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 Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Deadline
2011 Calendar of Events photo contest
Contact Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 6:00pm
Twilight Meeting - Casey & Susan Vandervalk
25 Lovell Street
Mendon, MA 01756
(508) 473-7418
vandervalk@comcast.net
Vandervalk Farm has been growing trees since 1984. They currently have about 10,000 firs growing on 10 acres of wet
rocky soil. Casey will show how he makes raised beds in an attempt to grow trees on very wet areas of his farm (mud permitting). You will see raised beds of Canaan fir planted in the fall of 2007, 2008 and 2009.
The farm also grows 80 varieties of daylilies and 700 PYO blueberry bushes. Casey will demonstrate and explain his 13
,000 watt solar array that was installed last summer and produces all of the electricity used by the farm with excess sold
back to National Grid. You will also see all of Casey's innovations including the trackless train, Duck races, Treewheeler, and granite fire circle! A wiener roast will be held at the end of the meeting.
Directions: From Rte. 16 Mendon, take Millville Rd. (at Imperial Gas Station) for 1.6 miles to Lovell St. on the left. Farm is
a short distance on the right.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 - 5:30pm NOTE EARLY START TIME
Twilight Meeting - David Butt
Turkey Hill Farm
380 Middle Road
Haverhill, MA 01830
(978) 372-9474
(978) 430 4888, Dave's cell
turkeyhillfarm@comcast.net
At the start of this meeting, Essex County Tree Farmers will provide free sandwiches and soft drinks. They are more
commonly known as sponsors of the Topsfield Fair Christmas Tree Show. We have Jack Jackson and Laura Dooley to
thank for their efforts in keeping that show alive and treating us to these eats. No need to stop for food on your way ... just get here early!
Turkey Hill Farm was started in 1979 and Christmas trees now occupy about 10 acres of this 62 acre farm. There are 3.5
acres of blueberries and .6 acre of raspberries. Everything is sold at the farm. Fraser fir is the main species with a lot of
Douglas fir. We still have quite a few Blue spruce and very few Canaan fir. This farm is on the top of a hill at the end of a
long dirt driveway and so we are quickly out of business in the smallest of snow storms. To avoid having the weather
ruin our season, we sell almost all our trees under a very elaborate tagging system. We don't recommend tagging unless
you really have to, but we will show you how we do it. We have steep hills and spot spray herbicides. We do lots of
mowing and all trees are butt pruned and hand sheared. The entire farm is enclosed by an eight foot woven wire fence
to keep the deer out. If it has not been sold, you can see the post driver and other tools we used to build the fence. We
mowed with Roof mowers at one time and have lots of parts, mostly junk. You are welcome to take what you want free, but if you feel moved you can make a donation to the association. We may have some other free stuff.
Directions: From Rte 495 Exit 52; go east on Rte 110 toward Merrimac; go one mile and turn right onto Middle Rd.; farm
is .7 mile on the right.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 5:00pm NOTE EARLY START TIME
Twilight Meeting - Susan & Candido Lopes & Kasmir Machowski
500 Fuller Rd., Chicopee, MA 01020
(413) 594-2144
Our hosts are planning a cookout with plenty of food and drinks followed by strawberry shortcake and real whipped
cream! Bring your appetites! After socializing and a scrumptious meal, we will take to the fields.
Paul Bunyan's, under the ownership of Kaz and Cathy Machowski, started selling trees in 1987. Since then, at least 2,000
trees are planted annually. That same year they hired Sue Lopes to help them sell trees and a few wreaths. Over time, a
fully stocked garden center also complemented the Christmas tree business. Sue has managed the garden center for 12
years. Both Sue's parents are retired and help run the store every day it is open to the public. She also has 5 sisters
who are willing to pitch in wherever they can. Sue told us that she and two sisters made 1800 bows by hand! The
Christmas Tree Shop has a personality of its own with a wide array of products for sale. For the last 3 years, Sue and
her husband have taken over ownership of the Christmas tree business while holding down other jobs.
