Hurricanes Flood Farm

Dear Readers,

Please stop dancing!

Signed,

Joe the Holcomb Farm Farmer

In the May 2021 Drummer, we spoke of the continuing drought conditions in our region and encouraged believers to embrace the practices of our indigenous peoples and do a rain dance. Well, that was then, and this is now.

On top of a normally wet summer, the remnants of Hurricane Fred, followed by Henri, and finally capped off by Ida, have taken their toll. Growing food in wet fields – especially absent the use of chemical fungus-fighting agents, as is our practice – is a challenge. Farm Manager Joe O’Grady and his team have done what magic they can, but Mother Nature calls the shots. Produce-wise, we are looking at curtailing the popular CSA winter shares, to assure that commitments to summer shareholders and Fresh Access partners can be met. Fortunately, our middle name is “sustainability,” and this applies to financial strength, as well. The Friends will get through this season; further, future plans and farming practices will increasingly take into account the changing climate. We want to thank all the members and supporters who have reached out with concern and encourage all who want to support us to do so through an upcoming Fresh Access fundraising effort, and the year-end Annual Appeal. Donations are welcomed any time at www.holcombfarm.org.

Then there was the bridge. Behind the main campus and barn, a lovely footbridge built by the Friends in 2006, through grants and in-kind contributions, is no more. Ida did it in. Its loss eliminates easy access to the trails on the western hills, and efforts are already underway, working with the Town, to determine how to resurrect it. The Friends’ own expert hydrologist, Jack Lareau, opines that the stream itself is moving east, bridge or no bridge, so issues beyond trail access may come into play. We will continue to report on plans to replace and/or relocate the bridge, as we work with the Town.

Scroll to Top