Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

The After School Arts Program is celebrating its fifth year of honoring talented young photographers with a gallery show of their work at the Litchfield Historical Society.

Litchfield County has always had a rich cultural community—it is a haven for artists and creatives in a wide range of disciplines. The After School Arts Program is a non-profit organization dedicated in continuing this tradition by offering opportunities to young people interested in the arts. Next month, it will host its 5th Annual Celebration of Young Photographers.

ASAP’s goal is to bring together students from a diverse group of communities, encouraging them to express their artistic vision through photography while providing a chance for exploration and creativity. Students from grades 3-12, including home schooled children, were invited to submit a photograph reflecting on their interpretation of this year’s theme, My Best Photo. These participants from across Connecticut were asked: “What is it about your photo that tells something special about you, your family, or community? Perhaps it is someone you see every day who makes a difference in your world, or a place that is unique to you. Think about the locations, people, and ideas that you are connected to on a personal level.” The categories for the submissions were Portrait, Landscape, Abstract, or Black and White.

“Photography has changed so much in the last few years. With such major developments in technology, sophisticated cameras are not necessarily used anymore. Everyone is taking pictures with their iPhones,” says Visko Hatfield, a board member and organizer of ASAP’s Photography Program (also an established photographer himself). “But it still comes down to the idea and quality of the image.”

A panel of judges have selected the best photographs to be exhibited in a professional gallery setting where participants will be recognized for their outstanding work. The jury is composed of a renowned group of professionals, photographers and artists. The selection process is blind; names of students and schools were removed from each photograph. A cash prize of $200 will be awarded to the overall winner from each grade group, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

In past years, the celebrations have been held at Arethusa Farm. This year, the exhibition and reception will be held at The Litchfield Historical Society. The reception is open to all. Wine & cheese will be served for adults and there will be holiday treats available for kids. Photographs and ASAP merchandise will be for sale. Proceeds benefit ASAP’s programs for children.

Nestled atop a hill in the town of Washington sits a stunning Dutch Colonial Country Inn with breathtaking views, well-appointed rooms, and a gracious lady of the house. (Permanently closed in 2019)

Originally from Holland, Regine Laverge-Schade came to New York City in 1968 as the young bride of a Dutch banker, who later transferred to a job with United Technologies in Hartford. Regine was already familiar with the town of Washington through a Dutch friend who had married a resident, and she visited her friend often with her small children. When Hartford came into the picture in 1977, she and her family moved to Washington.

In 1985 Regine found a beautiful hill in Washington owned by a man who grew up in Hidden Valley and had married a Peruvian wife. His wife vowed never ever to come back to a Connecticut winter, so he moved to California. Regine and her husband purchased, planned, and built the house together — a sophisticated and intimate country home with breathtaking views overlooking the Litchfield Hills — but later they split up. Regine kept the house and property, and in 2009 she received a permit to run a Bed & Breakfast from the home, calling it Hidden Valley. Indeed, it is a genuine treasure. Guests are offered a farm fresh breakfast, Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, gorgeous gardens, and a heated plunge pool. It was rated as “the Best B&B of New England on a Hill” by Yankee Magazine in their 2012 Travel Guide to New England, and it has been awarded five stars by Tripadvisor.com.

The hospitality business was not new to Regine. “I have always been involved with the hospitality business in one way or another. After my Classical studies I worked for the French Ambassador in the Hague, Holland, and in press and publicity in the Netherlands. Later, I had my own business in New York in PR, with a private bank, Brown Brothers Harriman, as my longest standing client of 22 years. I was in charge of their special events and convention planning. So I have always looked at how best to please the client and optimize the surroundings.”

In its 6 years, Hidden Valley has built a steady clientele from all over the world. Because of the boarding schools in the area, there are many parents from the U.S., as well as from different countries. “Lately the State of Connecticut has promoted the Litchfield Hills as a “destination” for tourism, thus many Americans seem to discover this area. I have been very very lucky with the customers I get because people realize that I love this house and they treat is as such,” says Regine.

The Dutch Colonial house is warm, elegant, and cosy — a personal place, with lots of books, privacy, and pampering. Regine has created a lovely retreat, a getaway for those looking to find some peaceful moments surrounded by beauty. “People seem to love the silence, the views over Hidden Valley, and the night sounds of the crickets, even the coyotes.”

Regine explains what she loves about living in Litchfield County, “This area has everything one would want far away from turmoil. Beauty in the landscape, only 2 hours from New York City, a collective conscience about the environment, interesting and interested people, an active cultural life, and the Steep Rock Reservation with 3 magnificent tracts of preserved land. My favorite places are Hidden Valley, the Shepaug River, and the ever changing colors around us.

Hidden Valley B&B seems to have a steady flow of visitors and is booked year round, so we asked Regine what the secrets to her success are. “I don’t know the secret to the success, but it is a unique place with all the amenities of a first class hotel, without the high rates.” Indeed, Hidden Valley has become a treasure in our area and its graceful proprietor, Regine Laverge-Schade is a beloved resident in the community.

Accommodations include: Three Double Rooms. An exquisite ground floor Red Guest Suite with private entry. King size bed, en-suite full bath, kitchenette, and French windows facing the front terrace with far-southeastern views. The Main house has the Blue Master Bedroom with King-size bed, en-suite full thermal spa bath, with sweeping valley views. The Green Bedroom has a Queen-size bed with additional daybed and private bath. The third floor is a playroom for children. The entire house can be rented for extended visits and romantic getaways. 

Hidden Valley
226 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794
860-868-9401
info@hiddenvalleyct.com
www.hiddenvalleyct.com

Patty and Martin Laure have opened up a cool café in Litchfield called Meraki Kitchen, where they serve up fresh and flavorful gourmet dishes to take out or enjoy there.

