Massaro Community Farm

Winter Events

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:37:17 +0000

Escape the winter doldrums and check out these upcoming events:

Bluebird Program and House Building
Saturday, February 25, 2012, 10:30am – noon
Kellogg Nature Center

Find your way to the Kellogg Nature Center on February 25 to learn more about bluebird conservation, build your own bluebird box, and to meet Commissioner Daniel Esty from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Conservation.

This program from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon is co-sponsored by the Naugatuck Valley Adubon Society to bring awareness about environmental conservation actions and ways families can become involved in helping to protect the survival of bluebirds.

Bluebird monitor and photopgrapher Michael Amodio will present a natural history of bluebirds and there will also be a walk hosted by avian specialist Corrie Folsum to see birds and other wildlife in this beautiful area of Derby which is quite close to Woodbridge. Kellogg Environmental Center is at 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby.

For information, directions, and to register, visit this web site or phone the center at 203 734-2513.

CT Beekeepers – Bee School
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 9am – 4pm
Jones Auditorium, CT Experiment Station

Beginners and experienced beekeeper come together for a day-long event presented by the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. Pre-Registration is required and seats can fill up fast. Visit CTBees.com and complete their registration form.

And, coming soon, our hands-on beekeeping workshops at the Massaro Farm begin for 2012.

Special Screening: Journey of the Universe

melissa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:03:59 +0000

See the new PBS special Journey of the Universe: “An Epic Story of Cosmic, Earth, and Human Transformation” up close and personal on January 22, 2012 at the Jewish Community Center with special guests executive producers and Woodbridge residents Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim!!

Join us for a special film screening of the film JOURNEY OF THE UNIVERSE, along with a panel discussion and wine and cheese to benefit the Massaro Community Farm.

After the screening, join Mary Evelyn and John to discuss how we can move towards a sustainable future for all species — and how Massaro Community Farm fits into this story. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim are Yale professors and belong to Massaro Community Farm and its CSA.

Suggested Contributions: Massaro members $10; non-members $15; students $5; under 15 and over 75 free.

To view the trailer go to: www.journeyoftheuniverse.org

This event takes place at : Jewish Community Center, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge CT 06525

MCF Farm Fresh Food Donation Program 2011

melissa — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:28:09 +0000

Volunteers from the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry in New Haven enjoy radishes from Massaro Community Farm!

Despite the fact that this was a tough year weather-wise for Massaro Community Farm [don't forget the long cold spring, intense heat in early summer, hail storm in July and the blizzard in October!] we were still able to hit our goal of donating 10% of our produce to local hunger relief organizations! Our Farm Fresh Produce Donation Program was a great success — the total amount of produce donated was 2,260 pounds! Over a 22-week growing season, that’s an average of 102 pounds per week. Our food donation partners this year are: Birmingham Group Health Services in Ansonia, Jewish Family Services of New Haven [via the Connecticut FoodBank], Woodbridge Senior Center Services and Columbus House in New Haven. All were very happy with the program and are looking forward to next year’s bounty. Sandy Hagan, Food Pantry Manager for Jewish Family Services, says that the “majority of our clients visit many pantries every week plus they are on food stamps and still cannot make ends meet. This program helps to fill in the gaps.” We are thankful we can give back to the community in this way. To help support us in our food donation efforts, click on the Donate Now link or become a Member, click here for more information.

Welcome to our Yale SOM Board Fellows

melissa — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:37:40 +0000

We’d like to welcome our three new Yale School of Management students who have recently joined our team through SOM’s Board Fellows Program to work with us through the end of the school year! The mission of Yale SOM Non-profit Board Fellows Club is to provide students a leadership experience in the local non-profit community while leveraging their skills to help their partner organizations succeed. Our three Board Fellows Participants are: Anthony Ramirez, s former Education Pioneers Summer Fellow at Harvard University who has a background in strategic business development; Darcy A. Shiber-Knowles, who worked previously for the National Parks Conservation Association and assisted with a clean water & sanitation project in Ghana as a member of Columbia University Engineers Without Borders; and Sue Anderbois, who studied Environmental Studies at Dartmouth and helped develop and implement strategy for $4-6 million annual budget at the Energy Foundation in San Francisco. Sue also was a volunteer coordinator at a farm in Los Altos, California!

Realtors Visit the Farm

melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:32:27 +0000

In keeping with our goal to promote awareness about Massaro Community Farm, Board members Cathy Wick and Suzanne Werth recently hosted a coffee and doughnut reception for real estate agents who work in the town of Woodbridge. The purpose of this event was to educate the realtors on the many benefits of having our wonderful farm and CSA program nearby so that realtors can use it as a selling point for new families moving into our area. We believe newcomers will appreciate knowing about a local thriving farm and will see Massaro Farm for the gem that it is.

Suzanne Werth says the event was a great success. “The realtors had many questions and seemed truly interested in our mission,” says Suzanne. “Many did not know much about the farm at all, so there was obvious value in educating this particular group. Some expressed interest in joining the CSA themselves, and one is even interested in volunteering at the farm!”

IRIS and Tasha – A Story of Sharing for Thanksgiving

melissa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:09:32 +0000

Tasha DeYoung, at age 13, is certainly one of Massaro Community Farm’s youngest CSA members. She decided to celebrate Thanksgiving early this year by donating 2 years (that’s 4 seasons) worth of fresh food from the farm to IRIS, a New Haven non-profit whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. Read more.

Education Committee Seeking Teachers

melissa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:59:30 +0000

Wanted! Teens and adults who like to teach. The MCF Education committee seeks people interested in gardening, environmental education, and nature (worms, weeds, wildlife) to help offer programs for kids and adults.This could be a one-time or longer commitment. We’ll help with plans and materials. Please contact tutordiane@gmail.com or call Diane King at 203 494-3745.

2012 CSA Shares Available

melissa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:52:14 +0000

CSA shares for next year are available NOW!!! Come and sign up before they’re gone! Details and Registration form here

Summer CSA: Beginning early/mid June; finishing late September/early October (season depending; 18 weeks). 150 subscriptions available. Price: $550

Fall CSA: Beginning early/mid October; finishing early/mid November (season depending; 4 weeks). 100 subscriptions available. Price: $100

Eco-Story Time at Massaro Farm, Saturday Nov 5th

melissa — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:20:24 +0000

The Amity High School environmental club is hosting an eco-story time at Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge for little kiddies ages 3-10.

We will be reading some stories from the Barefoot Book of Earth Tales among others.

Join us on an autumn day to be apart of this growing movement!

Date: November 5^th (rain date Nov. 6)

Time: 12-2

Place: Massaro Community Farm, 41 Ford Rd. Woodbridge, CT, 06525

We will also be making paper cranes!

Any questions please email Amityenvironmental@gmail.com

Photos of 3rd Annual Family Fun Day

melissa — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:07:26 +0000

Over 350 people attended our 3rd Annual Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 2nd. Activities and events like a silent auction, salsa competition, kids game room, scarecrow building, bake sale, live music and bird watching filled the afternoon and lucky for us, Sunday was a beautiful day! Click here to see more photos