New Mercies Farm is a 5 acre farm nestled in the quiet countryside of the Connecticut River Valley in Lyme, CT just 13 mins from exit 70 off I95.  We grow a diverse array of heirloom fruits, vegetables and heritage chickens on the tenants of holistic stewardship and community building.  We offer our produce through our CSA membership, farmer's markets and specialty grocers. Please click the "About the Farm" tab above for more details. We welcome visitors anytime and hope to bring our love for food and   agriculture closer to your home in the years to come.    

How New Mercies Farm came to be 

In November of 2011 a fire destroyed the home at 256 Beaver Brook Road in Lyme Connecticut.  A true loss to the the town of Lyme as parts of the house dated pre Revolutionary War. When the owner decided not to rebuild, the land came onto the market.  In 2012 the land was purchased by Dr. Rodney and Debra Hornbake of Hadlyme, CT and a commitment made to the Town of Lyme that the land would be restored to its agricultural past. The Hornbakes duly went to work rehabilitating the land and structures and in December of 2012 hired Michael Melillo of North Haven, CT as the primary steward.  A fourth generation farmer (actually farming skipped his parents generation), Michael brings 12 years of organic/bio-dynamic/permaculture experience to New Merices Farm.

The Mission of New Mercies Farm

• Preserve a unique parcel of land for agricultural use.
• Provide the community with a sustainable source of local, organically produced food
• Create an opportunity for a young organic farmer to make a living in his/her chosen profession.

 

In keeping with the mission of providing sustainably farmed produce to the local community, we will be offering 30 CSA shares for the coming 2013 season. Please visit the CSA Information Page for more details and how to reserve your membership with us this season. In addition to our CSA offerings we will be selling produce at two local farmer's markets. More details to follow.

Accomplishments for the farm - 2012 

• Clear brush and diseased or damaged trees
• Soil testing and correction of mineral deficiencies.  (more than 8000 pounds of mined minerals applied to the land)
• Rehabilitation of the storage building on the property and restoration of electrical service
• Composting of leaves and chipped brush and tree limbs 
• Over-seeding with clover and perennial rye
• Regular mowing to add organic matter to the soil
• High volume well drilled to provide for drip irrigation 
• Small scale sales of specialty crops from the gardens in Hadlyme (see Photo Gallery)

 

Accomplishments for the farm - 2013

• Constructed a heated greenhouse for seed propagation
• Created a crop field plan
• Started >10,000 seedlings in the greenhouse
• Constructed a mobile chicken tractor
• Raised 68 laying hens for egg production
• Organic certification completed
• Started renovation of onsite housing for the farm manager
• Develop a CSA (completely subscribed onj 5/18/13)
• Hired an Intern and other farm workers

 

Plans for the farm - 2013

• Complete renovations for onsite housing for farm manager
• Farmers markets in Salem and Hamden start June 22
• In late summer erect the first 30 by 96 foot unheated hoophouse for year round crop production 
• Winter CSA offering

Plans for the farm  - 2014

• Erect the second 30' by 96' hoophouse
• Expand crop production
• Expand CSA membership size