Massaro Farm

The first annual meeting of the Massaro Community Farm (MCF) was held on Sunday, March 28th at 1:30pm at The First Church of Christ Parish Hall, at 5 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, CT 06525.

More than 70 members and supporters attended.  Those who attended the meeting heard about the Massaro family and history of their farm. They also met the MCF board members and our farm manager, Steve Munno.

To all who went to the meeting, we would like to say “Thank You” for attending.

Farmhouse update:

Work on the house continues with Steve Buda volunteering as its general contractor.  Materials and subcontracting work are being financed with a $100,000 loan backed by the MCF board members.  The MCF is counting on donations to help pay back that loan.

Call for help:

A wish list for donations and a sign-up sheet for volunteers was circulated at the meeting.  We ask all members of the CSA and supporters of the farm, to make a donation, large or small, to help in this effort (see list below).  Donors of $5000 or more will be recognized on a plaque in the dairy barn.

All donations to the Massaro Community Farm are tax deductible. To donate or join, visit the membership page.

Volunteers needed for:

- General farm work: planting, harvesting, weeding, washing produce

- Harvest Mornings (Tuesday and/or Friday mornings 9-12): Pick and wash produce

- CSA distribution (Tuesday and/or Friday afternoons 1:30 to 4 & 4 to 6:30): Stock produce, help members with pick with produce pick-up

- Property clean-up: Trash pick-up, brush clean up

- Carpentry and welding: As needed

- Special projects: Refurbishing milking stanchions and manure bucket in the barn, mowing, weed wacking.

Donations sought:

- Farm and garden supplies: Metal rakes, leaf rakes, wheel barrows, shovels (pointed and flat head), pitchforks, hoes, trowels, sand bags, hoses, sprinklers, landscape fabric, mower, weed whacker, etc.

- Office supplies: Computer, desk, printer/fax/copy/scanner, office chair, file cabinet, phone, binders, folders, etc.

- House: Gas stove, dishwasher, furniture

- Supplies: 5-gallon buckets, blackboard and chalk, whiteboard and markers, fuel cans, electrical tape

- Tools (hand and power): Hammers, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.

If you’re able to volunteer or donate goods or money, please email the MCF at donate@massarofarm.org.

The first Annual Meeting of the Massaro Community Farm is

Sunday, March 28th at 1:30pm
The First Church of Christ Parish Hall
5 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, CT 06525

This is the best way to learn more about the farm. Hear reports directly from our committees and meet the board members with a special guest speaker; our farmer, Steve Munno.

Light refreshments will be served, courtesy of the board of directors.

If you’re able to attend, please RSVP to our board member Suzanne Rosenberg, suzamy@gmail.com

The CSA would like us to let you know they’ve reached their subscription limit for 2010. For more information visit their web site www.MassaroFarmCSA.org

A supporter of the Massaro Farm recounts fond memories for us of how it used to be growing up around the farm:

“… I remember Tony sending us kids to the back line to bring up the cows (with only a stick and directions about what to yell) for milking at the end of the day. He would have us help in hooking up the cows, the collection tank process, scraping down the stalls, etc. and encouraged us to groom the cows (as well as delivering me a squirt in the face). Tony never let us near the bull, and was remarkably fond of the multitude of stray cats who lived in the garage.

He treated us with a lot of respect and without supervision even though some of us were very young.  Likewise, he would send us off to collect and weigh eggs for him and explained the coop rotation but never asked that we round up the hens on their last day.  I suspect he had the older ones in the neighborhood assist at those times.  As well, I think the older boys may have helped out with hay.  I can remember having freedom to roam the property (particularly the frog pond), help out if we wanted or not, and never seemed to become angry or intolerant.

In fact, the farm was always my first stop on Halloween because they gave good stuff out.  Mrs.  Massaro was patient and kind just like her sons while she was alive and I remember how much my mother enjoyed speaking about her.  Her grape vines and roses were off limits.  There had to be dozens and dozens of different kids from all over the hilltop that spent time at the farm who maybe, like me, look back fondly at this time as a rarity never to be repeated by their own children. “