A welder, steamfitter and construction worker by trade, Tom Roberge always knew he’d be a farmer. As a matter of fact, the Canadian branch of his family had generations of farmers dating back to the 1600s. In this country, his grandfather was a dairy farmer in Bristol.
While he waited for the right time, Roberge tended to a large vegetable garden that fed both his family and some very lucky neighbors. Twelve years ago, he bought five acres of land and, “started weaning,” himself from the construction industry. By 2006, the time was right and he became a full time farmer/owner of Hard Rain Farm; one of the original farm stands at the Collinsville Farmers Market.
For the 2011 season, Hard Rain Farm will offer specialty tomatoes, eggs, a wide assortment of vegetables, apples, peaches, pears and basil. Roberge does grow raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, but doesn’t sell them. “They’re just for me,” he advises. Roberge will also sell fig trees from his booth. No figs though because, you guessed it, he eats all the figs.
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About Town spoke to Tom Roberge about farming?
AT: But first, About Town has to ask about the name. Johnny Cash song?
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TR: No, Bob Dylan. The song speaks to change and hope. It’s more about poetry than the weather! It speaks to the work to be done, but the good times to come in the future.
AT: What trends are you seeing in farmers markets?
TR: The Collinsville Farmers Market has gotten a lot bigger and more diverse. There’s meat; cheese; more vegetable and fruit vendors; and specialty items like maple syrup. People are mostly interested in food. The Market keeps the focus on the agricultural versus adding a lot of crafts or other types of vendors, which is good. This Market is close by. It’s on a good day of the week. You have the bike trail, restaurants, a lot of unique things to do around town that other farmers markets don’t have.
AT: What’s your philosophy/practice re: protecting your crops from destructive pests?
TR: Hard Rain Farm is not certified organic, but all our crops are grown as naturally as possible. We use our own manure and leaf compost for our vegetables. If we have to spray them, we use organic sprays. On the fruit trees, however, we use conventional sprays. I don’t like the name calling – conventional vs. organic. I’m unconventional!
AT: What’s new at Hard Rain Farm?
TR: I made 25 gallons of maple syrup this year and sold it all at the Farm.
I am growing more vegetables, especially root vegetables, this season. We sell a lot of beets, carrots and other root crops. There is a big demand for them. That’s something that I never anticipated. But, we sell more every year.
AT: What is the one ‘must have’ item that you offer?
TR: My beets. I have the sweetest beets!
AT: What’s the future look like for Hard Rain Farm?
TR: We’re going to keep putting out as much production as we can from a small farm. I want to stay healthy and keep doing what I’m doing.
AT: How about a recipe?
Let’s keep it simple. Take 4 to 5 large beets. Cut the top greens off, leaving ½ inch of the greens, which you can eat. Boil the beets, peels on, until they are ‘fork done,’ like a potato. Be patient. It could take an hour, but it will be worth it.
When done, place the beets in cold water. The skins will slip right off. You can eat them immediately, while they’re still hot, sliced with a little salt and pepper. Or, you can slice and place them in the refrigerator, then add them to your salad or eat them with some chopped onion and salad dressing a day or so later.
Here’s the Deal:
Collinsville Farmers Market, Main St. Collinsville; Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June 12 to October 23, 2011: www.collinsvillefarmersmarket.org.
Hard Rain Farm, 57 Spielman Highway (Route 4), Burlington; 860-675-3941: hardrainfarm@att.net.
