Waldingfield Farm's CSA Program enriches Washington Community

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Posted Thursday, Feb 12, 2015

tech <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/b6d7090a321aeca0f529ab265a288b1b_L.jpg" style="width: 400px; height: 267px;"></div> <div> &nbsp; Listen to your mother- Eat your vegetables! This is a reference to the well-known admonition from parents to children reluctant to eat healthy produce. If only those families had access to the delicious variety of vegetables from the certified organic Waldingfield Farm. Their extensive CSA program is a fantastic way for families and individuals to sample succulent produce throughout the season while also helping support organic farming in our community. Selections include Asian greens, beets, eggplant, cucumber, eggplant, collards, melons (to name a few) as well as their renowned heirloom tomatoes which are the favorite of chefs, elite restaurants and foodies in the Northeast. It is also a very well run and reasonable CSA program with half shares at $450 (good for 2-3 people) and full shares at $650 (good for splits and families) It is $10 more if you purchase online. To read about the Waldingfield Farm CSA Program in more detail, click <a href="http://www.waldingfieldfarm.com/csa-program">here</a>. &nbsp; <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/fc1da7257992fc36032e11db3df7a664_XL.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 400px;"> The farm is a family run business with strong roots in the community. Our friends, Quincy Horan, is the head grower and responsible for all field management, crop planning and machinery while his brother Patrick Horan handles all marketing, sales and operations, as well as day to day farming duties. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/quincy.jpg" style="width: 260px; height: 200px;"><img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/patrick.jpg" style="width: 260px; height: 200px; float: right;"> Quincy, Patrick left to right &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; We recently had a chance to talk with Patrick about Waldingfield Farm and our community: </div> What do you love about living in Washington, CT? Our family has been in Washington since 1919 when our great grandfather, a NYC lawyer, bought the farm from a cousin as a place for his family to spend the summer and be in nature (and it was far closer than northeast Maine) What he loved most about Washington is what we love most about Washington namely its sense of community and the gorgeous rural character of the town. The term organic is often used in discussions on healthy nutrition but how does being a certified organic vegetable farm help the soil/land? The very fact that we apply no synthetic chemicals-like Roundup- in our land management means that our water table below our property (our land is the start of the Sprain Brook which feeds in the Shepaug River) is exceptionally clean. Also, by having zero chemical inputs we maintain and actually increase biodiversity on our land and within our community. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/zucchini.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 308px;"> The CSA program is beloved by many Washington residents, what does the community aspect mean to you personally? The relationship with our CSA members often starts as what it is, namely an investment in a program in return for great vegetables. But what happens is a unique bond between our investors and the farm, the connection to the source of the food often surprises the CSA members, and then the friendships start. The idea is that the impact investment, if you will, which is essentially what a CSA represents, is such a win win for the community, and in turn, for us. Are there any plans to create more products like your delicious marinara sauce? Currently we make two sauces, a crushed tomato line, as well as our Bloody Mary mix. In 2015, people should look for a salsa to be introduced in September. What is your favorite recipe from the web site and why? The fast and fresh heirloom tomato gazpacho is my favorite by far. It just tastes like summer. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/photo-12.JPG" style="width: 250px; height: 250px; margin: 5px;"> Using a blender will make this soup easy to pull off in minutes. Good for two bowls of soup, or four smaller appetizer portions. Ingredients: o 6 medium-large tomatoes, or equivalent o 2 cloves garlic o salt and pepper o 2 bell peppers o 1 avocado o 1 dried out slice of bread (optional) Put the two cloves of garlic in the blender and pulse just to break it up a bit. Cut the tomatoes into quarters or eighths and blend with the garlic until smooth (with bread if you are using it - it will thicken the soup). Add salt and pepper if you like, though the tomatoes may have enough flavor without it. Serve topped with fresh diced peppers and avocado. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/heirloom.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 308px;"> To read more about the history of Waldingfield Farm and to see the extensive vegetable menu, please click <a href="http://www.waldingfieldfarm.com/">here</a>. &nbsp;

An Exhibit of the Abstract Works of Iconic American Painter Brendan O'Connell at The Matthews Group