Another great food place has opened to satisfy the sophisticated culinary palates of the residents in the Northwest Corner. Opened in May of this year to rave reviews, Meraki Kitchen reflects Patty and Martin Laure’s passion for the work they do. “Meraki (may rah kee) means to put something of yourself into your work — with love, creativity, and soul. We believe that anything that is done heartfelt has a better result…” And that translates to delicious, seasonal, and innovative food.

Located on Route 202 in the former spot where Hannah’s Bakery used to be, Meraki has a  pleasant light-filled atmosphere with a few seats available. It may not be a big space, but there is an ample selection of dishes and baked goods to choose from. They offer breakfast, lunch, take-home dinners, and full-service catering. Their menu consists of breakfast sandwiches, daily baked goods, soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, and to-go sandwich items. “Our menu changes everyday but some items (sandwiches, etc) change seasonally. We do offer special sandwiches as well.”

At the front counter one can see fresh and colorful noodle dishes, and vegetable side dishes such as broccolini, and everything is beautifully presented and appealing. Their vegetables, herbs, and fruits come from local organic farms. “We love New England because of the seasons. We love to eat that way — we love to cook that way,” says Patty. “We have a few organic gardeners that we use, and because of our size we really have been utilizing them. It keeps us creative because during the season we have to cook what is harvested.”

Martin was born in the Phillipines and moved to the U.S. when he was young, and grew up in Southern Californa. Patty is from Connecticut. The couple met in San Francisco at the California Culinary Academy. Patty explains, “We worked and opened restaurants in San Francisco for about 10 years, I moved to Hawaii and opened a restaurant on Maui. After that we moved to Boston and worked in the city for 4 years. We then got married, started a family, and moved to Litchfield.”

“I attended school for business and then went back into the culinary arts. When Martin realized he was not going to be a professional soccer player, he committed full time to the culinary field — although soccer is still his second love.” Martin spent the last 10 years as Chef at The Pantry in Washington Depot, and Patty worked there as well. Other places they have worked at are Capers Catering and King Fish Restaurant.

On the breakfast menu on the chalk board is a Porchetta Sandwich made with Slow Roasted Pork Belly, Fried Egg, Tomato, Pickled Fennel, and Sriracha. Paired with a good cup of coffee, it’s one of the best breakfast sandwiches we have ever had.  The Breakfast Burrito is made with farm fresh eggs, taco meat, house-made salsa, sour cream, guacamole and cheese. How about an Egg Sandwich on Toasted Brioche with cheese, bacon or sausage? All are excellent choices to get you started in the morning.

For lunch, there are Veggie Spring Rolls, Tacos, a Grilled Havarti Melt, a Roast Beef Sandwich, homemade soup such as Squash & Kale, quinoa salad, roasted vegetables, lentils, beef enchilada cups, and plenty more.

The entrees include such delicious dishes as Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin,  Pastas, Meatballs, and Curried Chicken Salad. The day we dropped by, we tried the rice bowl that was listed as a special. The rice bowl was made with a slow roasted pork shoulder, lime cilantro rice, black beans, local corn, house salsa, avocado, sour cream and aged cheddar with local greens. It truly was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. The portions were perfect and the flavors were beautifully balanced.

When asked what their plans are, Patty replied that their future goal is just to continue making good food, serving Litchfield county. “Everyone has been very supportive. We feel that we are filling a need for this great community we live in. We can only hope to grow healthy and happy with our customers and friends.”

If you like nourishing food that’s good for you, you will love Meraki Kitchen!

Hours are Tuesday to Friday: 7 am to 6 pm;
Saturday 7 am to 3 pm

Meraki Kitchen
239 West Street (Route 202)
Litchfield
860.361.9777
fax: 860.361.9779
hello@merakifood.com

Local author & gardener Page Dickey has edited a new book called Outstanding American Gardens which she will be signing at Pergola in New Preston on October 3rd.

The National Garden Conservancy runs the “Open Days” program of private gardens open to the public, a very popular program in the area with many notorious gardens open to the public. They have just published a new book called Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration – 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy.

This book marks the 25th year of the conservancy, and is edited by Page Dickey who founded the Open Days program. Page is a greatly respected figure in the gardening world, and is a Falls Village resident. There are a few local gardens featured in this new book, such as the garden of Lee Link in Sharon, the garden of Bunny Williams in Falls Village, and Hollister House Garden in Washington.

This book really is the new, definitive book on distinctly American gardens. Pergola in New Preston will be hosting a book signing with Page Dickey on Saturday, October 3.

Following is a conversation with Page Dickey and a few examples of the beautiful gardens appearing in the book.

Where are you from? Can you tell us a bit about your background? 

Page: I grew up in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire in a gardening family.

When did you start gardening? 

Page: I had plants in my bedroom as a small child and dug my first garden at age 12. Always had the bug.

Did you have a gardening mentor? 

Page: My aunt taught me all the wildflowers and was a passionate gardener. Other mentors were garden writers I loved, such as Louise Beebe Wilder and Russell Page.

Did you study gardening or writing, or both? 

Page: No, I studied art in school, but started reading voraciously about gardening in my twenties and have never stopped.

In addition to your books, you have written articles on gardening for magazines as well. Do you have a preference? Is one format more statisfying than the other? 

Page: Books are more satisfying to write than magazine articles. You have more freedom to express yourself because books aren’t necessarily driven by pictures—most magazines are.

Do you design private gardens as a practice? 

Page: I have designed a number of gardens over the years, but do only occasionally now.

What is your favorite garden in the world? 

Page: That is as difficult to answer as the question what is my favorite flower. I have a number of favorite gardens, some right here in the “hood” and actually give an illustrated talk on the subject.