Trees grown are as follows: Fraser, Concolor, Grand, Nordmann, Canaan, and Korean Firs; Meyer's and White Spruce;
and Southwestern White Pine. They have about 60 Fraser Firs between 10 and 15 ft. They are having problems with
phytophthora and other root diseases with their Fraser Firs. They have challenging areas in various parts of their field
due to wetness. Another issue is the appearance of spruce spider mites. The rows of trees are weed free and mowed on
a regular basis. They have deer problems! They welcome people's ideas and suggestions for any and all remedies!
Directions: Exit 6 off Mass Pike (I-90):
left at lights onto 291 West; immediate exit on right (Fuller Rd.); at traffic light at end of ramp, take right onto Fuller Rd.; farm is about 1/2 mile on right. 91 South: go on Mass Pike (I-90) at Exit 4;
head east; get off at Exit 6; follow above directions. 91 North to 291 East: Exit 6 off off 291; at end of ramp, take right onto Fuller Rd.; farm is about 1 mile on right.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 8:30am to 3:00pm
NH/VTCTA Summer Meeting
Larry Krygier's Farm, Bakersfield, VT
Contact Jim Horst at (802) 447-1900 for more info.
July ??, 2010 - 5:30pm
CTCTA Twilight Meeting
Conn. Valley Experiment Station
153 Cook Road, Windsor, CT
For exact date, contact Kathy Kogut at (203) 237-9400.
Directions: I-91 from north or south; take Exit 37 (CT Rte. 305, Bloomfield Avenue); go east on Bloomfield Avenue about
1/4 mile; take first right onto Cook Hill Road. The Valley Laboratory is 100 yards down the road on the right.
CONNECTICUT CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
50TH Anniversary Meeting
August 6-7, 2010
Jones Family Tree Farm, Shelton, CT
www.JonesFamilyFarms.com
In association with the biennial conference of the New England Christmas Tree Alliance, the 50th Anniversary celebration
of the Connecticut Christmas Tree Association (CCTGA) will be celebrated at the Jones Family Farm in Shelton, CT. "One of the outstanding reasons to visit New England," as quoted by Yankee Magazine.
CCTGA, The Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association, held the first field meeting in October 1960 at the Jones
Family Farm with Philip Jones presiding as the first President. Fifty years later, Phil will be the honorary chair of this historical event at the same location.
NECTA, the New England Christmas Tree Alliance with representatives appointed from all New England associations, was
formed in the mid 1990's and has organized biennial winter conferences in Nashua, NH. The first successful on-farm
biennial conference was celebrated September 2006 on the Tonry Farm, Hampton Falls, NH. The second was held at Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, MA in 2008.
Initial plans for the August 6-7, 2010 conference include:
- Field Tours, demonstrations, educational seminars, pesticide credits, alternate program
- Jones Family Farm - This 400 acre farm offers the finest harvest-your-own picking experiences: strawberries,
blueberries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees
- Jones Winery and wine-tasting room
- State associations to hold their summer meetings, if required
- Tents and buildings for meetings, seminars, meals, and exhibits, including a 19th century dairy barn. 24 hour security will be provided.
- A locally grown banquet is planned for Friday August 6th. A picnic lunch will be offered on Saturday. Refreshments
stations will be available throughout the farm
- Special motel rates have been negotiated with The Courtyard by Marriott Shelton and other local motels
For more info, contact:
Kathy Kogut, Ex. Dr.
304 Parker Ave. Meriden, CT 06450
wkogut@cox.net or 203-641-1632
Additional details will be sent out as they become available.
August 7, 2010
MCTA Annual Meeting
8:30 to 9:30
In conjunction with CCTGA 50th Anniversary Meeting
August 11-14, 2010
NCTA Convention and Trade Show
Winston-Salem, NC |
