What is a Community Farm?

• A not-for-profit, publicly accessible farm that conducts educational programming for the public.
  
• A center providing opportunities for meaningful work, learning, service and self-development.
• A local source of healthful produce, and a demonstration site for local food systems
• How can community farms serve farmland conservation purposes?
• Community farms represent a financially viable approach for managing open space.

A community farm provides partners including land trusts and municipal conservation commissions with valuable platforms to reach their constituencies and promote active public engagement with preserved land.

If maintaining open space is a liability for your organization, a community farm can turn that space into a prized asset. For more information, see the resources listed below.

• Farm Based Education in Connecticut - prepared by Dr. Kimberly Stoner, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven.
• Connecticut Community Farm Network
• Farm-Based Education Association
• CT NOFA’s Resources for Farmers webpage
• Connecticut’s Community Farms Listings

Litchfield.bz recently published a great article on the opening of the summer market this year. Click HERE to see all of the wonderful pictures!

"It was opening day Saturday at the Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market outdoor market at Center School in Litchfield. More than 15 vendors were on hand selling organic, Connecticut-grown and raised products ranging from grass-fed beef to honey and produce.

The market is in its sixth year and Kay Carroll of Litchfield is again serving as market master. Carroll also sells maple syrup made at the East Chestnut Hill Road farm she and her husband, Mark Harran, own.

Among the Litchfield vendors on the first day were the Bantam Bread Company, West Shore Seafood, Berry Ledges Apiary and Laurel Ridge Farm. March Farms of Bethlehem, Gresczyk Farms of New Harford and Newgate Farm of Granby were among the returning vendors.
 
Strawberries from Deeply Rooted Farms in Harwinton were a big seller on opening day as customers looked to take advantage of the short strawberry season. Two new vendors are Marwin Farm of New Hartford, which sells poultry, and Wild Carrot Farm of Canton, which sells produce.

The market will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. into October."

Read the full article in the Republican American by John McKenna HERE.

The Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market moved outdoors across from Center School Saturday as it began a sixth year featuring the products of mostly local growers and vendors.

More than 15 vendors were dealing their goods including market anchors Berry Ledges Apiary, Laurel Ridge Farm and Brookside Farm II, all of Litchfield; the Bantam Bread Company; March Farms of Bethlehem; and Gresczyk Farms of New Hartford.

"It's hard to believe we're into our sixth year," said Market Master Kay Carroll, who also sells maple syrup made at Brookside Farm II and fresh goat cheese. "We'll have 15 to 18 vendors every week and they are all happy to be here."

The customers are, too. Many, like Brandon and Nicole Fravel of Warren, make the market a weekly priority. The Fravels were at Saturday's opening with their children, Cade, 4, and Scarlett, 1.

"You can get everything you need," Nicole Fravel said. "Today we made sure to get here early before the strawberries were gone."