In editing Outstanding American Gardens, did you find that there is a strong type of garden that is uniquely American? How are these gardens different than British or Italian gardens? 

Page: I think American gardens are much more varied, more eclectic than English or Italian gardens. In their individuality they reflect all the different habitats and styles of our vast country.

Is the Northwest Corner an easy place to garden, considering its harsh winters? 

Page: The Northwest corner is a glorious place to garden and is rich in wonderful examples. We can grow such a wonderful variety of plants despite our cold winters—and great gardeners seem to settle here, probably because of the beauty of our open rolling landscape.

You are an Honorary Member of The Garden Cub of America, and you serve on many boards of gardens and the Garden Conservancy. You are an accomplished author and gardener. Is there something you haven’t done yet that you would like to do? 

Page: Oh, my, there are so many things I haven’t done yet, so much more to learn! And I am incredibly excited about our new place in Falls Village—discovering treasures in the woods, adding favorite flowers and shrubs, learning about what thrives here—a new adventure!

Page Dickey is the author of seven books, including Gardens in the Spirit of Place, the award-winning Breaking Ground: Portraits of Ten Garden Designers, and Inside Out: Relating Garden to House. Her first book, Duck Hill Journal, and her most recent, Embroidered Ground, are about Duck Hill in New York, where she lived and gardened for thirty-three years.
See more of Page’s work at Pagedickey.com
and on Instagram: @pagedickey

For thirty years, Joanna & Bill Seitz—and more recently their daughter Amanda—have been bringing us a curated selection of stylish goods to live by. Happy Anniversary!

When Joanna and Bill Seitz bought an old garage thirty years ago and opened their shop, they knew what they were doing. The location on East Shore Road in the quaint village of New Preston turned out to be the perfect setting for the lifestyle emporium they envisioned. Thirty years later, the business is still going strong. J. Seitz & Co. is Litchfield County’s premiere specialty store that offers a distinctive and carefully chosen selection of furniture, antiques, home decor, woman’s and men’s apparel and accessories, jewelry and gifts for babies and pets. And we can’t live without it.

Keeping a business running for 30 years is quite an achievement, and staying in the same spot is also a feat in itself. The key to their success? Loyalty from their clients—as far afield as England, Italy, France, Sweden, as well as those from Litchfield County and Manhattan. Another factor in their success: refreshing merchandise regularly. “If you don’t evolve, you don’t succeed,” says Joanna Seitz. “We knew when to evolve and how often enough to keep our clients curious and coming back.” And finally, the Seitz family feels very lucky to be in such a great community. Most of the shops are owner-run which explains the longevity of the businesses. The Village Strolls organized by the shop owners bring so many people to the neighborhood. And we musn’t forget the lure of that stunning 40-foot waterfall as it cascades into the river behind the shops.

In the beginning, it was more like a general store, with a Santa Fe style, and over the years it has become an emporium of goods with a wide selection of distinctive merchandise. Their main focus now is women’s fashion and home furnishings.

Home furnishings at J. Seitz can be defined as modern country and rough luxe style… sophisticated and rustic elegance with an authentic and unique lifestyle approach. Their staff designer, Linda Anthony, offers a complete interior design service for clients from a room to an entire house. She can help select window and floor treatments, upholstery fabrics, and accessories as well as assist in furniture decisions.

The lower level of the store is where Linda works amidst a beautiful and serene collection of sofas, coffee tables, and accent pieces in rich greys and soft linens—a blend of neutrals that compliment each other. One feels instantly relaxed in the space, which is what we want in our homes. The store carries a fine selection of furniture from Mitchell-Gold, Cisco Brothers, and John Derian. Most of their furniture is artisan-based. “The furniture from Cisco Brothers is like custom furniture without the custom price,” says Joanna. They also stock antiques from France, Italy, Belgium, Amsterdam and Antwerp.

The Seitzs’ secret to sustaining their business through through numerous recessions, the tragedy of 9/11, and so many ups and downs is their ability to respond and to turn on a dime under those constraints. Joanna points out that as the world has changed, they have kept their store relevent to the times. “You can’t just buy pretty things. You have to know how to run a business.” Indeed, having business savvy and an eye for design are Joanna’s strengths. With a background in retail management from F.I.T., and immersing herself in business courses at NYU, she has a brilliant combination of both skills. Her career as a magazine editor and stints in the world of fashion PR brought her to this next level. It’s not surprising that the store was named one of the Top 50 Shops in the US by Home Accents.

Joanna’s husband Bill is her sounding board and a great source of support. He is a former professional interiors and design book photographer. He manages the warehouse inventory part of the business and oversees the transport of large items. Bill also plays an important role when they are travelling as he speaks fluent French. Joanna and their daughter Amanda, who also went to F.I.T., are in charge of the visual merchandising of the store. They work well together, it is a collaboration based on each of their talents. When it comes to fashion, they spend a lot of time with new designers, as they select an ease of silhouettes and styles for any age, whether one is in their 20s or 80s. It’s a mother-daughter thing. The same clothes and accessories make it age appropriate.

The men’s corner, as they like to call it, is smaller but stills packs in some great fashion items for guys. They carry Billy Reid, a very popular designer from Alabama. He was off the radar until he won the award for fasion design. They also stock Hartford, a fashion label from Paris, Mason’s from Italy, and the designer Relwen whose clothes have a country-rugged look. The apothecary items and leather accessories make great gifts. The Corgy socks are from a well-known English sock line to the Royals.  And let’s not forget a unique selection of books sprinkled throughout the store.

