High School for a day of business skills enhancement, sharing and connecting. This day-long forum offered eight sessions that were developed from topics identified by local farmers at a gathering the prior winter. Exit surveys confirmed the subjects were relevant, sessions valued and connections important. A similar gathering is planned for winter 2018.
- Farmer's Input Dinner. Thirty two local farmers were hosted at a free working dinner in January 2017 to solicit input from them on the topics which should be covered at the January 2018 Farmer's Forum.
- CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares for Litchfield County residents who otherwise would not have access to seasonally grown produce. Ten CSA shares were purchased from 10 farms. These farms were paired with local social service agencies to receive the product. The result: fresh produce will be served as part of nearly 3500 meals to the underserved in Northwestern Connecticut.
- Interns. Funds are supporting half of the salary of two interns who are interested in agriculture as a career and will be having hands on experience at a local farm this summer.
- Cataloging Resources Available to Farmers. There is so much relevant information on-line, via webinars, grant funded study reports, FarmCredit East seminars, conferences. At the input dinner one of the biggest challenges the farmers mentioned was finding the time to sort through it all and find what is appropriate for them. We have set funds aside to begin a process of finding a way to have this information more accessible, as well as a way to let farmers know what's coming up.
