By The Time They Got to Woodstock... Tree House Orchard & Farm Fermentory, Woodstock October 2022 I'm at a bit of a loss here. On the one hand, there's too much for me to say about Tree House The Company but on the other hand, I want to keep this page relatively simple and clean. That's how this outpost of the … [Read more...]
Woodstock Creamery at Valleyside Farm
Big Skyr Country Woodstock Creamery at Valleyside Farm, Woodstock October 2022 Woodstock is rural with a capital R. Dirt roads and farms abound. It's firmly in Connecticut's Quiet Corner and a big part of the Last Green Valley - the swath of land in the eastern megalopolis that isn't megalopolissy. Real farms... … [Read more...]
Nipmuck State Forest: Breakneck Pond Trails
Al Breakyerneck Nipmuck State Forest Breakneck Pond Trails, Union & Woodstock June & October 2022 Finally. I'm finally finishing up my hikes (and write-ups) at the massive block of undeveloped land along the Massachusetts border in Union. Most people consider this whole area Bigelow Hollow State Park, but in … [Read more...]
Linda J. Rapoport Memorial Preserve
For Linda Linda J. Rapoport Memorial Preserve, Woodstock October 2022 The story of this property and hike has nothing in the world to do with the trail and hike. The story here is all about family, love, and a family's love for each other - and for sustainable farming. First off, I love towns like Woodstock - … [Read more...]
Crystal Pond Park
Camp Nah Crystal Pond Park/Camp Nahaco Trails, Eastford & Woodstock September 2021 If you ever find yourself on the winding backroads west of Crystal Pond Park, you may drive through the expansive Buell Orchards on a September afternoon. If you do, you will be a little freaked out because you're in Eastford, but … [Read more...]
Woodstock’s Town Trails
Woodstock's Town Trails We are stardust We are golden And we've got to get ourselves Back to the garden By the time we got to Woodstock We were half a million strong The next line of that famous Joni Mitchell song is, "And everywhere there was song and celebration." Indeed. Woodstock is the 169th of 169 … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Woodstock
Everything Woodstock I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Woodstock CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]
Nipmuck State Forest
Nipmuck State Forest Ashford, Stafford, Union, Willington, Woodstock I like to be thorough and almost always am, but when it comes to the Nipmuck... it's tough. It's big and it's sprawling, sure, but most importantly it contains many secrets within it. Secrets I hope to uncover over time. The Nipmuck (or … [Read more...]
Bigelow Hollow State Park
Bigelow Hollow State Park & Adjacent Nipmuck State Forest Union, Woodstock, Massachusetts Grrr. And Brrr. Grrr because in reality, Bigelow Hollow State Park is actually pretty small - containing a few loop trails, campsites, and Bigelow Pond. But no one differentiates the state park from the larger Nipmuck State … [Read more...]
New Roxbury Land Trust
The New Roxbury Land Trust Trails Union & Woodstock I'm confused. First by the "New Roxbury" name of course, since this land trust's holdings are in Union and Woodstock... many miles from western Connecticut's Roxbury. Their website does not offer an explanation for their name, but I really don't care. I care more … [Read more...]