A popular handbag line is the Matt & Nat line, which only uses vegan materials, something that means a great deal to folks in this area. And there is a line of rubber shoes, also non-animal products. The spectacular jewelry at J. Seitz & C0. is all artisan-sourced—there is no manufacturing involved. They offer diamond jewelry by Renée Shephard that is non-traditional. There are pieces made with recycled metals (again lessening the ecological impact), talisman-style, yoga-oriented designs that make meaningful and purposeful gift giving.

So, what is in the future for J. Seitz & Co.? Eventually, Joanna and Bill would like to semi-retire and hand over the reigns to their daughter Amanda. She will continue the legacy—the quality and feel of the store that we have all come to love. But it might be a while before that happens. Amanda just gave birth to her first child, so we can expect at least a few more years of Joanna and Bill presiding over the space, bringing those gorgeous home furnishings into our lives and finding such fabulous clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories to keep us fashionably comfortable, here in the country. As it says on their website: “You can be assured that you will always be both surprised and delighted at what you find under our roof.”

Congratulations to Joanna, Bill, and Amanda for an incredible 30 years of steadfast good business and good taste. There will be an open house at J. Seitz & Co. in October to celebrate the official anniversary. We wish them many more years of success.

Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

J. Seitz & Co.
9 East Shore Road
New Preston, CT 06777
860.868.0119
www.jseitz.com

On September 19th, a free tour of six local farms, will be followed by a BBQ at Harris Hill Farm to raise funds for an agricultural scholarship fund honoring Vivian Harris.

The New Milford Farmland Preservation Committee has created the Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship, which will benefit New Milford students going into the agricultural field. The scholarship fund is under the auspices of the CT Community Foundation and was formed in memory of Vivian Harris of Harris Hill Farm in New Milford for highschool graduates who are interested in pursuing an education in farming.

Vivian and her husband George G. Harris were farm advocates and active in the local community. Vivian was a past vice president of the Litchfield County Farm Bureau and worked on legislation that became the bedrock of some of the state’s farm policies. She was also a member of the Litchfield County 4-H Foundation supporting agriculture projects for youth. Vivian was involved in town government and served as chairperson of the Planning Commission. Her passion was educating people about farms and the importance of preserving the town’s farmland.

George grew up on his family dairy farm in Wethersfield where his grandfather imported some of the first Brown Swiss dairy cattle into this country. Soon after moving the farm to New Milford in 1957 he became respected in the local farming community. George received many local and state awards included the State Green Pasture Award. He worked nationally and internationally promoting the Brown Swiss breed.

Vivian and George saw the need to educate children about the importance of farming. They worked with the New Milford Youth Agency’s farm program, hosted Farm-City Day, and opened their farm up during the fall for school children to get hands-on farm experiences. Their three children Sue, George O., and Janet, along with spouses and grandchildren continue to be involved in the community and the farm.

On Saturday, September 19th, Harris Hill Farm will join five other local farms in a special event called Tour Our Farms. The all-volunteer Friends of New Milford Farms and the Harris family of Harris Hill Farm will host the tour of six farms for families from 10 am to 4 pm in New Milford and neighboring Sherman, with prizes and free farm souvenirs. After the farm tour, a pulled pork and BBQ smoked chicken supper with all the fixings, by both groups along with the New Milford Hospital’s Plow-to-Plate, will be offered at minimal cost at Harris Hill Farm from 5 to 7 pm.

All of the farms on the tour are great farms to visit because they represent a varied range of farming operations. The farms are small or medium-sized and demonstrate what entrepreneurial persistence, hard work, and good agricultural practices can produce in the ongoing search for creative solutions to the challenges of ensuring sustainable livings for farm families. The farm tour includes a winery, a cattle farm, a Christmas tree farm, a small, all-organic farm and CSA, a sheep operation, and a produce and pick-your-own pumpkin patch farm.

Here are brief descriptions of each farm and what you can expect on the day of the tour:

Finnegan’s Farm West

This is a dynamic organic vegetable, herb, fruit and flower farm. See how it is being transformed into a model of what can be accomplished on a small farm.

Tour Highlights: Discussion of organic growing operations, inspiration for starting a farming operation, challenges for new startups.

Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm & 3 pm

Location: 55 Upland Road, New Milford 

Additional Info: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finnegans-Farm-West/

https://twitter.com/finnegansfarmw

Finnegansfarm55@yahoo.com

203.496.6122

Happy Acres Farm 

Happy Acres Farm currently raises grass-fed beef and is diversifying to include other pastured livestock, fresh produce and educational programming.

Tour Highlights:

Rotational grazing, a farm stand, brush-clearing goats, chickens, produce, and friendly dairy cows.

Tours will be offered: every hour on the half hour – 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, & 3:30 pm.

Location: 2 Taber Road, Sherman 

For more information: 

www.facebook.com/happyacresfarmct

Harris Hill Farm

Harris Hill Farm was purchased by George and Vivian Harris in 1958 as a dairy farm raising Brown Swiss Cattle until 1987. The family continues to own the farm and operates a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the fall. Visitors are welcome at the farm on weekends during October to enjoy the view, see the farm animals, play corn trivia, and choose the perfect pumpkin.

Tour Highlights: Corn maze, farm animals, pumpkin preview, and garden tour.

Hours: 10 am to 3 pm

Farm Dinner: 5 – 7 pm

Location: 106 Ridge Road, New Milford 

Additional Info: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harris-Hill-Farm/152051994833384

https://instagram.com/harrishillfarm/

sue@harrishillfarm.com

www.harrishillfarm.com 

860.354.5856

Mayapple Hill Farm

Grass fed lamb and pasture-raised pork. Sheep, llama and alpaca yarns. Batting, roving, sheepskins and fiber products. Natural soaps, maple syrup, pasture-raised eggs and pesticide-free vegetables.

Tour Highlights: Hands-on knitting and felting demonstrations for kids and adults. Petting area.

