Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Energy costs relief
Gov. Chris Sununu, along with legislative leaders and the New Hampshire Department of Energy, has announced a New Hampshire Emergency Energy Relief Program in response to the nationwide increase in energy costs. According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, the program will include $7.5 million in assistance to help 24,000 low-income families with the costs of cooling their homes during the summer; $7 million for the Electric Assistance Program, which provides assistance with energy costs on a tiered scale to households making less than 60 percent of the median household income; and $60 million to provide $100 bill credits to nearly every residential electric bill ratepayer in the state.
Pediatric Covid vaccine informative video
Dartmouth Health Children’s has created a video to inform the public about pediatric Covid vaccines. In the video, Susanne E. Tanski, MD, MPH, section chief of general pediatrics at Dartmouth Health Children’s, discusses the new emergency use authorization for Covid vaccines for children as young as six months old and answers commonly asked questions. “There are 19 million children who are six months to four years old who have not yet had access to this vaccine,” Tanski said in a press release. “This is a moment we have been waiting for.” Darmouth Health Children’s locations are booking pediatric vaccination appointments now, according to the release.
Applications open for Moose Plate grants
The New Hampshire State Conservation Committee is now accepting applications for 2023 Conservation Moose Plate Grants. Eligible grant applicants include municipalities, County Conservation Districts, nonprofit organizations engaged in conservation programs, public and private K-12 schools, County Cooperative Extension natural resource programs and scout groups that promote and support efforts to protect, restore and enhance the state’s natural and agricultural resources, and provide conservation leadership and guidance. Grant application information can be found on the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee website, scc.nh.gov. Applications are due on Sept. 9, and the grants will be announced in December and available to use in July 2023. The grants are made possible by funds raised through the sales of conservation license plates, known as Moose Plates. New Hampshire residents can purchase Moose Plates year-round at mooseplate.com.
Updates on new forensic psychiatric hospital
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Administrative Services and New Hampshire Hospital officials will hold the fourth public information session on a proposed forensic psychiatric hospital on Thursday, June 30, at 6 p.m. According to a press release from DHHS, the 24-bed secure facility will be built adjacent to New Hampshire Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located on Clinton Street in Concord, and will provide safe, skilled and therapeutic psychiatric treatment for forensic patients. The information session, which will specifically cover design updates for the new facility, will be held virtually over Zoom, accessible at nh-dhhs.zoom.us.
NH Retail Association president to retire
Nancy C. Kyle, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Retail Association, will retire at the end of 2022 after a 28-year tenure with the Association, according to a press release. Kyle has a long list of achievements. In 2020, during the pandemic, Gov. Chris Sununu appointed her to the Re-opening Task Force, where she was pivotal in helping retailers adapt to the new restrictions and stay in business.
The Association’s board of directors have selected the Retail Association of Maine to provide full association management to the NH Retail Association, the release said. Curtis Picard, the president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, will become president and CEO of the New Hampshire Retail Association when Kyle officially retires, according to the release.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure at the Retail Association, and wanted to make sure that when I left, the Association was in good hands,” Kyle said in the press release. “I’ve known Curtis for 15 years, and there is no other person I would even consider handing our Association over to.”
Hundreds of people gathered last weekend in Manchester, Concord and other New Hampshire cities and towns to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, according to NHPR. The rallies were organized by Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund and other abortion rights activists and reproductive health care providers. A small group of anti-abortion activists also gathered in Manchester to celebrate the ruling, the report said.
A New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker has been installed in Raymond near the intersection of New Hampshire Routes 27 and 156 to commemorate the invention of chain link fencing technology by a Raymond resident Frank J. Mafera in 1930. The marker reads “CHAIN LINK FENCE INNOVATION” and includes a brief history of the fencing.
The United Way of Greater Nashua is looking for more than 100 volunteers to help distribute free school breakfasts and lunches to elementary school students in the Nashua School District. According to a press release, the meals, provided by the school cafeterias, will be distributed on at least one weekday per week from July 5 through Aug. 5 outside of five elementary schools. Register at volunteergreaternashua.org or call 438-2173 or email info@unitedwaynashua.org.
