'Celebration of Connecticut Farms'

The 11th Annual Celebration of Connecticut Farms is Sunday, Sept. 11, noon to 4 p.m., at Jones Family Farms in Shelton.

Guests can enjoy spectacular dishes featuring ingredients from over 50 farms across the state and prepared by chefs from 24 of Connecticut’s best restaurants including Metro Bis in Simsbury, It’s Only Natural in Middletown, The Dressing Room in Westport, The Suburban in Branford, Polytechnic ON20 in Hartford, and many more.

Attendees can also enjoy wine from 10 Connecticut wineries and vineyards and beer from Connecticut breweries. Musical entertainment will be provided by the band, Bone Dry, and paintings by members of the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society will be on display and for sale.

Returning as honorary chairpersons of the celebration are Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski, WNPR's Peabody Award winner Faith Middleton, and celebrity TV chef and author Jacques Pépin.


Tickets are $150 ($75 is tax deductible) and proceeds support the work of Connecticut Farmland Trust.

"Celebrating Agriculture"

The 11th Annual Celebrating Agriculture is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, Woodstock Fairgrounds, Route 169, Woodstock Conn.

Free admission and free parking. Rain or shine.

Celebrating Agriculture started in 2001 as part of an effort to promote community education and participation in agriculture, as well as to support consumer purchasing of local farm products. Each year, the goal is to welcome more people to learn who their farm neighbors are, and how to support local agriculture to enrich and maintain the open space - the working landscape - of the quiet corner of Connecticut.

Woodstock, as the host of this event, exemplifies a town working with its agricultural industry to maintain agriculture as an integral part of both its economic and environmental future.

Volunteers are welcome.

For more information and specific tasks still needed contact Abigail Cadman, volunteer coordinator at (860) 774-8397, extension 100.

Middletown Vo-Ag Annual Plant Sale

Bright and cheery petunias.

Mothers love flowers and natural beauty, especially when held in the hands of their children, whatever their age.

The annual Mother’s Day PTA/Vo-Ag Plant and Flower sale is Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Middletown Vo-Ag Center of Middletown High School, 200 LaRosa Lane, just off Route 3 (Newfield Street).

Quality annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets will be available and make great Mother’s Day gifts.

Sponsored by the Middletown High School PTA and the teachers of the Middletown High Vocational/Agricultural program.

Annual Haddam Neck Quilt Show

The Haddam Neck Quilt Show is Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6. At Haddam Neck Congregational Church, Quarry Hill Road. Call (860) 267-2848 for details.

Native Plant Sale, Haddam Land Trust

Saturday, May 7, is the Haddam Land Trust native plant sale. New plants, old favorites, many for shade, grown in organic soil with well established roots, ready to thrive in your garden. Sale sets up on the Higganum Green at the intersection of Routes 81 and 154 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wethersfield Cornfest, Then Scarecrows

A traditional fall festival featuring hay rides, business expo, craft fair, food, games and entertainment, that's the annual Cornfest in Wethersfield, Saturday, Sept. 18.

Activities happen on Broad Street Green,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (860)721-6200 or visit www.wethersfieldchamber.com.

And mark your calendar for the 13th Annual Scarecrows Along Main Street that starts Sunday, Sept. 27.

This year a special category celebrates Wethersfield's 375th anniversary.

The event is free. For more information call (860) 721-0663.

HerbFest of Connecticut

HerbFest Connecticut is Saturday, June 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pleasantview Farms, 452 South Rd., (Route 83), Somers.

Workshops, food, plants and much more.

Admission is $10, younger than 12 or over 70, free.

'Cultivating an Organic Connecticut since 1982'

CT NOFA's 28th Annual Conference, Sustaining Connecticut: Growing Local,Eating Healthier, Living Smarter is March 6, at Manchester Community College, Manchester.

Meet people, tour the exhibits and goods for sale, talk shop, and learn plenty.

For complete details, see www.ctnofa.org.

Images are from the 2009 event.

First Annual Car-Bike-Tractor Show & Shine

The First Annual Car-Bike-Tractor Show & Shine event is sponsored by The American Legion and A.S. Labieniecs Feed & Supplies Inc. on Sunday, Sept. 13 (no raindate).

Hours are 10 a.m. to sunset at 154 Porters Pass, Berlin.

All proceeds will benefit various American Legion Post and veterans programs. Features include a 50/50 raffle, DJ, airbrush artist, and all sorts of makes and models.

For information call Vin Trigila at (860) 324-8200. (Donations for the raffle are welcome prior to the date.)