Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt visited Easton this week to recognize the town’s thriving farming heritage. They took a tour of Easton farms to showcase agricultural diversity, including small women-operated businesses and holiday shopping opportunities. The event also highlighted Easton’s designation as the Christmas Tree Capital of Connecticut.
State Senator Tony Hwang, state Rep. Anne Hughes, First Selectman David Bindelglass and Selectwoman Kristi Sogofsky participated in the tour, along with Easton Agricultural Commission members, local farmers and the Easton Chamber of Commerce. They met up at Easton Town Hall where the town received a citation from the lieutenant governor’s office and the Connecticut General Assembly.
The citation thanked the Agricultural Commission for its contributions to the State of Connecticut and was signed on Nov. 30, the day of the tour, which included a sampling of Easton’s many farms and farm markets.
“I take great pleasure in offering my sincere congratulations to the Town of Easton Agricultural Commission for your success in helping local farms thrive,” Bysiewicz said in presenting the citation. “Shaggy Coos, Silverman’s, Easton Grows, and Maple Row are farms that bring joy, jobs, and prosperity to Easton and southwestern Connecticut. We greatly appreciate your hard work and continuous support of these beloved small businesses.”
The farms are open for business during the holiday season and throughout the year and invite the public to come and see their wares. the Easton Garden Club’s Holiday Edition Farm Map contains a detailed listing of all of the farms and their varied and unique products.
“I am thrilled to join Easton leadership and Easton Agricultural Commission members in welcoming Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz and Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Hurlburt to Easton to celebrate our agrarian legacy as a living farmers’ market,” Hughes said. “I am proud to represent our community’s continuous contribution to local food security throughout difficult times and to celebrate our distinction as The Christmas Tree Capital of Connecticut.
“We love Easton, we love sharing its beauty, legacy, and especially the innovative spirit of the agricultural community. It’s a proud day to be an Eastonite! Thanks to all the farmers and Easton’s Chamber of Commerce, who helped coordinate and host,” Hughes said.
Hwang said, “As we emphasize ‘Small Business Saturdays’ during the holiday season, Easton’s tree and agricultural farms are the epitome of locally owned small businesses. I want to acknowledge and reiterate my admiration of all of our community farmers, who diligently cultivate and work on our farmland to provide food and Connecticut-made products for our community. Farming is a perfect fit for Easton’s leadership on open space/farmland conservancy, watershed ecosystems protection and environmental sustainability.”
Bindelglass said the state officials recognize the uniqueness of Easton and its farming heritage, as well as the fact that farming is flourishing in Fairfield County. “They also recognize the town’s commitment to creating an environment where farms flourish, where the town is committed to succession planning and support so that farms stay farms, and where the whole community supports and patronizes our farms,” he said.
He cited ninth-generation Christmas tree farms, woman-owned and operated farms, farming on public land, and 100-year-old Silverman’s Farm, which he described as “an entrepreneurial master piece.” Bindelglass added, “It was great having distinguished guests Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Commissioner Ryan Hurlburt here in town to tour our farms. Easton is a destination farming town where people from all around and outside of Connecticut come to shop.”
Shaggy Coos Farm & Creamery, farm manager: Brittany Conover
- New England’s southern most dairy, female-operated
- Founded on principles of raising livestock humanely and without artificial aids
- Bottle their own cream line milk on property
- Farm store stocked with dairy and meat (pork, beef, poultry/eggs, turkey) products, open 7 days a week, honor system
- Recently added gelato to their lineup of products
Silverman’s Farm, owners: Irving “Irv” and Nancy Silverman
- Celebrated 100 years in 2020
- 50-acre farm featuring Pick-your-own orchard, animal farm and country market
- Farm manager is Jake Conover (husband of Brittany Conover at Shaggy Coos Farm)
- Farm market is open seven days a week offering jams, jellies, local honey, maple syrup, milk, eggs, cheeses, bread, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and more
- 16 varieties of fresh-baked pies always in stock
- Greenhouse stocked with seasonal annual and perennial plants
- Offer decorated wreaths, fresh cut trees, roping and evergreen bunches for the holidays
Maple Row Farm, general manager: Scott Edwards
- Originally a dairy farm, has been in Easton since 1769, eight generations of the Edwards Family
- Growing some of New England’s finest Christmas trees since the 1950’s
- More then 200 years of farming history, using the latest technology and following current trends
- Open every day until Christmas
- Nine varieties of Christmas trees available for cut your own
Easton Grows LLC, business partner: Jeff Becker
- State-licensed hemp producer leading a pilot program for regenerative farming and sustainability
- First hemp producer in Connecticut to cultivate on municipal-owned land
- One-acre plot of land leased through Town of Easton
- 20% of profits donated to reinvest back into the community
- Focused on becoming a cultivation center, healing garden, and destination for agrotherapy
- Easton Grows hemp flower is available exclusively at Franny’s of Westport
- Grown locally outdoors using organic farming practices
Easton’s farms and farm markets are open for business and welcome the public to visit and try their wares. The Easton Farm Map Project is a conservation project of the Easton Garden Club. You can access a copy of the Holiday Edition of the Farm Map here.
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