My flight from San Francisco to Boston was full and, as I learned, many of the passengers were on their way to graduation ceremonies across New England. Mine was an aisle seat midway in the Economy section, and across sat — as I found out later — a grandmother traveling with her son and wife to attend the college graduation of the granddaughter. Before long, the grandmother and I began exchanging pleasantries regarding everything from how Covid had curtailed our travel for the last two years to how we each were planning to spend the long weekend. She was excited about her granddaughter’s forthcoming graduation as she herself had graduated from the same college 70 years earlier. She confided to me her age: 92!
That detail of her age quickly led us into a conversation about college life and then the changes she’d lived through over her long life. As our topics moved to more political matters, I noticed other passengers had put down their reading and appeared to be listening. Because she was a bit hard of hearing, I was speaking a tad louder and so it was probably easy for folks seated in front or behind us to catch snatches of our exchange. But we were surprised when a passenger immediately ahead of us turned around and offered a thoughtful comment on our discussion of the forthcoming midterms. That must have prompted the woman behind me to join us also and before long we had a robust four-way conversation going.
The five-plus-hour flight passed quickly as we talked nearly all the way. It was clear we were not all of the same mind about current events and personalities, but we listened respectfully even when differences were very pronounced. As our plane began its approach to Logan Airport, the grandmother leaned over to us and announced, “You know, we’ve just had a substantive conversation ‘across the aisle.’ As a country, we need a great deal more of this.”
Ours was a fortuitous experience because such candid and civil conversations across divides of whatever kind are rare because they are hard and sometimes risky to have these days. In her book Becoming Wise: An Inquiry Into the Art of Living, Krista Tippett offers “Generous Listening” as a way to learn about both others and ourselves by seeking, through respectful questions, to understand another person’s views. On that flight, four strangers leaned across a physical as well as an ideological aisle. I certainly felt better for it.
For his 1987 album Bring The Family, John Hiatt had a band of heavy hitters: guitarist Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe playing bass, and drummer Jim Keltner. But he knew they wouldn’t be with him to tour in support of that career-defining disc. So when Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson suggested he seek out Sonny Landreth, Hiatt listened.
“He spoke of him in terms of, ‘He’s the other slide guitar player,’” Hiatt recalled in a recent phone interview. “He knew Ry wasn’t coming out with us, so he was recommending Sonny as the other guy who could do the job…. Indeed, it turned out to be the case.”
Landreth brought a rhythm section of David Ranson and Ken Blevins to audition for Hiatt, a process that took one run through “Memphis In The Meantime” to complete. After months on the road elevating that and other Bring The Family tunes, the band, now called The Goners, went into the studio with iconic producer Glyn Johns to make Slow Turning.
The band reunited in 2018 to celebrate that album’s 30th anniversary. Now, fresh from touring with Jerry Douglas in support of their 2021 collaboration Leftover Feelings, Hiatt is back with his old group and an expanded setlist that includes songs from the two albums they made together in the early 2000s, The Tiki Bar is Open and Beneath This Gruff Exterior.
“We’re extending out to them, with the exception of the first A&M album (Family); but we toured that so extensively it feels like it’s theirs in my mind,” he said. “Mainly drawing from those four, and there are things included in those records that I haven’t played in a long time. So we’re kind of excited about that.”
Asked about the ease with which his infrequent touring unit gets back into form, Hiatt chuckled. “We’ll see,” he said. “We don’t like rehearsing too much — save it for the night. We’re kind of a weird, I don’t know, punk band — except for Sonny, who’s a virtuoso. The rest of us are good at what we do, but we just do one or two knuckleheaded things.”
Along with his own output, other artists have recorded Hiatt’s tunes extensively, from Three Dog Night to Bonnie Raitt, whose version of “Thing Called Love” helped reboot her career. Bob Dylan did Hiatt’s “The Usual” for the soundtrack to Hearts of Fire. Hiatt can’t name a favorite, though hearing the Neville Brothers do “Washable Ink” stands out. “Because I love them so much … but there’s been a lot of thrills, spills and chills getting songs covered.”