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Posted Thursday, Feb 5, 2015

tech <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/abstract%2B24.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 300px;"> The Matthews Group proudly announces the opening of its latest art show featuring the paintings of Brendan O&rsquo;Connell. A significant collection of the artist&rsquo;s abstract works will be shown for the first time in Washington, CT. The exhibition opened on January 31st and will continue through the spring. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/Candyaisle96x60acryliconmasonitesold.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 308px;"> Brendan O&rsquo;Connell is best known for his paintings of iconic brands and the aisles of Walmart. O&rsquo;Connell infuses these modern day environments with a magical quality that transforms both shoppers and products into art. It has been written about the artist that, &ldquo;his interests vary widely between popular culture and mystical traditions.&rdquo; His abstract work, the focus of this exhibition, makes a statement with bold palettes and strong composition. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/image009.jpg" style="width: 338px; height: 332px;"> After graduating from Emory University, O&rsquo;Connell moved to Paris to teach languages and write a novel about artists. Once there, he picked up a pencil and discovered that he had a natural affinity and talent for drawing and painting. His artistic interpretation of the contemporary shopping experience has brought him much acclaim including a visit to Comedy Central&rsquo;s, &lsquo;The Colbert Report&rsquo;. O&rsquo;Connell&rsquo;s work is collected by celebrities such as Alec Baldwin and Darrell Crate, the former chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. In 2012 he was honored with a Rubin Foundation Award. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/IMG_1076.JPG" style="width: 324px; height: 432px;"> The paintings of Brendan O&#39;Connell exhibited at The Matthews Group The abstracts in this collection are all available for sale. The individual paintings are stunning and they also make a strong statement when displayed as a group. Presently Brendan works out of a barn in rural Connecticut where he lives with his wife, landscape painter, Emily Buchanan, and their two children. To read more about the artist, click <a href="http://www.brendanoconnell.com/">here</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Steep Rock Honey Project

By
Posted Monday, Jan 19, 2015

tech <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/banner-01.jpg" style="width: 480px; height: 205px;"> The preserve is one of the treasures of the Washington area; a magical place to hike, walk a dog, ride a horse or simply appreciate nature. We are so lucky to have so many talented local volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain Steep Rock for us to enjoy. The chair of the Steep Rock Association board, our friend Kirsten Feldman, has initiated the Steep Rock Honey Project which maintains and harvests raw honey from different areas in Washington, CT. There are hives in seven locations in the Town of Washington. Each one has its own microclimate, soil and flora. These include Macricostas Preserve, Lake Waramaug, West Church Hill Road, Nichol Hills Road, Hidden Valley Preserve, Plumb Hill Road, Shearer Road and one is planned in the Steep Rock Preserve for 2016. The delicate hint of wildflower wetlands, lavender bushes and a mature linden tree are just some of the different environments that make each batch have a unique taste and aroma. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/banner-03%20(2).jpg" style="width: 480px; height: 119px;"> Just like other members of the community, Kirsten enjoys the beauty and open spaces of Steep Rock. She often rides her horse or hikes on the trails and is inspired in her commitment to preserving them for the future. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/Kirsten%20on%20Horse.jpg" style="width: 288px; height: 356px;"> We recently asked Kirsten about the Steep Rock Honey project and the first year of selling this unique raw honey: Steep Rock seems to be a very special place for you, can you explain why? Having hiked all over the world, I appreciate how fortunate we are to have Steep Rock in our back yards. With the three distinct preserves (Steep Rock, Hidden Valley and Macricostas), I can hike in the woods, along a river and up to three different pinnacles, each with spectacular views. The experience is also different in each season. I never get tired of these hikes and I never take it for granted. This was the first season of selling Steep Rock honey during the holiday period. Was it successful? Our first season was a tremendous success. Our initial supply of honey was somewhat limited and we sold out in the first two weekends of December. As our hives mature, we will have more honey to sell each holiday season. We even mailed bottles of honey to a Washingtonian living in Arizona for the winter who wanted a "taste of Steep Rock"! The project contributed over $3,000 to Steep Rock from the small 2014 vintage of honey. Also, because we harvest once per year, our honey reflects a full year of nectar from the Town of Washington. It truly is delicious! The bottling and logo are very distinctive, who came up with the creative concepts? I collaborated with Abbie Zabar, a noted author and designer. Our goal was to create packaging that was evocative of Steep Rock and the hand spun, artisanal nature of the product as well as being a special holiday gift. I believe that local honey is like fine wine and we endeavored to present it that way. What are the future plans for Steep Rock honey? We anticipate having a somewhat larger supply of honey in 2015 if all of our hives make it through the winter and we don't lose many to bears. While our plan is to sell the honey only during the holidays, honey lasts forever and it can be used for hostess gifts all year long. Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 per year for the trails and to have honey be to Steep Rock as cookies are to Girl Scouts! While we want to satisfy our local customers first, it would be most exciting if we discovered demand for our honey beyond the borders of Washington. There seemed to be great support among the local merchants, can you elaborate on that? Our retail partners supported the effort by selling the honey with no profit (retail markup) to themselves. Special thanks to <a href="http://www.jseitz.com/home.html">J. Seitz & Co.</a>, the <a href="http://www.hickorystickbookshop.com/">Hickory Stick Bookshop</a>, Nine Main and the <a href="http://communitytablect.com/">Community Table Restaurant</a>. As a result, all of the proceeds from sales went directly to Steep Rock. In addition, numerous local businesses purchased Steep Rock Honey as a local corporate gift for their clients. We have had a number of organizations ask us to accept pre orders of the 2015 vintage, which we will do.&nbsp; <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/kfhoney%20(1).jpeg" style="width: 267px; height: 356px;"> Here is a photo of Kirsten at work with the hives. We are so proud to be a part of a community with so many passionate, creative and committed individuals. It is also truly remarkable that our local stores took no mark up to ensure that 100% of the profits go directly back to fund the preserve. To read more about the Steep Rock Association, click <a href="http://www.steeprockassoc.org/">here.</a> <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/cover-photo-01%20(1).jpg" style="width: 551px; height: 204px;">