Tour and Demonstration Hours: Throughout the day, 10 am to 4 pm.

Location: 228 Merryall Road, New Milford

Additional Info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayapple-Hill-Farm/108228719324493

farm@mayapplehillfarm.com

860.799.7612

Windswept Tree Farm

This farm is a Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farm which offers a wide variety of trees, wreaths and holiday gifts.

Tour Highlights: Discussion of farm operations (Christmas Trees 101), tree planting (can be dirty!), tree shearing demonstration and tree identification.

Tour and Demonstration Hours: 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm & 3 pm

Location: 12 Evergreen Lane, New Milford (right off Route 37 on the Sherman town line)

Additional Info: http://www.windswepttreefarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WindsweptTreeFarm

Steve@windswepttreefarm.com

860.355.9907

White Silo Farm & Winery

Guided outdoor tour of the farm and vineyard and indoor tour of the winery. On September 19th, they will also host their 8th Annual Raspberry Festival featuring six dishes made with fresh raspberries ($5/$6 per plate). Live music from 1 to 4 pm. Free admission to festival. 

Location: 32 Route 37 East, Sherman

www.whitesilowinery.com 

folks@whitesilowinery.com

www.whitesilowinery.com

860.355.0271

Sunny Valley Farm, a project of the Nature Conservancy, located at 8 Sunny Valley Road in New Milford is holding their annual Open House on the same day. Stop by for a visit there as well.

TOUR OUR FARMS

Saturday, September 19 

(rain date is September 20)  

10 am to 4 pm

Free to all

Children of all ages are welcome on the tour and can obtain a personal Passport to Our Farms! at any of the farms on the tour that will be stamped at each farm visited. Every family that collects stamps from all six farms in their Passport to Our Farms! will be eligible to win a prize. A different free souvenir gift will also be available at each farm for visitors on the tour.

FARMS included in the Tour:

Finnegan’s Farm West, 55 Upland Road, New Milford

Happy Acres Farm, 2 Taber Road, Sherman

Harris Hill Farm, 106 Ridge Road, New Milford

Mayapple Hill Farm, 222 Merryall Road, New Milford

Windswept Tree Farm, 12 Evergreen Lane, New Milford

White Silo Farm & Winery, 32 Route 37, Sherman

For a Map of all farm locations go to thewebsite:
http://harrishillfarm.ticketleap.com/tour-our-farms/details

Begin your tour at any location.

SUPPER IN THE BARN

5 to 7 pm

at Harris Hill Farm, 106 Ridge Road in New Milford  

After the farm tour, get ready for a tasty Barn Supper at Harris Hill Farm. There will be a traditional pulled pork, smoked BBQ chicken and a local corn-on-the-cob feast with all the fixings made by the Cook House and local food advocate, Chef Kerry Gold from New Milford Hospital. Dessert will be apple crisp made with locally grown apples from Averill Farm and famous Ferris Farm ice cream. The crisps are being baked fresh by the New Milford Youth Agency, whose student interns market the produce they grow at Harris Hill Farm to local grocers. Farm animals and a corn maze will keep children busy.

TICKETS:

ages 15 and up: $25

ages 5-15: $10

children under 5: free

Places are limited and tickets must be reserved in advance in one of three ways:  

ONLINE: with a credit card at: 

www.harrishillfarm.ticketleap.com

BY MAIL: Mail your check, payable to:

Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund

106 Ridge Road

New Milford, CT 06776  

IN PERSON: Purchases tickets at Nutmeg Olive Oil Company, 25 Main Street (on the Green, next to Robertson’s Jeweler’s) in New Milford, Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, 12 – 4 pm 

Proceeds from the barn supper will go to the scholarship fund in memory of Vivian Harris. Harris Hill Farm is one of four working farms in New Milford that have been preserved, partially or completely, in perpetuity over the last seven years with the help of Mayor Pat Murphy and the New Milford Town Council with the New Milford Farmland & Forest Preservation Committee. 

Helping farming return as a vibrant economic force in our area is a goal that would have been applauded by the late Vivian Harris who, with her husband George, was a passionate, longtime advocate for farming prior to her passing in 2008. Memorial gifts in her name made at that time have provided the initial capital that has been used to establish the agricultural scholarship fund under the auspices of the CT Community Foundation.   

To make a tax-deductible donation directly to
The Harris Family Agricultural Scholarship Fund, visit: 

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/harris-fund

For more information call:  860-355-0000
or email: info@harrishillfarm.com

A new gallery space run by artists features contemporary art and makes connections with the community. The Harts Gallery is all about bringing people together through art.

On August 1st a new art gallery opened in New Milford called The Harts Gallery, named after a former tenant of the space: Hart’s 5 & 10, which closed in 1998. Newcomers to the area, Carmen and Evan Abramson have taken over the store that Spruce Home & Garden most recently occupied on Bank Street and turned it into a space that features museum quality fine art from around the world.

Unlike other galleries owned by dealers, this one is artist-run. Evan is a photo journalist and both he and his wife Carmen create documentary films. Their goal with the gallery is to focus on building community and inspiring change through the questions raised by contemporary art. Carmen studied politics, philosophy, and religion at the School of International Studies at Hopkins. Evan went to Vassar where he majored in creative writing and literature. Their 2011 documentary Carbon for Water has won nearly 20 film festival awards. Evan’s 2010 multimedia documentary When the Water Ends won First Prize at the 2012 World Water Forum and was nominated for a Webby, a World Press Photo Award, and was a finalist in the Online Journalism Awards. They moved to Bridgewater with their two children last December.

