Seasonal Rating: Spring N/A Summer *** Fall***
Winter N/A
The Garlic Farm is a small market garden farm in the village
of West Granby. They specialize in vegetables and fall crops, especially
garlic, onions, and shallots. It is open for the season when the vegetables are
ready for harvest, which means sometime in July. In addition to doing local
farmers markets, they sell produce directly from the farm. The crops are grown
in the fields surrounding barn, as well as in neighboring fields.
What to Photograph
 |
| Garlic by the yard laid out to dry |
There are bins and bins of garden produce, both inside and
out at the farm-stand, which is located in an old barn first used to dry tobacco.
It is painted a nice bright red, which provides a good backdrop for the
colorful sunflowers and other flowers that bloom in the cutting garden out
back. The cutting garden is full of zinnias, extra-large black-eyed Susans
and vivid orange Mexican sunflowers. Towering sunflowers are sometimes
thrown into the mix, but have the honor of their own special garden to one side.
If your passion is shooting the bright yellow flowers, you can go all out there.
With a bright blue sky and the great red barn, it's fun to be creative with the
big happy sunflowers.
The vegetables make for interesting photographs, too. They
are all displayed in bins, which are stacked
outside the entry to the barn. There are several varieties of tomatoes,
including many heirloom varieties. Heirlooms come in all kinds of interesting
colors, including yellow, orange, striped yellow and rosy red. Even the
familiar tomato-red varieties come in all shapes and sizes. There's also a big
selection of peppers, all wonderful to photograph when they are grouped
together on display. Other vegetables you might have fun experimenting with are
eggplants, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, and of course garlic, which is displayed
in bins, and hung from the rafters to dry. Later in the season, there are
braided garlic ropes as well.
When to go
 |
| Zinnias bloom later in July until frost and stand out against the red barn once used for drying tobacco |
The selling season starts in June, when the farm opens on
weekends only to sell the early season garlic scapes. Beginning in July, when the first tomatoes are harvested, the
farm stand is open daily, except Mondays. The best time to go is July through
October when there are lots of colorful vegetables and loads of garlic drying in bunches, and the
cutting garden flowers are in bloom. In the fall, pumpkins, winter squash and
fall mums provide lots of colorful opportunities for photographers to be
creative.
Late afternoon is also a good time, when the sun is low in the sky and the rows of tomatoes behind the old tobacco barn are bathed in a nice golden glow.
Tips and Techniques
 |
| Peppers of all kinds are on display; use a diffuser if the light is bright to avoid 'hot spots' |
Early morning light is good, but it might be best to hope
for a bright overcast day to get the best light for the vegetables. Since the
bright light really adds a lot of highlights to the shiny vegetables, like
tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, it's best to find a shaded location where you
can take your pictures. Also, remember to bring a reflector to balance the light,
or try a make-shift one with poster board or foil. A diffuser is helpful also,
if you are doing close-ups in a bright light.
Directions
76 Simsbury Rd
West Granby, CT 06090
860-653-0291
West Granby, CT 06090
860-653-0291
GPS coordinates:
Latitude: 41.951305, Longitude: -72.837858
Limited parking is available right at the farm stand.
Hours: 10:00 am to
6:00 pm July through October. Closed Mondays. Check the website for opening day
and special events.
Tourist Tips
There are a couple of breakfast places in Simsbury, which is
the closest town to the farm. Harvest Cafe Bakery is a local favorite, and is always
hopping for breakfast and lunch. It is somewhat hidden in a small strip mall.
Harvest Cafe Bakery
1390 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06070-1411
860-658-5000
Simsbury, CT 06070-1411
860-658-5000
Hours: Monday - Saturday:
6:00 am - 2:30 pm; Sunday: 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
Peaburys Cafe
12 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06070
(860) 658-2930
Hours: Monday, Tuesday: 7:30 am-4:30 pm; Wed: 7:30 am-9
pm; Thurs-Fri: 7:30 am-8 pm; Sat: 8 am-10:00 pm; Sun: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Holcomb Farm
Holcomb Farm CSA is located almost directly across the road from the Garlic Farm, and may provide another stop for photographers. There are several interesting buildings and barns, all painted red with white trim, which would make for interesting shots. They also plant a field of sunflowers, sometimes close enough to the road, to be able to photograph.
111 Simsbury Rd
West Granby, CT 06090
Hours: Does not open for sales to the public.
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