Grown In (Or On) Connecticut Earth

Looking for food grown in (or on) the rich soils of Connecticut?

Connecticut-grown meat producers offer an online guide to finding 75 producers of livestock including poultry, beef, pork, lamb, bison, goat, and more.

Connecticut Dairy Products guide offers locations to pick up fresh milk, cream, eggnog, yogurt, specialty cheeses, ice cream, and butter.

The Apple Growers brochure lists places to visit (or call) for ordering pies or selecting fruit, gift baskets and such. Additional offerings are included in the 2009-2010 Winter Farmers' Markets.

(There's Connecticut Honey Producers or maple sugarhouses listings, too. Perfect to tuck in a jar of either for a gift to bring your hosts on a visit.)

The Specialty Food Producers showcase quality, locally produced specialty items that include beverages, condiments, appetizers, and snacks.

"Your Guide to Connecticut Farm Wineries" can provide the perfect complement to all foods.

The CT Garden and Landscape Trail brochure is a guide (by county) to track down holiday plants and fresh Christimas trees.

For more information, visit the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Web site at www.CTGrown.gov (click on “publications” at the left of the page.)

People, Exhibits, Ideas, Network At NOFA CT

That's Elaine Frost of Frostfire Farm located in Goshen, talking about Connecticut Women's Agricultural Network (CT WAgN) at the recent NOFA CT conference in Windsor.

CT WAgN is a network for women who farm, have an agriculturally-related business, or want to have one. (This includes producers of specialty goods, fiber, yarn and wool, wine, flowers, herbs, etc. Artisans, entrepreneurs, chefs, farm market participants and others are welcome to network and learn.)

Wayne Young of High Hill Orchards (located on a gorgeous farm that really is perched atop a high hill with the backdrop of Beseck Mountain in Meriden) offered sliced samples of his apples and talked about the winter CSA his farm offers. (A CSA is "community-supported agriculture" - in this case participants can choose a full share for four months worth of local organic fruits, vegetables/greens, and fresh cider . . . or just the fruit portion). For details or more information about the farm and orchard, call Young at (203) 294-0276.

Money for Connecticut Agriculture

Agriculture is a $2 billion industry in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced $1 million in matching funds to more than two dozen farms, non-profit agricultural organizations and municipalities for a variety of projects ranging from a new farmers’ market to greenhouse expansion.

Projects range from a farmers’ market in Bozrah to a solar irrigation system for an Old Lyme nursery and protection measures for shellfish beds on the shoreline.

The grants help finance on-farm improvements and fund programs that promote Connecticut agriculture. The latest round of grants – $907,055 – go to 13 agricultural producers, four non-profit agricultural organizations and 13 municipalities.

Recipients can get up to $50,000 in matching funds and have one year to complete their project. (A list of recipients and their projects is below.)

The funding for the grants is generated through a $30 fee collected by town/city clerks for the recording of all documents into municipal land records. Documents subject to this fee include deeds, mortgages, mechanics’ liens, judgment liens, notices of lease, releases of mortgages and liens, name change certificates, notices of variances, and condominium declarations.

Funding is not limited to farmers. Non-profit organizations and municipalities also are eligible for the grants if agricultural components are involved. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis and matching funds must be supplied by the applicant.

The Agricultural Viability Grants are made available through Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing and Historic Preservation. This landmark legislation provides funding for municipal open space grants, farm viability and preservation, historic preservation, and new and existing affordable housing programs, along with new infrastructure to support and promote Connecticut agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture plans to open the next grant application period in the fall of 2009.

Grant award recipients:

Beltane Farm, Lebanon, $11,400, for vat pasteurizer to increase goat cheese production

Bishop’s Orchard Winery, Guilford, $19,000, new wine filtration system

Buell’s Orchard, Eastford, $32,186, purchase of food grade fruit bins in order to meet commercial standards

CT Agricultural Education Foundation, Windsor (non-profit), $28,710, agriculture in the classroom programs and purchases

CT Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven (non-profit), $24,358, website development, to aid Connecticut farmers manage plant health problems

Eastern CT Conservation District (non-profit), $2,990, “Celebrating Agriculture” promotion and outreach

Haight-Brown Vineyard, Litchfield, $15,000, vineyard renovation

Hollywood Equine, Ellington, $49,990, horse boarding facility

House of Hayes Dairy Farm, North Granby, $7,700, an additional pasteurizer for goat cheese

Judge’s Farm, Old Lyme, $36,000, photovoltaic solar system to generate power for irrigation and perennial production

Keed’s Farm, Woodbury, $49,990, hydroponic greenhouse equipment for production of micro-greens and tomatoes

King Lobster, Branford, $10,500, construction of upwelling docks for oyster and clam production

Logee’s Greenhouse, Danielson, $49,990, four-bay gutter connected greenhouse for energy efficiency

Old Maid’s Farm, Glastonbury, $30,200, cider mill processing renovations and equipment

Roger’s Orchard, Southington, $ 48,648, plastic apple bin replacement for upgrade and bin sanitation

White Silo Farm & Winery, Sherman, $37,180, commercial kitchen to produce value-added products for farm

Wholesome Wave, Bridgeport (non-profit), $49,990, create urban markets in Bridgeport to help underserved

Total: $503,832

Municipality Grants -

Bozrah, $35,000, new farmers’ market

Haddam, $9,300, expansion and marketing of farmers’ market

Lebanon, $9,500, farmers’ market promotions and farm preservation property appraisals

Ledyard, $26,000, agricultural plan as part of town plan of conservation and development

New London, $49,000, a strategic plan for a New London region food system

New Milford, $27,000, educational program for community youth by promoting local agriculture and healthy eating habits

Southbury, $2,999, farmers’ market advertising and special events

Stratford, $9,000, establishment of construction funding strategy for commercial docks

Thompson, $46,000, development of a regional agriculture-advocate position in eastern Connecticut

Waterbury, $46,618, implementation of a community farm system

Westport, $49,990, shoreline storm-drain monitoring system for shellfish areas

Windham Region Council of Governments, $42,826, Public Act 490 update and educational outreach

Woodbridge, $49,990, establishment of community supported agriculture (CSA) and barn restoration on town-owned farm

Total: $403,223