Presentation

Rodger Phillips

Sub-Edge Farm

Rodger  Phillips spoke about organic farming. He and his wife Isabelle started Sub Edge Farm in 2013. The farm was once part of Avon Old Farm School and had been farmed by the Tillotson family before that. The farm was named by Theodate Pope Riddle, the founder of Avon Old Farms School, after an English town. When the farm was owned by the school, students had to work on the farm.

Rodger has over 15 years experience in organic farming and gardening. For five years he worked for the Hartford Food System on programs that addressed issues of food security in low income Hartford neighborhoods, and he has served as an organizer for the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance, the Community Farm of Simsbury, and the Friends of Fisher Farm. He and his family became interested in urban farming and raising edible plants.

They raise beef, pork, turkeys, and other poultry. Their birds are kept outside in shelters for protection. The shelters are moved every day to provide fresh grass for food.

The farm is mainly devoted to planting vegetables. They have about 100 different crops. The crops are sold through wholesale outlets, in a retail store which is open on Saturdays, and through a C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture) program. They sell 150 shares, which can come in different sizes. The farm is certified as organic, which means that no sythetic pesticides are used. One way to fight pests is to rotate the locations of crops, so the pests can't find them. Some areas are planted in cover crops or allowed to lie fallow. No corn is planted now, although it was the primary crop of the former owners. The goal of the farm is to raise healthy food that tastes good. The picture below shows that even vegetables can be interesting and exciting for kids.