As to his own songs, Hiatt is taciturn. “They’re like kids [and] you don’t have a favorite child — it’s against the law,” he said. “I love them all; they grow up and go out, and some of them excel in different ways than others. But again, it’s like children — you love them all until the bitter end.”
With two dozen albums spread across almost 50 years, Hiatt allows that the muse is easier to summon as he approaches age 70 and awaits the birth of his first grandchild, courtesy of daughter Georgia Rae — but only a little bit.
“The biggest problem I think you have to get by is you gotta get past that guy, John Hiatt, who writes songs,” he said. “I do remember when I was younger and I got a little bit of notoriety, the sort of modest career that I’ve had, you kind of get scared by your own ghost, you know? So in that respect, I think it’s easier. But they’re maybe fewer and farther between.”
That said, he has enough new material for a record and hopes to hit the studio sometime in the next six months. “I don’t know what it will be, if I’ll do it acoustic, just me,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to make just a solo record.”
The upcoming tour has Hiatt considering another possibility. “I have thought about getting The Goners back together with Glyn Johns and making a record,” he said, rising at the notion that watching the Get Back documentary may be part of his inspiration.
“Wasn’t he amazing in that?” he said of Johns, who also helmed the follow-up to Slow Turning, 1990’s Stolen Moments. “And no different, no different — that’s what’s so great about him. I mean, we’re no Beatles, and he was a much younger man, but he was just as forthcoming and easy going with us back in ’88 as he appeared to be on the Let It Be tapes. He’s a great guy; he’s holding a lot of cards.”
John Hiatt & the Goners Featuring Sonny Landreth w/ Chris Trapper When: Saturday, June 25, 8 p.m. Where: Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia Tickets: $49 and up at etix.com
Featured photo: John Hiatt. Photo by David McClister.
Load up on strawberries for sweets, savory dishes and a fresh taste of summer
By Matt Ingersoll and Jack Walsh
food@hippopress.com
It was a warm 70-degree morning on June 15 when Apple Hill Farm in Concord opened for its first day of pick-your-own strawberries. It also marked the return of visitors to the property for the first time since last November — the strawberry patch is just down the street from the main farm stand, which is due to fully open for the season in the coming weeks.
For many area farms, strawberry picking kicks off a fruit harvest season that will continue through the summer months with cherries, blueberries and raspberries, before apples and pumpkins take over. At Apple Hill Farm there are a total of 12 strawberry varieties that ripen over a three-week period from mid-June through about July 4.
Strawberries from Apple Hill Farm in Concord. Courtesy photo.
“This is perfect for us, because we usually start between about the 15th and the 20th [of June], and we usually go until July 4, or about the 6th or so,” co-owner Diane Souther said. “Right now what we have out there for berries is beautiful.”
It’s a similar story at Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry, which opened for pick-your-own on June 11. Sunnycrest-grown strawberries include two varieties that are not only available for pick-your-own but are used as ingredients in several items at the farm stand’s bakery.
“Every season is different for strawberries. It usually depends on how much rain you get and it can depend on how much sunlight you get,” said Danny Hicks IV, the farm’s fourth-generation owner. “I would say this year we’re pretty much right on the money for that.”
Down in Milford, Trombly Gardens began its strawberry picking season on June 10. This is the farm stand’s first year having a pick-your-own strawberry field, according to business manager Alicia Richardson. Because every day is different during an already short picking window, Richardson said exact times the field is open always vary and are posted to social media.
As you head out to your local farm to pick some strawberries, here’s a look at some different varieties and what they’re best used for, as well as what the ideal conditions are for a strawberry crop to thrive. Read on even more for some ideas on incorporating freshly picked strawberries into your cooking or baking.