At 5,000 square feet, the large open space on the main floor is great for showing art work. High ceilings and a spare interior give it a pleasant atmosphere to contemplate art. The gallery will function as a commercial venue for the sale of contemporary art, as well as a non-profit space offering community outreach through guest artist lectures, youth art, and film workshops taught by gallery artists, live performances, independent film screenings (at neighboring Bank Street Theater), and arts education classes taught in both Spanish and English.

Starting in September, Matt Del Rosario, a former Pilobolus dancer will be leading movement classes at the gallery—movement through expression—for all ages. Also in the works are DJs from Cuba and storytelling sessions. Future plans include turning the lower level of the gallery into a “lab” area with computers and other equipment.

The gallery’s first show, Love & Sacrifice, brings together the work of six artists with ties to the community: photographers Evan Abramson and Tealia Ellis Ritter, mixed media sculptor and installation artist Lauren Booth, painter Sebastian Tillinger and local well known mixed media artists Elizabeth MacDonald and Peter Wooster. The exhibit will run through September 30th. On September 5th at 5:30 pm, Evan Abramson will hold an artist conversation, in which he will talk about his journey becoming a photographer in Bolivia.

The next show will open on October 3rd and will feature artists Julia Randall, Cecilia Mandrile from Argentina, and Claudia De Monte.

The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to
8 pm, Sundays from noon to 3 pm and by appointment.

The Harts Gallery
20 Bank Street
New Milford
917.913.4641
www.thehartsgallery.com

The owner of Zero Prophet Coffee, Nicholas Benson is spreading the joy of coffee and keeping Litchfield County residents happy with his flavorful coffee beans, roasted fresh to order.

Nicholas Benson’s first coffee memory is of Turkish coffee. Not your typical kid’s fantasy. But then, young Nicholas’s life was far from typical. His mother was an independent translator of Russian books and articles. His father was the public affairs officer at the United States Embassy in Moscow. As a diplomat’s son, he lived in Moscow, and traveled to many places such as Belgrade (now Serbia). Nicholas recalls that there was an Italian cook in the cafeteria at the American Embassy in Moscow during the ’70s. The cook was very Italian. He drove a sports car and roasted his own espresso. As a young child, Nicholas was fascinated with him.

Later, as a teenager visiting Italy, Benson would walk into the local coffee shops and watch the barristas at work. It was a powerful experience for him. He wanted to recreate what he had seen in Italy—fresh, high quality coffee. At the time, the U.S. was lagging in coffee culture. Starbucks didn’t exist back then.

A cup of coffee and a book of poetry… Nicholas Benson is an English teacher at the Gunnery School in Washington. He also translates Italian literature (poetry, books, a short novel). He loves cooking, and he loves coffee. Since 2007, he has been roasting his own coffee beans. He turned his passion for coffee into a business, and now he is a micro-roaster. He has a loyal following in Litchfield County.

In a small, white building on his property, Nicholas Benson keeps his pride and joy: a Diedrich roasting machine. It is bright red and beautifully maintained, like a car. It is only one and a half years old, but built to last. It is here in this fragrant space that Benson operates Zero Prophet Coffee, a small, local business that sells freshly roasted coffees. There are 12 different kinds of coffee and two blends. His house style is Vienna Roast, which is equivalent to a Northern Italian Espresso. Bat Guano is a blend of Central and South American beans and Romford is a mélange of three differently roasted beans. There are subtleties to the flavor notes in the coffees, just like in wines.

Uganda is the darkest, and Sumatra is earthy. Chiapas is more floral, and has a lighter body. Brazilian is a softer bean, and the lightest of all the beans. He carries one decaffenated coffee, which is water-processed, a chemical-free process. It comes from a co-op in Honduras. He says it is surprisingly good. It is less acidic than regular coffee due to the water-process.

Almost all of Benson’s coffees are certified organic. So where exactly do his beans come from? He is not sourcing the coffee beans himself because it is too expensive to travel, instead he uses an importer, such as Royal Coffee New York and The Coffee Shrub. The beans come from Africa, Indonesia, Central America, and South America. His beans are roasted fresh to order and packaged in simple compostable bags.

You can purchase Zero Prophet Coffee at the Washington Farmers Market in the Depot on Saturday mornings. The Washington Food Market and the Smithy in New Preston sell his coffees all year round. Or you can order directly from Benson at email zeroprophetcoffee@gmail.com. He will deliver if you live in the Washington, Connecticut area. Local resident and professional floral designer, Lorretta Stagen loves Zero Prophet Coffee. She says, “My favorite Zero Prophet coffee bean is Sumatran. It is a medium roast with an excellent coffee flavor without being too strong. All of my guests love it, too.”

Benson sells 1 pound bags to individuals and 5 pound bags to restaurants and cafés. A one-pound bag is $16. One dollar per ounce is typical. Community Table restaurant has been serving his coffees to their customers for years. The Washington Montessori School serves it to their faculty and their guests. The Gunnery serves it at their Senior Coffee. There are other roasters with other styles, in the area, but Benson is not competitive. Since he has a full-time position as a teacher, he keeps his coffee business small and manageable. He has no plans to expand but he is thinking of developing a molé sauce and a mocha sauce by teaming up with a friend. Or perhaps he might work with a brewer on developing a beer made with coffee.

For now, Nicholas Benson keeps it simple, “To get a good cup of coffee, the coffee has to be ground fresh just before drinking.” He should know—he drinks at least 5 cups of coffee a day.

