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    Thank you...

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    Today, on this Memorial Day, I want to recognize a very dear person to my heart that is no longer with us, my grandfather Cory Bardwell. He was a proud U.S. Veteran and my mentor. 

    Cory was the last generation of Bardwell Farm, he was also my teacher, my mentor, and best friend in farming. On days like this my grandfather was a man who took a moment out of his day to stop and thank someone for their service. 

    From 1944 to 1946 he served in the Navy on the Seventh Amphibious Fleet of the USS Cleburne APA-73 Attack Transport Ship in the Pacific Theater. 

    My Grandfather was a leader with a great heart and soul. He’s done so much good in this world and inspired me to pursue agriculture. He taught me how to plant seeds in the soil and nurture them to maturity.  He gives me strength to never give up and always keep trying in everything I do. I love him and miss him dearly.

    From all of us here at Bardwell farm, thank you to those who are serving this great country and those who have passed. ​


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    Bardwell Farm T-Shirts & Hoodies

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    BREAKING HOMEGROWN NEWS! We just received our official Bardwell Farm t-shirt and hoodie order hot off the press and they came out awesome!

    If you are interested in purchasing Bardwell Farm gear we setup an order page at the button link below! 

    Note: We have to reach a minimum quantity before we can order the next batch. So go ahead, place your order and we'll be in touch when the minimum is reached.

    Thank you for your support!
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    Picking The Grass

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    Every spring you drive by our farmstand with bunches of perfectly bound asparagus soaking in a tub of water and maybe you've wondered how it got there. Well, wonder no more :)

    ​Here's a little behind the scenes of how we pick the grass!
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    What is CISA?

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    Bardwell Farm is a proud member of CISA!

    So many people have asked me what CISA is and actually does.     Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.
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    CISA is a non-profit organization. They began their work more than 20 years ago, and thousands of people in our region have contributed to their success and impact. More than 250 farms participate in their programs, and the number of residents who are committed to supporting local agriculture grows every day. Their Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® program, the longest-running agricultural buy-local campaign in the country, connects farmers and the community, improving farm business viability and enhancing the quality of life for residents across the region. Additional programs include Senior FarmShare, technical assistance for farms and food businesses, and research and support for local food and farm businesses of all kinds, including processors, distributors, and producers of value-added products like jams, cheeses, and pickles.
    Recent initiatives include CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund, significant expansion of their work in Hampden County, and support for the creation of the PVGrows Community Investment Fund, a project of the collaborative PVGrows Network.

    Guided by a new Strategic Plan, in 2015-2017 CISA will strengthen it's work by...
    • Strengthening the network of farmers and other businesses in the local food economy
    • Building staff capacity and skills in working across, race, class and other differences to ensure that CISA’s programs reflects the needs of all members of the community
    • Helping define how local agriculture can play a positive role in stemming the impacts of climate change
    • Supporting the adoption of more sustainable labor and environmental practices throughout the local food economy

    CISA is successful only because of the people they have inspired and those who have inspired them. Please join us as we deepen our connections to each other and create a community that is economically and environmentally healthy for our children and our children’s children.

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    Up your salad game!

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    It's time to up your salad game! The farmstand will be overflowing with a variety of leafy greens for you to choose from like spinach, kale, chard, romaine, red leaf, green leaf and bibb, just to name a few.

    If you love iceberg lettuce and you're still on the fence about adding a different kind of leafy green to your shopping list, May is the month to try something new!

    Why eat leafy greens?
    One, because they are so good for you! Greens contain almost no calories. You can eat these in volume, so there is lots to munch on. Their sodium content is almost nil. They contain about a gram of carbs, maybe two, barely a gram of protein and about a gram of fiber per cup. 

    The darker greens, like spinach, romaine, and leaf lettuce, contain more of certain nutrients, including vitamin A and other carotenoids, vitamin C and potassium, over the iceberg variety. Greens like arugula, collard greens, kale, mustard greens and turnip greens, also contain these nutrients, along with other potentially cancer-preventing compounds, called isothiocyanates and indoles, unique to these types of vegetables.

    Iceberg vs Leafy Greens
    For many years "iceberg" was the most popular lettuce at the family dinner table. Romaine and leaf lettuces (green leaf, red leaf, butter and bibb), are now the most consumed, followed by spinach. Collard greens, escarole, kale, mustard greens, chard, and turnip greens, are consumed much less, but people now are realizing the health benefits and the potential in the kitchen.

    Tips:
    • Explore new greens, such as spinach, chard, kale, escarole and watercress, what do you have to lose! Add more color and nutrition with radishes, beets, peppers and carrots.
    • If you are a stickler for iceberg lettuce, try mingling in some darker green lettuces. Start with the mild flavors like spinach, red leaf, or bibb. who knows you may find a new favorite!
    • Cut up a few days worth of healthy salad toppers like cucumbers, asparagus, red or green cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, and carrots. Have them at the ready for easy snack or salads in minutes.
    • Enjoy entree salads as a healthy dinner, or a means to use up leftover veggies from the week.
    • Add texture, crunch, and chew with ingredients like nuts, seeds, apples, olives, raisins, dried cranberries, wheat germ or flax.
    • Make your own salad dressings! Can't stress this enough. Blend a healthy oil and your favorite vinegar, herbs, spices and garlic in a food processor or try some of the dressings we make on the farm at the link below. Use in moderation and don't drown your food. Taste the leafy green goodness!

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    Earth Day Giveaway Winners

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    Many thanks to everyone who entered our first-ever Earth Day Giveaway! We feel thankful for our local following and we are super excited to announce the winners! 

    Congratulations Christine Roberts and Catherine Englehardt!

    You've won a selection of farm fresh vegetables and one of our new Bardwell Farm t-shirts!

    We will be contacting you sometime during mid-May to arrange your prize pick-up or delivery, stay tuned!
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