Open Farm Day

Open Farm Day 
Visit the farms of New Hartford for a behind the scenes glimpse into life on the farm through demonstrations, tours and activities.  Each of our participating farms is offering opportunities for unique experiences.  Space may be limited for some events, pre-registration is recommended.  A signed waiver is required for each member of your party at your first farm location.  Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  YOU MUST SIGN IN AT EACH FARM LOCATION YOU VISIT.
Pick up a passport at the first location you visit and have it stamped at the registration table when you sign in at each stop.  Turn in the stamped (tear-off) entry form portion of your passport at your last farm for a chance to win Door Prizes donated by local farms.  Drawing will be held at New Hartford Day on Sunday, September 15.  Winner does not need to be present.
You may also show your passport on Saturday, September 14th to receive discounts and special promotions at a variety of local businesses.  A list of discounts will be available at the Open Farm Day locations.
Click here for a printable event map.
Click here to Pre-register to reserve your space at limited events and for faster sign-in at each location.  You may also print the waiver form here for each adult attending and bring the signed forms with you to save time at sign-in.  One adult should list the names and ages of any participants under age 18 on the back of their form.
Burdick Road Orchard – 250 Town Hill Road – 10 am – 4 pm
Burdick Road Orchard will offer free tours.  Visitors will see our 25 different varieties of apple trees, while learning how fruit is grown, picked and stored in the cooler.  Tour includes a peek in our Little Blue Bakery (where we create our artisanal pies) and our circa 1790 barn, state registered as one of the most important historic barns in Connecticut.  Tour concludes with apple and pie tasting (while supplies last!).
Connecticut Valley Winery – 1480 Litchfield Turnpike (Rte 202) – 1 pm – 4 pm
Meet the owner/vintner at Connecticut Valley Winery.  Drop in to discuss the wine making process and challenges faced by the business.
Gresczyk Farm – 860 Litchfield Turnpike (Rte 202) – 10 am – 4 pm
Gresczyk Farms will offer a Touch A Tractor activity with photo opportunities. A discount will be offered in their Farm Store to event participants.
Hayward Farm – 238 Hayward Road – 10 am – 1 pm
Tour our peach and apple orchard on a tractor drawn wagon.  Tours leave every half hour.
Jerram Winery – 535 Town Hill Road – Noon – 4 pm
Jerram Winery will conduct winery tours every hour between Noon and 4 pm and discuss winemaking techniques with visitors.  Come meet the winemaker and learn the history of Jerram Winery, now in its 21st year of operation here in New Hartford.  The Tasting Room will be open from 11 am to 5 pm for your enjoyment.
Lottaroc Farm – 21 Richards Road – 10 am – Noon
Lottaroc is a family farm specializing in garlic, mums and a wide variety of tomatoes.  They seasonally sell vegetable plants and holiday wreaths.  They will offer garlic, mum and wreath demonstrations as well as interaction with kid goats and tomato tasting.
McCarthy Farm – 270 South Road – 11 am – 1 pm
McCarthy Farm raises Hereford Beef Cattle.  Visitors will learn about nutrient management operations, challenges of rotational feeding and other feed considerations and the process of selecting the proper bull or artificial insemination to insure a safe healthy calf delivery.  Fall calves are due around September so there may be little ones to see.  Handmade country farm crafts and wreaths will be available for purchase.
The Montessori School of Greater Hartford at Millstream Farm – 741 Steele Road – 10 am – Noon or 1pm – 3 pm – Space is limited Pre-registration is required.
Millstream Farm offers a Montessori education to students in grades 7-9.  On New Hartford Open Farm Day we will show you how we use our farm environment to guide our academic program in a way that makes learning compelling, exciting and lasting.  When you visit we will introduce you to our small herd of goats, our two sheep, our chickens and our honeybees, and you will see how we use animals, as well as the land and water bodies on the property, to cultivate the students’ intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.  We’ll show you how we make goat cheese while studying the biochemical processes involved.  You’ll also see the various ways we preserve the garden harvest, through dehydration, fermentation, pickling and canning.  You’ll explore the process of dyeing wool, which is both an art and a science.  It is through this sort of place-based work and study that adolescents are able to find meaning in academics, to connect deeply to the natural world, and to blossom into joyful young adults.  Come have a look!
Open Farm Day Etiquette:

• Pets are not allowed on Open Farm Day farms.
• Please do not stray on farms; stick to designated visitor areas and exercise reasonable care regarding disclosed risks.
• Please follow all posted rules of conduct at specific operations and do not willfully remove, deface, alter or otherwise damage signs or other personal property.