AMEICO — a mecca of modernism with a loyal, inter­national following — is currently holding an exhibition of works by Josef and Anni Albers called The Interaction of Form and Color. By Jessica Jane Russell

To listen to his stories, one gets the impression Peter Kahane’s life has been lived one happy coincidence after another. “It’s amazing how blind one can be if you’re not in the mindset of something specific — you just don’t see things, even when they’re right in front of you, day after day after day,” he says, speaking of the building on 29 Church Street in New Milford that was to become to the new home for Kahane’s company, AMEICO. Boarded up for twenty years, the two-story brick and limestone building constructed in 1917 was a telephone exchange, built in the early days of the New England Telephone Company, SNET. Kahane had been pulling into the dirt driveway beside the boarded-up building to park his car and go to work down the street, never giving it a second glance. When in 2013 he began to search for a property to expand into, he pulled up to the building one morning, and had an “aha” moment.

Shortly thereafter he purchased it from the town, and transformed the interior of the derelict building into a series of airy, elegant spaces for the multifarious needs of his growing company, AMEICO. The name is an acronym derived from “American Import-Export Company,” a simple way of describing the many projects in which AMEICO is engaged. Comprised of Kahane, his business partner Jeannette Purdy, his gallery and store manager Daniel Basiletti, and a support staff of roughly 10 people, “We are collectors, curators and purveyors of Modern design,” explains Basiletti, “Established in 1995, with just a few objects on a table at the trade shows and a deep appreciation for design and craftsmanship, AMEICO has grown into a much larger brand with a loyal, international following.”

Entering the building on the ground floor, one finds a small, stylish retail shop fronting the AMEICO offices. A whole array of products and design objects are on offer: from affordable, mass-produced products to highly collectable niche-market pieces. Visitors will find the Kuen surface sculpture, a mathematically generated form which was a personal obsession of the artist Man Ray, beside a 1938 clock from Arne Jacobsen next to the work of contemporary Italian lighting designers. And they have a selection of stylish and affordable reading glasses by See Concept, trivets made of balled wool felt, by Vilt Van Ver, even a vegetable peeler – the “Star Peeler,” a version of a classic 1947 vegetable peeler by Alfred Neweczezal.

Upstairs, the long, light-filled, high-ceiling space is divided into a reading room at the front, an exhibition space and showroom, and an open-plan kitchen leading to a back deck – all open to the public. Sitting down to a large, oval table ringed by a collection of iconic designer chairs, I’m introduced to what looks like a little wooden robot toy. It is a maquette for a series of “re-edited” marionettes created by dadaist Sophie Taeuber-Arp in 1918 for a production of Carlo Gozzi’s 1762 Commedia D’ell Arte play Il Re Cervo (König Hirsch/The Stag King), adapted by Werner Wolff and René Morax.

Kahane has been working in consultation with curators at the Museum fur Gestaltung, in Zurich, Switzerland to reissue this little army of charming wooden puppets. The design team has been experimenting with a new type of connection between the articulated limbs of the puppets, and debating the elimination of marionette-strings. With this level of attention to craftsmanship, what becomes quickly apparent is the depth of passion and dedication Kahane devotes to all his projects.

As the son of an art dealer who sold work from India and Southeast Asia to the likes of Nelson Rockefeller, Kahane says, “I grew up in a household where art was the big topic.” But Kahane is quick to note that, unlike his father, he is not a fine art dealer. He limits his purview to furniture, industrial and graphic design.

The reading room opens into the AMEICO exhibition space, where they have just mounted The Interaction of Form and Color, an exhibition of works by husband and wife team Josef and Anni Albers. Josef Albers (1888-1976) was a teacher and designer in the Bauhaus, the widely influential art school started in Weimar Germany in 1919. The Bauhaus and all those associated with it were to become foundational to Modernism, and among Albers’ many contributions was his seminal work on color theory, Interaction of Color.

The show includes a selection of first edition folio prints from Albers’ book made by Yale University Press in 1963. The silkscreened pages are displayed on custom-made trestle tables, and in frames on the walls. While these hue-saturated diagrams are simply beautiful to look at, they are also instructional. On each page Albers presents a new color-based optical illusion. The book beautifully, and methodically puts forth an argument for the relativity of color and its perception, and understanding of which is fundamental to the work of designers and fine artists.

In her book On Designing, Anni Albers writes, “in a world as chaotic as the European world after World War I, any exploratory artistic work had to be experimental in a very comprehensive sense. What had existed had proved to be wrong… for a work which was oriented toward the future [we] had to start at the very beginning.”

In addition to the prints and furniture in the show, there are a series of rugs and wall hangings made by josef’s wife and partner  Anni Albers (1889 – 1994). She had been Josef’s student at the Bauhaus, and later, the head the Bauhaus’ Weaving Workshop. Her work in painting and textiles, and her extensive writings, also evinced a deep, thorough inquiry into craftsmanship, art and design appropriate to the new industrial age. Says Kahane of their work, “if you didn’t know it was two people, you might think it was all from the same oeuvre.” The Albers’ spent a lifetime working to better understand new ways of making, and new ways of seeing. And through this deep dedication to their craft they arrived at more universal truths – the lessons that we all learn life, in one way or another – until we finally see what has been right before us all along.

The Interaction of Light and Color will be on exhibit through October 31st, 2015. 

AMEICO
29 Church Street
New Milford
860.354.8765
www.ameico.com

The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm Trust renews its commitment to follow Ruth and Skitch’s original vision with a new executive director and staff  breathing new life into the organization.

It’s a store, a gallery, a cooking school, a museum, a farm and a cultural center—and it’s one of the Northwest Corner’s hidden gems. Located in New Milford and surrounded by hundreds of acres of open space, active farmland, stone walls, and woodlands, Hunt Hill Farm Trust is notably listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of us know it as “The Silo” and  we have taken cooking classes there, brought our children to see the huge Christmas Tree, and listened to great music while enjoying a rack of barbecued ribs.

