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September 30, 2014
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Vol. 5, Issue 13
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Third Annual Fall Frolic Showcases Local Agriculture
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Early season crop rows at Gresczyk Farms on Litchfield Turnpike/Route 202 in the Nepaug section of New Hartford.
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NHLT's Fall Frolic features two long tables filled with displays about local farms and other agricultural operations in our area. Thank you to these producers who also donate wonderful door prizes of their specialty products to our partygoers and some of the ingredients for our dinner menu!
The NHLT e-News will feature a spotlight on one of these farms in each edition over the next several months. Our first profile is of Gresczyk Farms. The Gresczyk Family has been very supportive of the NHLT's fundraisers by donating pumpkins, mums, potatoes, etc. We are very grateful for their generosity!Read below to learn more about the history and current operations of Gresczyk Farms.
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You are Invited to NHLT's Third Annual
Fabulous Fall Frolic
Featuring the Hot Swing and
Gypsy Jazz Music of
The Lucky Five
Saturday, October 18th
6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Ski Sundown
Harvest Dinner
(Including our famous
butternut squash lasagna
plus chicken and pulled pork
from Avon Prime Meats)
Wine and Beer
Homemade Desserts
Bonfire
Children's Activities:
Pumpkin Painting
Costume Parade
Join friends for an evening of
wonderful music and delicious food for a great cause!
Families welcome!
Advance Prices (reserve by 10/8):
$35/adults all included ($45 after 10/8))
$10/children; Under age 8/free
The music starts after dinner.
To reserve at the advance price by
10/8 or for more information, e-mail
or call 860-307-1335.
Click here for invitation/RSVP Form.
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Focus on Gresczyk Farms
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Gresczyk's has a farm stand that is open every day of the year except Christmas.
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Bernadette and Bruce Gresczyk, Sr., began farming at the current location on Litchfield Turnpike (Route 202) in Nepaug in 1984 on about 75 acres. In the early years, they focused on sweet corn and replacement heifers for dairy farmers.
When Bruce became New Hartford's First Selectman in 1992 and then Commissioner of Agriculture for Connecticut, he had less time for the Farm so Bernadette expanded the greenhouse and horticultural products. His stint as Commissioner gave Bruce, Sr., exposure to new ideas and a different vision of the family's own farm began to take shape.
In 2002, they were planting about 10 acres of vegetables including pumpkins. By 2013, they had 95+ acres under vegetable production including land they rent in Goshen, Canton and other areas of New Hartford.
The Farm is now primarily run by Bruce, Jr., whose official title is 'Head Grower', with his brother, Henry. Mom and Dad still take charge of the chickens and the retail operation at the farmstand.
(Spotlight article continued below photos)
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Lettuce and kale growing in Gresczyk's greenhouse. CSA members pick up fresh produce every week in season.
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Spotlight on Gresczyk Farms - continued below
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Left: Gresczyk's grew more than 17,000 tomato plants of 20 varieties in 2014! It is one of our community's largest employers with nearly 20 employees in season. Bruce Sr. and Bernadette preserved the farm property so that it will never be subdivided for houses and can remain an agricultural operation in perpetuity.
Above right: Many thanks to the dessert bakers for the Fall Frolic every year! If you would like to donate a dessert or help with the event, please e-mail us. Lovely gourds, pumpkins, flowers and other decorations have been donated by local Girl Scouts, Barden Farm, Moscarillo's Flower Shoppe, Blue Seal, Kozlak's and Gresczyk's.
Lower right: Local farms, sugar houses, etc. display information at previous Fall Frolics.
Spotlight on Gresczyk Farms (continued from above)
With a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business from SUNY Cobbleskill, Bruce Jr. has implemented a number of new ideas at the Farm. He has increased the number of weekly farmer's markets at which Gresczyk's sells in season. He also started a CSA in 2012 that runs from the last week in June through the first week in November. It has grown steadily and now has more than 400 members. Full or partial shares are available for weekly pick up at the Farm.
The Farm has added about 600 chickens for eggs. They also now grow some crops in the greenhouse year-round and sell at the winter market at Billings Forge in Hartford. Bruce Jr. has taken over the horticultural work formerly done by his mom. His down time is in late January and early February when he mentally relaxes by putting 4-5,000 cuttings per day in soil with the radio on and quiet all around in the greenhouse which gets to about 75 degrees. He says "New crops are a blast."
 | | Bruce Gresczyk, Jr., left with his father, Bruce Gresczyk, Sr. at the family farm last year. |
His enthusiasm was evident as he showed us how the potato separator works. They grow about eight varieties. To get a sense of the current scale of production at the Farm, they plant more than 17,000 tomato plants in 20 varieties! Gresczyk Farms is one of our community's largest employers - a testament to the continuing agricultural tradition in New Hartford. Thankfully, Bruce Sr. and Bernadette preserved the farm property through a state program so that it will never be subdivided for houses and can remain an agricultural operation in perpetuity.
Bruce is married to Amy who teaches autistic children in Canton. Her brother has worked on the Farm for more than ten years. The Farm now has a web site and a Facebook page. Bruce provides a recipe and letter about the weekly produce to CSA members every Monday. He says "I love to cook almost as much as I love to farm." This week, he will send the recipe that NHLT uses for our Fall Frolic Butternut Squash Lasagna! Come check it out on October 18th at Ski Sundown.
The farmstand at 860 Litchfield Turnpike got a makeover last year and is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The only day it is closed is Christmas. To find out more about Greszcyk Farms, their CSA and other products including a Thanksgiving CSA package, please visit www.gresczykfarms.com or just stop by to chat. You are sure to find at least one family member there!
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 New Hartford Land Trust P.O. Box 272
New Hartford, CT 06057
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