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By Noah Baustin - Daily Hampshire Gazette - June 14, 2019
The Swiss Chard harvest recently began on Bardwell Farm in Hatfield. It was nearly three weeks later than usual. “Last year, we had a nice warm start to the season where crops were on-time or early. This season, we’re coming in with conditions that have been colder and wetter,” said Harrison Bardwell, who owns the farm.
“Being a beginning farmer, I’m still learning a lot of the aspects of how to deal with different weather conditions year to year,” Bardwell explained... read more -
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Last Friday Senator Jo Comerford stopped by the farm to talk about agriculture. She was excited to learn how Bardwell Farm came to be and was really blown away to hear we were established in 1685.Jo listened to my story and asked, ”Why farming?”I told her it’s in my blood and I go crazy if I’m not playing in the soil in some sort of way. I explained our long family history from being passed on from generation to generation, to it finally falling into my hands; where I transformed it into my own business. I explained to her I’m slowly building this farm to make a bigger impact on the local community and the earth combined.Jo also came with news herself. She wanted to share information about the new bills she had passed and ones she is working on for the farming community.
One that interested me a bunch was legislation she filed to incentivize low-til/no-til practices for healthy soil and carbon sequestration. This bill falls directly in line with our changeover to a no-til system we actually implemented last year, really exciting!
Jo also talked about a bill that would tax non-contiguous farm land at the same rates to stop penalizing farmers from farming on small plots of non-connected land.
It was a productive meeting and she said she would be back to tour again as soon as things started to green up a bit and the farm is in full operation.
Many thanks to Senator Comerford and her team, I really enjoyed our visit. We can't wait to have you back and try some of our fresh veggies! -
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Despite the rain-rain-rain and struggles we had this past summer, we had a ton of fun this year too. Grab a cup of coffee and relive some of the best moments with us from Season 2018!
April was the start to most of our farming fun. From seeding in the greenhouse to burning off the asparagus field.In May we were expanding our wholesale offerings and harvesting early season crops. We planted our hearts away almost every day.
Thank you Sue from The Laughing Tomato for kicking off our wholesale season for 2018!By June Trevor was had already done "The Goblin" pose so many times we had lost track but we all knew it wasn't over with!
We kept a close eye on our long season crops and started to get into the yummy summer squash and greens.
A huge shout-out to Smiarowski's for supplying the yummy strawberries throughout the month!July was an exciting month, the Triple Sweet Corn was in, along with several varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes. The new planter arrived as well! I still need some practice with it, but I am pretty sure Season 2019 will take care of that :)Being the rainiest month of the summer thus far we still kept smiles on our faces and kept the produce cranking out! We performed new experiments and learned new things day after day.
Thank you to Clarkdale Fruit Farm for supplying us with the freshest fruits into late summer and fall!Into September we were blessed with an earlier fall than expected. Much of the autumn crop was in and we had all the feels! You can thank the extreme weather for that but it was sure nice to see!October was our last busy month, the stand was stocked to the brim, the Hatfield Elementary School kids had a blast exploring the farm, and yes Trevor was still doing "The Goblin" pose LOL!
We wrapped up the season with planting the new varieties of garlic and cleaning-up the high tunnel. A bittersweet month, but it was nice to have a little break.It's fun to reminisce about the good times we had all season, but at the same time I'd like to take a minute to thank all the people that made those good times possible.
For starters, thank you to my family for supporting another busy season, and helping me in so many ways. I can't begin to thank you enough. I also would like to thank Rick, Kaitlyn, Trevor, Spencer, Navi, Brandon, Jonathan, and Cam for all the long hours and time they put-in this season to keep the farm running smoothly. I couldn't have done it without all of you there to lend a hand.
Thank you to all the farmers who took time out of their days to share their experience, let us borrow their equipment and have good laugh. I couldn't do what I do without the people that love farming just as much as me!
A big thanks to everyone. The advice, community and family all of you bring. It really means a lot.
Lastly I'd like to thank YOU, my awesome customers, for supporting our local farm. We wouldn't be here without you. Thank you all for another wonderful season, we can't thank you enough for the support you give us!
From all of us at Bardwell Farm, Happy New Year!
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It’s middle November here at Bardwell Farm, the fields have been put to bed, equipment washed and stored in the barns, and the farmstand has been officially rolled away to complete another season.
It’s a bittersweet time of the year for us. We’re sad that the season is over but excited and hopeful for a new one to come. It’s also a time that we reflect on the season and think of all the things we are thankful for.
We are so thankful for the Earth, providing us with healthy soils and beautiful farm land to grow our crops on. As many of you know the 2018 season was a struggle in many ways. It was difficult to grow and maintain our mainstay crops. Many times we were at the mercy of Mother Nature, fighting the persistent heat and humidity, the deluge of rain and the stubborn cold. We did our best to bring you the best quality product the land and elements had to offer. With the help of family and friends (and a little luck too) we persevered.
As Bardwell Farm approaches its sixth season we are “Farm to Table” committed by offering several ways to access our fresh veggies. Whether it’s through our farmstand, a CSA Farm Share, or our trusted delivery system, it’s our promise to support our local community!
I personally would like to take a moment to thank all our valued customers who have come back year after year, and to those that took a chance on a new farm they were not familiar with. Thank you for giving our fruits and vegetables a try. This farm would not be here without the support we receive from you each year and for that we are extremely thankful.
Even though we are closed for the season, stay up to date by visiting our blog and social media. Exciting things will be happening in Season 2019!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, we will see you soon!
Owner Harrison Bardwell -
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