In Our Neighborhood: A Visit to Bantam, CT

By Pels Matthews
Posted Friday, Jan 2, 2015

tech <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/cinema-outside-2.jpg" style="width: 235px; height: 198px;" class="featured"> The Bantam Cinema is Connecticut&#39;s oldest continuously operated movie house. Opened in 1927 as &#39;The Rivoli&#39;, it originally showed silent movies accompanied by a Wurlitzer organ. There were several owners since that time but in 1990 it was thoroughly modernized by Lisa Hedley who also co-founded the Mayflower Spa. She started the &#39;Meet the Filmaker&#39; series in which writers, actors and directors (Mia Farrow, William Styron and Arthur Miller to name a few...) discussed their work with the audience. In 2007, Ms. Hedley sold the cinema to David Koch, Sidney Koch and Elizabeth Merz who continued the series and brought Daniel Day-Lewis, Rebecca Miller and Joan Rivers to the theater. Coming this January are three unique films:The Imitation Game, a story of war hero Alan Turing who in 1952 is arrested on charges of indecent activity; Foxcatcher which stars Steve Carell and tells of the relationship between a multi-millionare and two wrestlers and lastly, A Most Violent Year which highlights a particularly bloody period in New York City. To read more about the Bantam Cinema and for movie times, click <a href="http://www.bantamcinema.com/">here</a>. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/Wood's%20Pit%20BBQ.jpg" style="width: 324px; height: 243px;"> Before or after your visit to the cinema, a great local BBQ is right next door. Woodie, the owner of Wood&#39;s Pit BBQ, learned his culinary skills and knowledge of Mexican dishes during a long excursion in and around Arizona. He made another journey to the South including the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida to learn the magic of authentic pit BBQ and how to create the secret &#39;dry rub&#39; that is still used today. Woodie can be found in the kitchen every morning, six days a week to make sure the tradition of great cooking continues in the restaurant. Some of the local favorites include pulled pork, ribs and fajitas. The maragritas are definitely worth a try and are made frozen, up or on the rocks. To see more menu options, click <a href="http://woodspitbbq.com/">here</a>. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/indeximg.png" style="width: 480px; height: 205px;"> Another great place to visit in the town is the Bantam Bread Company. This is perfect place to purchase artisanal breads and rustic pastries made fresh every day. The shop also features many local products including honey, maple syrup, cheese, seasonal organic fruit and vegetables as well as the work of local artisans. They also carry a wonderful selection of imported and regional cheeses as well butters. You can also find unique jams and jellies, mustards, oils, vinegars, sauces, tea and coffee. For more details on what is in the store, please click <a href="http://www.bantambread.com/">here</a>. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/l.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 400px;"> A must stop in Bantam is the <a href="http://www.arethusafarm.com/">Arethusa Farm</a> Dairy Ice Cream store. All the delicious flavors are made locally on the farm with the milk from their own dairy herd. You can also buy a wide range of Arethusa cheeses to take home. Right next door is Al Tavolo, a gourmet bistro run by the owners of the Arethusa, which is the epitome of a farm to table restaurant. The roasted beef tenderloin with a farm fresh cheese crust or the roasted Amish chicken ballantine wrapped with rillette are just some of savory dinner choices on the menu. This is exquisite spot for a dinner with friends or a celebratory meal. See more Al Tavolo menu options by clicking <a href="http://arethusaaltavolo.com/">here</a>. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.com/5739/blog/70b1eb7ab9a0b0367f8b28f42c404aba_full_size.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px;"> Make it your New Year&#39;s resolution to vist Bantam, CT, one of the most charming towns in Litchfield County!

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Blog :: 2015

Waldingfield Farm's CSA Program enriches Washington Community

An Exhibit of the Abstract Works of Iconic American Painter Brendan O'Connell at The Matthews Group

The Steep Rock Honey Project

In Our Neighborhood: A Visit to Bantam, CT

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