The Survivors ––

Local Farms Put Newtown On The Map

By Dottie Evans

Make room in the glove compartment for one more map.

The State Department of Agriculture (DOAG) has just published a very professional looking, four-color foldout map of Connecticut’s highways and byways –– with all highway exits clearly marked –– that illustrates exact locations of nearly 300 of Connecticut’s family-owned farms and farm markets offering fresh produce for sale to the public.

It would be worthwhile for Newtown residents to stop by any local nursery or farm center to obtain this map, which is offered free of charge.

And whether one decides to pick fresh raspberries at Dondero Orchards in South Glastonbury or buy fresh eggs at Shortt’s Farm and Garden Center in Sandy Hook, the outdoor experience will most likely be enjoyable and the view pastoral.

For each farm listed on the map, special business descriptions are given, such as nursery, orchard, livestock, winery, maple syrup and/or Christmas trees. Travel directions with phone numbers and hours of operation are also included.

“It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for some time,” commented State Agricultural Commissioner Shirley Ferris, who is also a Newtown resident.

She explained that production of the farm map was the brainchild of the DOAG Food Policy Council, which had been looking into ways of distributing surplus fresh produce to inner city and rural families. In the process, they had been exploring ways to help farmers make a success of their businesses, thereby preserving the state’s valuable farmland.

“We wanted to know, Will they [inner city families] be able to get potatoes and not just potato chips? Are there bus routes to supermarkets where people don’t own cars?”

It the process of answering these questions, the council became aware of the need to get residents and farmers together, and the road map, produced with the help of council partners from the Department of Transportation, was one excellent solution.

“There are a lot of fun places to visit on these farms. In this day and age, you like to know where your food is coming from, how it is processed and handled,” Ms. Ferris commented.

Eggs And Vegetables,

Pumpkins And Christmas Trees

Jim Shortt, owner of Shortt’s Farm and Garden Center in Sandy Hook sells certified organic vegetables and fresh eggs, as well as nursery stock, compost, and patio stone from Pennsylvania. He also offers water garden design consulting and raises koi for fish ponds.

 “I’ve been in this business going on ten years now and we’re doing fine. We’re just starting the busiest three months of the year. We look forward to seeing families come down to feed the fish and the chickens. The kids love it,” he said.

“We have around 100 egg-laying hens and we raise our own poultry for the eggs, which are kept in the farm store cooler,” he added.

 “We’re open seven days a week from 9 to 6,” Mr Shortt said, adding that like most of the farmers whose businesses are described in The Connecticut Farm Map, “we’re actually up a lot earlier and a lot later than that.”

The Castle Hill Farm off Route 302 at Sugar Lane is owned by Steven Paproski, a third-generation Newtown dairy farmer.

Mr Paproski was interviewed briefly from behind the controls of his backhoe as he moved rocks to a side field. This field was only one of several that motorists pass along Route 302, where Mr Paproski’s 60 to 70 dairy cows are pastured. An American flag flies from the middle of his corn field.

Although Castle Hill Farm is primarily a dairy farm, pumpkins, hay rides, pony rides, crafts, and bonfires are offered in the fall and there are cut-your-own Christmas trees in December.

“Support your local dairy farm. Buy a pumpkin,” joked Mr Paproski, who bemoans the fate of a dairy farmers trapped by price-fixing on the part of the federal government.

“Take a survey and ask how many people are making what they did 20 years ago,” he commented with wry discouragement.

 Working the land has been a longtime family enterprise and brings much satisfaction, however. He is looking forward to the fall when local residents come to follow his corn maze or pick his pumpkins.

“We’ll be open the weekend after Thanksgiving for tagging,” of Christmas trees, he added, referring to the Paproski Tree Farm, which is located off Hattertown Road just past George’s Pizza Restaurant.

Asked whether people were allowed in to visit the dairy barn, Mr Paproski replied, “Not at the present time. We have to be aware of problems with possible exposure to foot and mouth disease. Then there is the insurance issue. We can’t have people in the barns. Bee stings and other problems arise. It’s too bad, but that’s the way it is.

“There is some fun with the animals, however, during the hay rides when the cows eat the hay out from under the kids’ feet,” he said.

The Foxview Farm off Hundred Acres Road and Boggs Hill Road offers choose and cut Christmas trees and specializes in prime quality blue spruce, white spruce, and Douglas fir trees. The farm has been owned and operated by Judith and Robert Holmes for the past 15 years.

Mrs Holmes was delighted with the Connecticut Farms map and when phoned for an interview was just on her way over to the Cyrenius H. Booth library to put them out on the counter.

“It’s beautiful. They sent us a whole carton and I want people to know it’s out there,” Mrs Holmes said.

Farmer’s Market in Bethel

Although there is no public farmer’s market in Newtown, people may take a short trip down Route 6, Stony Hill Road, to the Fairfield County Extension Center and visit the Bethel Farmer’s Market.

It is open Saturday mornings beginning July 13 and offers a large variety of seasonal produce, nursery plants, fruit, and fresh eggs and baked goods.

Julie Trowbridge of the Department of Agriculture said that farms from seven area towns –– Roxbury, Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, Brookfield, Middlebury, and New Milford –– contribute to this outdoor market. Interestingly, no Bethel farmers are currently participating.

“We’ve got a wide array of produce and cut flowers and even beef is offered. I’ve noticed a couple of farms are selling figs and grapes this year,” Ms Trowbridge said.

“They don’t necessarily have a stand at home, but they want to sell their produce and we always get a good crowd,” she added.