If you took a stroll past the main building at Autumn Harvest Orchard, LLC yesterday, you might have caught a flurry of movement. Our front wildflower bed was absolutely buzzing with life! We snapped a few pictures of our local bees and butterflies hard at work among the blooms. They are the true backbone of our farm here in Norfolk.
As a USDA Certified Organic farm nestled in Litchfield County, we do not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides. Because we farm in harmony with nature, creating dedicated habitats like this wildflower bed is essential. These flowers provide an organic sanctuary for pollinators, who return the favor by pollinating our 400+ orchard trees and 300+ blueberry bushes. Without these tiny workers, we wouldn’t have our signature organic apples, pears, chestnuts, or summer vegetables.
Why Wildflower Beds Matter in an Organic Orchard
- Continuous Nourishment: Trees bloom for a short window, but our wildflower bed provides a steady stream of nectar and pollen from spring through autumn. [1]
- Fueling Our Apiary: These flowers directly feed the 10 to 12 hives in our own Autumn Harvest Orchard Apiary, helping us produce pure, natural wildflower honey. [1, 2, 3]
- Natural Pest Control: Wildflowers attract beneficial insects like syrphid flies and ladybugs, which help manage crop pests naturally as part of our Integrated Pest Management. [1, 2]
Bring the Buzz to Your Backyard
You can recreate this look at home to support the local environment. Plant a small patch of native Connecticut flowers, avoid harsh chemicals, and let nature do the rest!
Whether you are stopping by for our Pick-Your-Own season, picking up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, or visiting us at the Torrington Farmers’ Market, remember to pause by the front building and look closely at the blooms. Every butterfly and bee you see is helping us grow the healthy, clean food your family loves.
ORGANIC TRANSITIONS
As a core partner in the ongoing Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), CT NOFA has provided support to six Connecticut farms during their successful pursuit of organic certification. We are proud to be one of those farms ; a veteran-owned, recently certified organic orchard, vegetable farm, and apiary. We grow over 400 varieties of apples, pears, chestnut, and nectarine trees, along with blueberries. We also offer a CSA program that runs from June to August.
Becoming a Part of Autumn Harvest Orchard CSA
Families and households sign up to purchase a “share” of the upcoming season’s harvest. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between our farm and you as our customer. Rather than simply purchasing food, our customers become “members” of this CSA farm who receive a portion of the farm’s harvest. This commitment in advance, partners with us on the costs of running the CSA, including seeds, fertilizer, labor, equipment and insurances, most of which are incurred during the spring planting season.
Our CSA runs for 20 weeks, from June thru October. Members are responsible for showing up at the farm each week to pick up their share. Detailed information regarding pick-up is discussed below. The starting week will be based upon production conditions and emailed to all members.
