with my family, 2016
Thoughts from some CSA members –
“There are many reasons to love Cobblestone Farm. Fresh and delicious vegetables, eggs, and chicken grown locally and sustainably is the obvious first reason. Farmers being able to use their passion and skills to provide not only for their family but for a whole community is also high up on my list. But for me the greatest part of belonging to my CSA is being able to be a part of the farming process without having to quit my job. With work and home responsibilities, there is little time left to grow food. I love to garden, to be in the fields and to have my hands in the dirt. At the farm I am able to still do this by picking my own veggies and herbs–I may even pick a few weeds along the way. The variety and quality at Cobblestone is outstanding. With my tight time constraints it would be impossible for me to achieve this on my own so instead I leave it to professionals!” – Karen J., Storrs
“Diane’s farm gives our entire family the opportunity to participate in harvesting some of the food we eat as well as to see first hand how it grows. We all appreciate the sweet cherry tomatoes and beans that much more when they are picked with our own hands!!” – Amy L., Windham
“I love Cobblestone Farm because knowing my food is grown and harvested with love fills my soul. The vegetables, eggs and poultry are fabulous—fresh and super tasty with a wide selection of veggies. To me the farm is so much more than the food. It is the passion of a family I love, a chance to get my hands in the dirt, and a constant reminder of the hard work that goes into each and every vegetable, regardless of where it comes from.” – Cindi J., Mansfield Center
Cobblestone Farm came to life as a full-fledged farm in 2016, but I started growing in Mansfield for friends and family in 2000, while attending UConn and earning a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. After college, we sold at the Storrs Farmers Market for a year before our first child was born, after which I began a home day care in town. As my own children and day care children grew, there was a progression toward full time farming. Now in my seventh year as “full-time farmer,” I still find myself grateful to be able to do this job. It’s deeply gratifying to be a part of how families take care of each other, how a community supports itself, and to work amidst the rhythms of the natural world.
While the farm is not certified, we follow organic growing practices. We grow include a wide diversity of crops, many heirloom, and a few bred on the farm. Veggies we grow include
peas, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, radishes, komatsuna, parsley, cabbage, Swiss chard, turnips, spinach, lettuce, bok choi, garlic, green beans, summer squash, arugula, beets, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, basil, escarole, onions, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, kohl rabi, broccoli, leeks, amaranth greens, butternut, fennel, celery, dill, cilantro, kale, cut flowers, tatsoi, daikon, celeriac and cauliflower.
Our produce is available through our CSA. We also sell at the Storrs Farmers’ Market and occasionally through the Willimantic Food Co-op. We like to keep it local!
Feel free to send me an email at dianedorfer at gmail.com if you ever have any questions.
~ Diane
Cobblestone Farm, LLC 