Ridgefield's Hickories Farm Kicks Off Summer Season with 'Salute to Young Farmers' Event

Ridgefield, CT — The Hickories kicked off their summer season this past week with opening day of the Summer CSA (Community Sources Agriculture) and are gearing up for "A Salute to Young Farmers" dinner this Saturday.

The event takes place on June 18 at 6 p.m. at The Hickories, 136 Lounsbury Road, Ridgefield with Chef Phoebe Cole-Smith sharing delicious fresh-picked food for locavores in the barn after a farm tour.

The farm's summer CSA program began this week with shareholders bringing home bags and boxes of fresh-picked lettuce, scallions, Swiss chard, carrots, Kohlrabi, fresh flowers, herbs and more. CSA members also had the opportunity to hand pick fresh strawberries out in the field. Owner Dina Brewster educates not only her young farmers, but all who enter her organic sanctuary on the nitty gritty of farm life, organic produce, best practices and sustainable living.

"I love harvesting carrots because their shape reflects the rocky twists and turns of our farm's soil.  A real carrot is a sculpture of soil, unlike the dremelled little bullets in the store, and holding one is a great way to get in touch with ground under your feet."

She described opening day as follows:

"Opening day is always a flutter and I love the buzz and nervous energy as we ready the place for your arrival.  The harvest comes rolling in and the high school interns, just finishing their month of volunteer farm work, are positively giddy.  It is the pinnacle of their internship - all the hours spent transplanting and weeding - it is all worth it when we see the faces of the people we are feeding.  It is the greatest lesson you can teach them: pride in hard work and a job well done. "

The Hickories offers several opportunities to walk the farm with a farmer and talk about sustainable and organic farm design, as well as explore the vegetable, fruit, and livestock production. The tour is free for CSA members. Non-members pay $10.00. Click here for details.

Related:

Ridgefield Photo of the Day: All Natural Landscaping, Courtesy of The Hickories Farm 

Ridgefield Farm Welcomes First Baby Lamb of the Season 

Image via The Hickories