A Visit to The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield, Connecticut
Whenever my busy schedule allows, I always enjoy visiting various farms and gardens - it is not only fun to see what others grow, but also very inspiring to learn how others care for their crops and practice sustainable agriculture.
Last week, I took a short drive to nearby Ridgefield, Connecticut to visit The Hickories, a small working farm set on 45 certified organic acres. Under the direction of founder and owner, Dina Brewster, The Hickories grows more than 160 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and about 100 different flowering plants. The farm also runs a three-season CSA program, raises and sells pastured meats, and hosts many events throughout the year. While there, I attended a very interesting and informative discussion led by physicist, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, and author, Dr. Vandana Shiva. Dr. Shiva spoke about biodiversity, saving our world's precious seeds and how we can all be better catalysts for change. I encourage you to visit her web site - just click on the highlighted link above - to learn more about her passionate work to protect the integrity of living resources and to promote organic farming and fair trade.
Here are some photos from my visit to The Hickories - enjoy.
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- The Hickories is located on a country road just outside the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The farm has been growing food for more than 250-years. The Brewster Family acquired the property in 1936 and has been farming the land ever since.
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- The Hickories Farm Store is open seven days a week from May through October. If you’re in the area this summer, I encourage you to stop by for fresh fruits, vegetables and other local, natural grown and homemade offerings.
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- The store carries a variety of homemade jams, jellies, maple syrups and other preserves produced by The Hickories as well as other working farms in the area.
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- This maple syrup is from Dirt Road Farm in Weston, Connecticut. Dirt Road Farm has a 350-tap stand of sugar maples, as well as honey bees and egg laying chickens. The farm also grows herbs and various vegetables and fruit. http://www.dirtroadfarm.com/
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- The Hickories designates this entire table to fresh, organic vegetables, including heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, squash and leafy greens.
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- And here is a display of homemade hats and woolens from the farm’s own flock of sheep, goats, and alpacas.
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- Just off the farm store is the entrance to the antique barn, where many events are held. Here is the beautiful breakfast buffet that was provided before the sit-down discussion with Dr. Vandana Shiva.
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- The barn is more than 200-years old – it was the perfect location for this breakfast and discussion. There were more than 25 in attendance.
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- On a separate table was this lovely arrangement of flowers also grown here at The Hickories.
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- Phoebe Cole-Smith owns Dirt Road Farm. Here she is with a box tray filled with glass containers of homemade yogurt, granola and fresh organic berries.
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- The berries were grown at The Hickories. The granola is from Dirt Road Farm, and the whole milk yogurt came from Arethusa Farm in Bantam, Connecticut – everything is organic, and home grown or home made. https://www.arethusafarm.com/
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- Nearby – homemade iced tea and lemonade.
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- Another big hit was the homemade bread from Idyllwild in Westchester, New York, which guests ate with homemade butter, and strawberry-rose petal jam from Dirt Road Farm.
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- For an entree, The Hickories served a pastured egg frittata cooked in these handsome cast iron skillets.
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- The frittata included fresh herbs, chevre, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, cippolini onions, and daylilies.
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- Here is a closer look at the fresh organic berries and granola – everything was so delicious. It is always a treat to eat wholesome, healthy and flavorful foods.
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- The Hickories owner, Dina Brewster, introduced Dr. Vandana Shiva, who is visiting the US from Delhi, India, and welcomed all the guests – a diverse group of key environmental and food advocates, young farmers, and community gardeners.
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- Pamphlets about Dr. Shiva’s background and work were available for guests to take home.
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- Dr. Shiva has spent many years campaigning for women’s rights, farmer’s rights, and saving seeds. She spoke passionately about regenerative agriculture and the benefits of not only saving seeds, but using them.
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- Here I am with Dr. Shiva – it was a very educational discussion. I was so happy to attend.
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- Pictured here are Phoebe, Chef Bill Taibe of Westport, Connecticut’s The Whelk and Kawa Ni, and Lori Cochran-Dougall, the executive director of the Westport, Connecticut Farmers Market.
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- Following the hour-long discussion, I was able to tour The Hickories’ farming grounds before heading to our New York City offices. Despite the rain showers, we all enjoyed seeing the rolling acres and working fields.
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- This is The Hickories’ corn crib. I told them I also had a corn crib at my Cantitoe Corners farm in Bedford.
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- The Hickories has one greenhouse, which is heated for seedlings, and four additional hoop houses, which are unheated for crop protection and season extension. Here is a tray of salad mix greens.
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- We saw their corn crop – look how tall their corn is!
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- We also walked through their outdoor gardens to see their developing vegetable crops. The Hickories also uses weed cloth to combat the many, many weeds that grow.
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- Here is my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, and The Hickories’ gardener, Laura Mulligan.
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- Here I am with Dina and Phoebe – it was such a pleasure to visit the farm and to learn more about Dr. Shiva’s work. The Hickories hopes to have her back again – watch their web site for future events.
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