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Farming

Our Heritage Farms

The 2012 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) includes a chapter on Preserving Our Roots. This includes protecting our natural resources, preserving and utilizing our open space and greenways, preserving and celebrating our historic resources,and retaining the things that define our community character.

Community Character includes our scenic features, the undeveloped ambiance of our rural areas, our community spirit and our Heritage Farms. Following is the paragraph on Heritage Farms from page 54 of the POCD:

"Like many Connecticut communities, Vernon has a strong agricultural heritage. Most farms have been developed for housing or business or have reverted to forest. Vernon is fortunate to have retained a prominent farm, centrally located in the historic Vernon Center. The 58-acre Strong Farm keeps the connection to this past, strongly contributes to the character of Vernon Center, and contributes to the local economy. It is also easily accessible to visitors due to its proximity to I-84. Because of its central location, development pressures could be strong. The Town should continue to work with the owners to ensure that the farm remains economically viable and continues its important role to both Vernon Center and the Town."

The POCD includes an Open Space Map Vernon on page 41 that includes the location of our Heritage Farms. The Strong Farm includes three parcels - the Farm itself, the field between Hartford Turnpike and Cemetery Road, and a parcel on Eckers' Hill opposite the Garden Barn. The map also shows our second Heritage Farm, the Clark Farm on Valley Falls Road.

Connecticut has no official definition of a Heritage Farm, but it is defined elsewhere as an operating farm that has been in one family for a number of years or generations. That certainly fits both the Strong and Clark farms. What is sad is that other Vernon Heritage Farms are now gone - Moses, Kantor, Eckart, Walker, Dart, Thrall, Skinner, Kahan, Driggs - some to schools and others to developments.

The POCD section on Heritage Farms concludes with a single recommendation, which the town agreed to do:

"Preserve Heritage Farms: Ensure that existing farms remain viable and that farmland is preserved."
Let's hope they don't forget.

Clark Farm

The Clark Farm has two parcels that straddle the Tankerhoosen River. The one on Valley Falls Road has been a favorite of generations of deer and turkey watchers as its easily visible from the car. The field is still cut for hay each year.

The second parcel lies between the Tankerhoosen River and Bolton Road. It includes a cow pond created for the cattle that grazed there at one time. TicketNetwork, LLC wanted this property to be part of its concert venue.

At one time the Clark family owned a large farm stretching east from Bolton Road. The stream from Henry Park that flows downhill across Hartford Turnpike, Bamforth Road and Bolton Road is called Clark Brook and joins the Tankerhoosen River on their property. A reminder of the importance of this farm.

The barn on Valley Falls Road is listed on Connecticut's historic barn register.

Worker House Hay Baling Clark Barn
Clark's field from Valley Fall Road.
Baling hay.
Historic barn .

Strong Farm

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