Farmers market summer strawberry salad with spring veggies Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord
1 quart fresh strawberries, washed and sliced 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, thinly cut up 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon sweetener, sugar, honey or maple syrup/sugar 2 baby cucumbers, peeled and sliced thin with the skin on 8 cherry-sized tomatoes 4 red radishes, sliced thin juice of ½ lemon, freshly squeezed ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Combine basil, strawberries, balsamic vinegar and sweetener. Toss in a bowl, cover and chill for an hour. Slice the small baby cucumbers and juice from the ½ squeezed lemon and chill in the refrigerator. Quarter the cherry tomatoes just before serving and slice the radishes. Mix the chilled cucumbers with the strawberries and basil mixture, then add radishes and cherry tomatoes. Toss with fresh ground pepper. Serve immediately. Optional ingredients can include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, Swiss chard or any other veggies you can find at the farmers market.
Strawberry varieties
Apple Hill Farm began its strawberry picking season with three varieties — Wendy, which is a typical early season strawberry, according to Souther, as well as Valley Sunset and Cavendish.
“They’re a lot like apples. They ripen at different times, and then sometimes they overlap a little bit,” Souther said. “This year, it seems like the early and the mid-season are coming in together.”
Differences in varieties can include everything from the fruit’s size and color to its water content, making some strawberries better-suited for eating and others for making jams or shortcakes. Amy Ladds-Davis, who is working her 11th season at Apple Hill Farm, said Wendys are typically smaller but sweeter strawberries, while the Cavendish variety is characterized by its larger size and deeper red color. As the weeks go on, mid- and late season varieties include Darselect, Dickens, Honeoye and Malwina — the latter of these is among the largest and is not unheard of to continue growing as the calendar flips to July, Souther said.
Scenes from the Hollis Strawberry Festival. Courtesy photos.
“Sometimes if the strawberries are really big, they are a bit too watery for making jam and stuff with, so people like the more mid-sized ones,” she said. “Some are also good for freezing. … A lot of times with the bigger ones, we’ll just pop the caps off and freeze them whole … and then you can toss them into the blender like an ice cube. They cut right up.”
Sunnycrest Farm grows Cavendish and Cabot varieties, both of which are usually available for picking around the same time, Hicks said. Compared to one another, he said Cavendish strawberries tend to be slightly smaller and sweeter than Cabots — and while he can tell the difference, strawberries are strawberries to most pickers regardless of the variety.
“It’s funny, actually, I don’t ever have anybody asking if we have this variety or that variety of strawberry,” Hicks said. “That’s all [during] apple season. … The two varieties we have are relatively easy to grow and maintain, especially the Cavendish, which are one of my favorites.”
Kimball Fruit Farm, which has property on the state line between Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., features six strawberry varieties throughout its peak growing season. The farm originally used to only grow apples, but it’s now known for corn, peaches, kale and of course strawberries. It’s the first strawberry picking season for new owners David Wadleigh and his wife, Amanda — Brunswick, Darselect, Wendy and Allstar are a few of the popular varieties grown on the farm, and they are planted at separate times for them to be consistently ready for picking.
Strawberry festivals Check out these events happening across the state this weekend for a chance to enjoy some locally grown strawberries and strawberry-flavored desserts and treats.
• Litchfield Community Church (259 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield) will host a drive-thru version of its annual strawberry festival on Saturday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is expected to feature fresh handmade strawberry shortcakes and strawberry rhubarb pies, as well as sausage grinders, all prepared by church congregants. All items are cash only. Local vendors, courtesy of the Litchfield Historical Society, will also be set up on the other side of the church parking lot on the day of the festival. Visit lccpnh.org. • Join Beans and Greens Farm (245 Intervale Road, Gilford) for a strawberry festival to be held all day long on both Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26 — the celebration will include a selection of various homemade strawberry treats, along with games, face painting, a craft fair and live music under the farm’s pavilion. Admission is free. Visit beansandgreensfarm.com. • A local tradition for more than seven decades, the Hollis Strawberry Festival will return for the first time since 2019 on Sunday, June 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the town common (2 Monument Square, Hollis). The festival is co-sponsored by the Hollis Woman’s Club and the Hollis Town Band — fresh, local strawberry shortcakes, with or without hand-whipped cream and homemade ice cream, will be available for sale. Local artisan and craft vendors, children’s games, strawberry-themed storytimes at the Hollis Social Library, and a live performance by the Hollis Town Band are also included. In the event of rain, the festival will take place inside Hollis-Brookline Middle School (25 Main St.). Visit holliswomansclub.org.