Hunt Hill Farm was active as a farm for almost 300 years, but in 1972 it became the home of Ruth and Skitch Henderson. Skitch Henderson was a pianist, conductor, and composer, and the founder of The New York Pops orchestra. He also was the musical director for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. In 1958 he married Ruth Einsiedel and more than 10 years later they moved to New Milford. They transformed the buildings on the 200-acres of pasture and woodland into a mecca for the arts and culture. They raised their two children while operating The Silo, which they turned into a gathering place for people who loved good food, music, and art. Their intent was to make it a cultural and teaching center that supported the arts.

In 2003 Ruth and Skitch co-founded the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, in an effort to preserve their farm’s land and buildings and to celebrate Americana in music, art and literature through the creation of a living museum. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Hunt Hill Farm is managed by an all volunteer board of directors, a professional staff and dedicated volunteers. In partnership with regional and state conservation groups and the Town of New Milford, the 130-acre Hunt Hill Farm Preserve has been permanently conserved as open space, woodland and active farmland, with public access. Hunt Hill offers free guided hikes, tours of the historic buildings and grounds, and for families, a special place to relax and experience nature. There are ten historic buildings on this classic New England farm and all are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Offering a window on the life, career, and pursuits of Skitch Henderson, the museum houses the Skitch Henderson American Music Archive and carefully chosen pieces from the holdings of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust. Each piece accents one of the many aspects that made Mr. Henderson such an extraordinary individual.

Mr. Henderson passed away at the age of 87 in 2005, and Ruth passed away in February of 2014. At this time the board decided to restructure, switching from a founder-based organization to a mission-based organization. They hired a new director, cooking school director and marketing director. The new staff is redefining the programs based on the needs of the community. Programs are now being funded by grants.

Kate Vengrove started in April of this year as Executive Director and will lead the organization’s vision and mission. Her background is in development and she has been instrumental in the growth of many organizations, including the Forman School in Litchfield. On her new position and the hiring of staff, Kate points out “What will stay the same is the vision that Ruth and Skitch had for The Silo: to be a cultural and teaching center that supports the arts. We will continue to have our regular cooking classes, the giant Christmas tree and all of the familiar holiday programming,  as well as regular exhibits in the gallery. We are not changing so much as breathing life back into the organization, and bringing back the passion that Ruth and Skitch had.”

The Silo Cooking School was the first recreational cooking school in Connecticut. Education was important to Ruth and Skitch. Sandy Daniels, who ran the cooking school 18 years ago has returned once again as Cooking School Director. Sandy had worked closely with Ruth and Skitch in the early days. She is a great chef with a catering and education background. As part of her new role, she is reaching out to local chefs. One such local chef is Cassandra Purdy who is known for her “Pizza to the People” business. Purdy taught a class called “Got Too Many Veggies?” offering ideas on what to do with the abundance of summer produce from our gardens. Other upcoming cooking classes are: recipes for smoking on your backyard grill taught by Catherine and Dan Felix, a class led by Chhobi Choudhary called Incredible India, a Halloween-themed class for kids, and ginger-bread house classes in November and December. Also in December, Chef Daniel Rosati will give two classes with a focus on the International Feast of 7 Fishes. The full list of classes can be found on their website.

Cameron Cunningham is the new Marketing Manager and will focus on The Silo’s presence in the community. Her background is in non-profits, including running a non-profit in Hartford that promoted financial literacy. “In general what we want to do is have a more consistent presence in the community and to maintain programming that promotes our mission of cultivating a love of land, food and the arts.”

Bridgit O’Hara, a new Milford native, is an art student at Roger Williams University who has been an intern in the gallery for the summer. The vision for the gallery is to have a mix of unique and contemporary shows while maintaining the commitment to great art. The New Talent Gallery showcases art from new artists. The current exhibit features work from the elementary and middle school students from Washington Montessori School.In the main gallery, Bridgit has curated a new fall exhibition called “To Be Everything”, which opens on August 20. The all-women show will feature work from Suzanne Heilmann, Dawn Breeze and Sarah Walko. A mixed-media exhibit, the show will include both large, anchoring works and small delicate pieces. The works will be displayed in a mixed environment; the majority of the art will be showcased in the Main Gallery but there will also be pieces spilling into the barnyard. “To Be Everything” is in part a tribute to co-founder Skitch Henderson, who described Hunt Hill Farm as “a preservation of a life that was, is and forever shall be.”

The new team is planning to expand the center’s offerings, such as an ongoing concert series, art exhibitions, more kids’ programming, the cooking classes (of course), and more events in general. Included in their upcoming concert list is a performance with Chris Brubeck on November 14.

“The events are really key; we want to have more gatherings that are open to the public— events sponsored by The Silo, as well as more private events like weddings, parties, retreats, etc. We also plan to rebrand and grow our museum, eventually having rotating exhibits. The trust owns 130 acres of protected land, and we want to create hikeable trails that will be open to the public. Finally, we want to rebrand our store as more than a kitchen store; we want it to include items that reflect our entire mission, not just cooking,” says Cunningham.

The exhibition “To Be Everything”, opens on Thursday, August 20. The reception is from 5 pm to  8 pm in the Silo Gallery. The exhibit will run until early November.

The center is available for weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, meetings and retreats, corporate team-building and other private events. The Silo Great Room is a converted barn from c. 1800 that features hardwood floors, rustic exposed chestnut timber beams and a vaulted 27-foot ceiling. The Museum Studio has an adjoining deck overlooking Museum Field and is perfect for a tented affair.

In the Kitchen Store one can find gourmet cookware, cookbooks, aprons, kitchen gadgets, tableware, and pottery, artwork and jewelry by local artisans.  

A basic membership is $35 and a family membership is $55 a year. If you’d like to become a member, go to their website: hunthillfarmtrust.org

Hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm; Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm Trust
44 Upland Road
New Milford
860.355.0300
hunthillfarmtrust.org