Rocky and Rocketta's Dragin Progressive Farm Tour

7/12/2018 10:06:00 AM
Rocky and Rocketta's Dragin Progressive Farm Tour
Farms offering tours

+ click to enlarge News staff photos by DONEEN DURLING Stephen Altobelli was recently covering at Westminster Farmers’ Market for his Aunt M.L. Altobelli and had herbs, such as spearmint, rosemary, dill and thyme, all growing thick and healthy. M.L. Altobelli will present a Learn to Grow program during the progressive farm tour. + click to enlarge News staff photos by DONEEN DURLING Bonnie and John Cook of Wild Eagle Farm in Westminster offer all kinds of home-grown meats such as bacon, beef, chicken, pork and prepared pot pies, and sweet-and-sour pork. All meat is from their own grass-fed, pasture-raised Galloway cattle; organic-fed, free-range chickens; and organic-fed, woodland-pasture-raised pigs. The Cooks will offer a taste test during the progressive farm tour. Doneen Durling News Staff Writer A series of upcoming farm tours is hoping to show people what Northern Wor­cester County has to offer for organic and fresh food. It’s Rocky and Rocketta’s Dragin Progressive Farm Tour, and the name may be long, but the idea is a bit catchy. M.L. Altobelli of West­minster said that in the days of long ago, there were maps showing Boston and the towns southeast of the city by the bay, but Northern Worcester County was noted as the Land of Dragons. Similar “stereotype maps” are also posted as jokes online. Local farmers are hoping to drag people into four towns in Northern Worcester County to discover that not only is there no danger from dragons, but there is a lot to love about the farms in the area. “The Rocky and Rocketta Dragin Progressive Farm Tour will give the public a great opportunity to learn more about the incredibly diverse farming and agriculture that is happening in their backyard,” said Heather Bowen, spokesperson for the Progressive Farm Tour. “Whether it is fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy, or livestock, we have some amazing farms in North Worcester County that are producing some of the best food in the state.” “The Farm Tour is a way to showcase the region’s agricultural community as a whole and help explain the important role farms play in the larger economic and societal fabric of the state,” Bowen said. There will be farmers showcased who produce food for the table, farmers that raise the animals for meat or to spin fiber for socks, or to create rich soaps and beauty products. There will be maple syrup makers and honey gatherers and even a few that will cook dinner with what has been grown. “It is an excuse to get out into the country and explore a part of the state some may not be familiar with,” said Altobelli. The farm tour is being coordinated by the agriculture commissions of the participating towns, Westminster, Ashburnham, Templeton and Lunenburg. The tour dates include: July 22: three farms in Westminster; Aug. 5: four farms in Lunenburg; Aug. 12: four farms in Ashburnham plus three farms in Templeton. All are ready to be explored between 12 to 4 p.m. John and Bonnie Cook of Wind Eagle Farm that borders Westminster, Gardner and Hubbardston, will be there to provide tasting of their meats all raised organically. They say all their animals at their farm enjoy a natural quality of life. They said that they would like people to understand that what they buy packaged at the supermarket disconnects them from a more-local understanding of where meats come from. “People can sample our hamburgers, and if anyone wants to try anything, we will pull it right out of the freezer,” he said. But people will get to see how the chickens are raised with grain and are on a rotational pasture for free range. The Cooks prepare entrees with the meats they raise such as pulled pork and chicken, chicken parmesan, and piccata, and pot pies. Each farm will have a project for people to participate in. Farms will represent the spectrum of vegetable and meat producers, horse boarding and lessons, goats, ducks, chickens, maple sugaring, apples, bee and, custom growing. The tours will be held on three consecutive Sundays so families can go to a couple places and learn about the vibrant farming community and local food producers of North Central Massachusetts. Schedule: WESTMINSTER – July 22: Wind Eagle Farm, 70 Whitney St., owned by John and Bonnie Cook, who will present grass-fed vs. grain-fed tasting and asking if the taster can tell the difference; Baile an Chotaigh Farm at 10 Harrington Road owned by Adam and Sheri Bean where people can check out the chickens and learn how eggs are graded; Woody End Farm at 260 Davis Road, owned by M.L. and Margherita Altobelli who will present baby goats and huglekulture beds, a unique form of raised beds that buffer both floods and drought. Participants will learn to plant correctly and will also take home a specialty vegetable plant. LUNENBURG – Aug. 5: Pine Hill Farm, 271 Elmwood Road, owned by Tammy Callahan; In the Meadow Farm, 40 Page St., owned by Jackie Chabot; 4-H at Lunenburg Community Farmers Market, 960 Massachusetts Ave., overseen by Kim Mayhew; Lunenburg Community Pollinators Habitat, 123 Hollis Road, overseen by Ginny Albertson. ASHBURNHAM – Aug. 12: Hames and Axle, 18 Kraetzer Road, owned by Pat and Dave Stewart, presenting a Goat Education Program; Koljian Farm, 70 Cushing St., owned by Kerry and Kevin Koljian, presenting Heirloom Tomato Tasting; J&K’s Good Thyme Farm, 103 Fitchburg Road, owned by Kirby and Joey, presenting a chicken education program; Crow Over Farm, 178 Hastings Road, find goodies from local farms at the farm store. TEMPLETON – Aug. 12: Pease Orchard, 11 Phillipston Road, at Brooks Village, owned by David Pease, presents a “learn about peaches” program; Valley View Farm, Matt LeClerc, 79 Barre Road, presenting bacon testing; Dwelly Farm, Carrie Novak, presenting Invasive Identification.