A short harvest season
Timing is everything when it comes to weather patterns that directly affect strawberry ripening.
“Last year, it was too dry in the beginning and then too wet at the end, so the plants struggled,” Souther said. “We like to have a little bit of rain at night, every couple of days or three days or so, and then bright sunshine. Strawberries really like the sun.”
Ladds-Davis said warm summer days of 70 to 80 degrees are usually the most ideal.
“You don’t want it to be up to 90 or 95 degrees because they will literally cook in the field,” she said, “but then you don’t want it to be cold either, because the sun really helps them ripen.”
Occasional rain is always welcome, but too much is also harmful to a strawberry crop.
Strawberries from Trombly Gardens in Milford. Courtesy photo.
“Rain will plump the berries up, but you also don’t want too much rain,” Wadleigh said. “All berries, including strawberries, are prone to mold and mildew, and anything that reproduces with spores likes heat and moisture to propagate itself.”
Strawberries are perennial plants, or single crops that carry over multiple seasons, depending on the variety. Some strawberry beds can last two or three seasons, while others will continue to produce fruit even longer if the farmer is lucky. Hicks said they’re typically planted between April and May a whole year before being ready for picking by that June.
“You still have to take care of them the whole year, even though you’re not going to get a crop,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure they are properly irrigated and that they are winterized.”
To prepare for the winter, the beds are covered in layers of straw (hence the berry’s name).
“In late November or early December, we take a tractor with a mulcher and we drive over each row of strawberries and cover every single one of them in straw,” Hicks said. “It goes on thick, and then once it’s on there, especially when a nice snowfall comes, they’ll be nice and preserved.”
After the snow melts, Hicks said, the straw is removed in the spring, typically around early May. Another month or so of maintenance, which includes frost protection, is then required for the strawberries to fully ripen in time for peak picking season.
“The best time to start strawberry picking season is obviously when you see a reddish hue, but also when you see a little bit of white on them,” Hicks said. “They can still ripen when you bring them home, so if you pick them when they’re, say, 80 percent red, and you bring them home and they sit on your counter or in the fridge for a couple of days, they’ll actually darken up and still taste good. … If you pick the ones that are dark, dark red, you’ve got to eat them right away.”
It’s hard to predict more than a day or two out when strawberries are ripe enough for picking. If the beds are picked out, for instance, the farm may need to temporarily close — but all it takes is a nice sunny day or two for new fruit to ripen. That’s why Hicks said it’s always a good idea to check the farm’s social media pages for continuous updates. Some farms, including Sunnycrest, also have a pre-recorded phone hotline message that’s regularly updated with details on pick-your-own.
Treat yourself
Trombly Gardens in Milford is currently offering specialty strawberry frappes. Courtesy photo.
From homemade shortcake to other strawberry-featuring baked goods and indulgences, local farm stands are offering all kinds of inspired treats to celebrate the season.
Trombly Gardens, for instance, is currently serving a specialty strawberry frappe out of its ice cream window — they’re also producing all kinds of sweets out of their bakery and kitchen, like strawberry shortcake sundaes, strawberry cake-flavored whoopie pies and, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, homemade strawberry doughnuts.
At Sunnycrest Farm, strawberries are the very first crops that Bonne Cavanagh, the farm stand’s in-house baker, receives. She uses them to bake fresh muffins — flavors include strawberry lemonade and strawberry rhubarb — as well as strawberry rhubarb crumb bars, and even a homemade strawberry cream cheese, all of which are currently available at the farm stand.
“The cream cheese is so good. It tastes like a cheesecake,” said Cavanagh, who’s been baking at Sunnycrest Farm for 10 years. “They go great with a jalapeno bagel because of the [contrast of] the hot and the sweet. The bagels are a huge hit. We get them in from New Jersey.”
Cavanagh also partners with Troy Ward Jr. of Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar in Londonderry. There, you’ll find her vegan gluten-free strawberry lemonade muffins, and she’s also baked strawberry rhubarb doughnuts. Once the season ends, Cavanaugh moves on to the next fruit.
