Wrapping up the Ninth Season

Pop-up Farm Stand in the Barn

When:

Friday, November

Friday, November 9

Friday, November 16

Time: 1:30-5:30pm

Massaro Community Farm

Dairy Barn

41 Ford Road, Woodbridge

Due to the impact of rain on our fall crops, we won’t be able to hold a pre-Thanksgiving produce sale as had been planned on Saturday, November 17. However, we will have winter squash, sweet potatoes and a variety of other fall greens available for purchase each of the next three Friday afternoons at the farm. Get the last of these tasty seasonal organic veggies while they last!

Jars of crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce, green tomato salsa and farm-harvested honey will also be available for purchase.

FoodCorps Service Member Update

Our FoodCorps service member, Dan, has been spending time at Mead School in Ansonia and Irving School in Derby connecting kids to healthy food grown in school gardens and nearby farms. He recently held an infused water taste test for students and parents at Mead School’s “Back to School Bash.” The two infused flavors were cucumber mint and watermelon basil, and the kids were really excited to be able to vote for their favorite after trying both! In addition, Dan helped construct a worm bin with a class and handed the care of it over for the week, assigning a “Worm Bin Lifeguard” and getting students interested in worms and composting. Students were able to make observations with hand lenses and ask questions about the worms.

Thank you to all who attended Charlotte’s Web!

“Cast was superb. Loved the setting for the show. Great event for children of all ages!” – play attendee

Many thanks to everyone who came out to Massaro Community Farm on Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7 to hear the beloved children’s story featuring Wilbur, Charlotte, Templeton, and Fern.

In collaboration with Valley Shakespeare Festival and with a generous grant from the Valley Community Foundation, we held three sold-out performances, complete with pumpkin painting and scarecrow making! View photos from the performances and activities here.

Many thanks to JP Svendsen InsuranceKokopelli PreschoolMarrakech Inc., and Stop & Shop for their additional sponsorship support, as well as raffle prize donations from Blue Check DeliPatagonia New HavenThe Red Barn of WoodbridgeWillaWare, and Woodbridge Social.

Thank you Rotary Club of Woodbridge 

Club president Spencer Rubin presents the check to executive director Caty Poole. 

Rotary Club of Woodbridge presented a check for $500 to Massaro Community Farm at their morning meeting last week. These funds were raised during the rotary club’s annual Wine Tasting this past May.  Many thanks to Rotary Club of Woodbridge for their support of our farm-based education and food donation programs!

Farm Workshop & Events Recap

Shane Labrake demonstrating equipment maintenance

UCONN Extension Office held Tractor Safety Maintenance and Small Engine Safety & Maintenance workshops on October 13, 14 and 15 here at the farm. Each six-hour class was designed to provide a basic understanding of how small engines work, reviewing safety and proper use of machinery as well as daily care and routine maintenance procedures. Many thanks to Shane Labrake for leading the classes!

Massaro Community Farm was happy to sponsor an Ansonia Soccer Club youth team, the Rattlers, this

year!

Look for our banner on display at the field adjacent to the Ansonia Nature Center.

Programming Update:

Book Now for Fall & Spring Field Trips

Stay Tuned for Winter Adult Programming

Check out the variety of field trip offerings here, booking until November. Call the farm office (203-736-8618) or email our educational director to reserve a day for your class or group to visit the farm. Also now taking reservations for field trips beginning in April. Fees are based on a sliding scale.

Last winter, in collaboration with the Woodbridge Town Library, the farm offered a monthly series to stay connected with all of you. We came together over potlucks, watched a great documentary, shared knowledge about eating seasonally and about uncommon uses for common herbs. We are planning a similar series for the upcoming winter months. Stay tuned for an announcement on dates and topics!

 

CSA Wrap Up

Salad Mix Greens

The Final Week!

Our Harvest: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Mix or Arugula, Lettuce, Beet Greens or Chard, Baby Fennel, Radishes

Like many of you, we are sad to bid you and our tasty organic veggies farewell ’til spring.  “The frost, coupled with some cold, blustery days and leaves turning on the field edges have confirmed that we are well in to the fall season,” said Farmer Steve, “and that winter is not far off.” Before winter sets in, the staff still has much to do. We’ll be sure all of our fields are in cover crop or mulch to protect the soil, we’ll plant our garlic and cover them with leaves, we’ll plant and sow hardy greens in the remaining space available in our tunnels for winter and spring harvest, we’ll shut down irrigation, prep tools and equipment for winter storage, and continue planning for the 2019 season.

Thanks to all of you who supported our farm with your subscription. If you subscribe (in person or online) to our 2019 CSA before December 1, you get a discounted rate of $650 plus a FREE jar of our green tomato salsa!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

 

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch – December 8

Save the Date! Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch will take place on Saturday, December 8 from 12:30-2pm at the home of one of our volunteers. If you have been a volunteer at the farm this year, please RSVP to Becca via email or by phone at 203-736-1381 and we’ll send you the details.