Photo courtesy of Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry.
“When I have no more strawberries, I’m done. I will not go buy strawberries or use frozen strawberries,” she said.
If you want to make a whole day of celebrating peak strawberry picking season, the Hollis Strawberry Festival is returning on Sunday, June 26, for the first time since 2019 — it’s co-sponsored by the Hollis Woman’s Club and the Hollis Town Band. A “hulling party” is scheduled to take place at the town’s Congregational Church on June 24, when Woman’s Club members, family and friends will be preparing the fruit to serve during the event.
According to festival chair Cathy Gast, the festival started out more than 70 years ago as a band concert before they soon began selling strawberry shortcake as a way to improve attendance. After two years off, the longtime tradition continues — as with previous festivals, attendees will have the option to order a strawberry shortcake with or without whipped cream, shortcake with or without Dr. Davis homemade vanilla ice cream, a bowl of ice cream with strawberries, or just a bowl of strawberries with or without sugar. Prices will vary depending on which item you choose, and the festival also features local artisan and craft vendors, children’s games, strawberry-themed storytimes in the town’s library, and a live performance by the Town Band.
Strawberry-rhubarb pudding Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord
Sauce: 3 cups rhubarb (fresh or frozen), cut up into small pieces 2 cups sliced strawberries (fresh or frozen) 2 teaspoons butter ¾ cup maple syrup ¼ cup water
Cake batter: ½ cup granulated sugar 2 Tablespoons butter 1 cup whole milk 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt
Streusel topping: ½ cup flour ½ cup rolled oats ½ cup brown sugar ½ stick of butter 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a quart saucepan on low heat, stew the sauce ingredients until tender (about seven minutes). To make the cake batter, cream together the sugar and butter in a small bowl, then add one cup of whole milk and stir until blended. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl, then blend with the creamed mixture of sugar, butter and milk. To make the streusel topping, cream together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon with a fork or with your fingers. Take the strawberry-rhubarb sauce and pour into an ungreased casserole dish, leaving ¾-inch to one inch of headspace around the top. Pour the cake batter over the top and sprinkle last with the streusel topping. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.
Where to get local strawberries
Here’s a list of local farms and farm stands offering fresh strawberries — where specified, it includes those that have them pre-picked as well as pick-your-own. For those that offer pick-your-own, be sure to contact each spot directly for the most up-to-date information on picking conditions and availability. Did we miss a southern New Hampshire-area farm stand offering strawberries that’s not on this list? Let us know at food@hippopress.com.
Apple Hill Farm 580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com Cost: $3.75 per pound for pick-your-own, or $8 per pre-picked quart Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road, North Hampton, 926-3721, applecrest.com Cost: $6.25 per pound for pick-your-own; $5.75 per pound if picking eight pounds or more Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Barrett Hill Farm 450 Fitchburg Road, Mason, 878-2848, barretthillfarm.com Cost: Starts at $4.50 per pound for pick-your-own; price gradually decreases the more pounds you pick Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Cost: $4.50 per pound for pick-your-own Hours: Most days, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call or visit the website for the most up-to-date details on picking conditions and times
Butternut Farm 195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, 335-4705, butternutfarm.net Cost: $4.29 per pound for pick-your-own; $3.99 per pound if picking 10 pounds or greater Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Devriendt Farm Products 47 Story Road, Goffstown, 497-2793, devriendtfarm.com Cost: $3.99 per pound for pick-your-own Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fitch’s Corner Farm Stand 499 N. River Road, Milford, find them on Facebook Cost: $4.75 per pint, or $8.99 per quart (pre-picked only; cash or check only) Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Heron Pond Farm 299 Main Ave., South Hampton, 394-0129, heronpondfarm.com Cost: $4.75 per pint, or $9 per quart (pre-picked only; pick-your-own likely coming soon) Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
J&F Farms 124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com Cost: $8 per quart or four quarts for $30 for pick-your-own; $10 per pre-picked quart Hours: Days and times vary for pick-your-own and are regularly posted to social media. The farm’s hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to its website.
Johnson Golden Harvest 412 W. River Road, Hooksett, 210-2031, johnsongoldenharvest.com Cost: $5.99 per pint, or $9.99 per quart (pre-picked only) Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kimball Fruit Farm Route 122, on the Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., border, 978-433-9751 Cost: $3 per pound for pick-your-own Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com Cost: $3.99 per pound for pick-your-own, or $8.49 per pre-picked quart Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lull Farm 65 Broad St., Hollis, 465-7079; 615 Route 13, Milford, 673-3119; livefreeandfarm.com Cost: $9 per quart (pre-picked only) Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Hollis, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Milford
McKenzie’s Farm 71 Northeast Pond Road, Milton, 652-9400, mckenziesfarm.com Cost: $4.29 per pound for pick-your-own; $3.99 per pound if picking 10 pounds or greater Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
McQuesten Farm 330 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-9268, find them on Facebook @mcquesten.farm Cost: $3.99 per pound for pick-your-own, or $7.50 per pre-picked pint Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., for pick-your-own; the farm stand remains open until 5 p.m.
Paradise Farm 468 Center Road, Lyndeborough, 345-0860, paradisefarmnh.com Cost: $8.49 per quart (pre-picked only) Hours: Available at the Milford Farmers Market (milfordnhfarmersmarket.com) on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 300 Elm St. in Milford (across from the New Hampshire Antique Co-op)
Rossview Farm 85 District 5 Road, Concord, 228-4872, rossviewfarm.com Cost: $3.50 per pound for pick-your-own, or $8 per pre-picked quart Hours: Sunday and Monday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smith Farm Stand 131 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, 882-4032, smithfarmhudson.com Cost: $8.50 per quart (pre-picked only) Hours: Most weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Spring Ledge Farm 37 Main St., New London, 526-6253, springledgefarm.com Cost: $7 per quart (cash or check only) Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for pick-your-own. The farm stand is openMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunnycrest Farm 59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com Cost: $4.50 per pound for pick-your-own, or $8.99 per pre-picked quart Hours: Most days, 7 a.m. to noon, for pick-your-own; call or visit the website for the most up-to-date details on picking conditions and times. The farm stand is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Trombly Gardens 150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net Cost: $3.99 per pound for pick-your-own, or $8.50 per pre-picked quart Hours: Days and times vary for pick-your-own and are regularly posted to social media. The farm stand’s summer hours are Sunday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Trombly Gardens in Milford.
The city of Nashua will show love and support for LGBTQ individuals, supporting family members and straight allies with Nashua’s 2022 Pride Festival on Saturday, June 25, from 2 to 6 p.m.
“It’s important to [Mayor Jim Donchess] that everyone feels welcome and part of the community,” said Kathleen Palmer, the communications and special projects coordinator for the office of the mayor.
Before the festival starts, there will be a Pride parade, said Palmer. Attendees who want to walk in the parade can register online in advance at https://hipaa.jotform.com/200574115477151. At the festival grounds, Daunchess will give a speech and religious leaders will hold an interfaith blessing.
Live music will feature transgender artists Who.iAm and St. Blair, the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus, and the local rock band Venom & Mayhem Twins. The Nashua Community Music School will preview their evening concert with music by nonbinary composer Aiden Feltkamp.
Food trucks from Kona Ice, Jeannette’s Concessions, and Soel Sistas will offer Hawaiian-style shaved ice, classic festival deep-fried candies and hand-cut french fries, and tender barbecue and soul food. Stonyfield Yogurt will be handing out free yogurt cups.
A free drag show will be held inside the Court Street Theatre from 3 to 4 pm. The show is geared toward an older audience and wouldn’t be appropriate for children, Palmer said. She added that the Peacock Players Youth Theatre will have games and activities for younger festival goers on the lawn between the library and the Court Street Theatre.
After the festival officially ends, some Nashua businesses want to keep the party going. Martha’s Exchange is hosting an adults-only drag show with Pandora Boxx from Ru Paul’s Drag Race as a special guest. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $35 for VIP, and the doors will open at 7 p.m. There will be a free open mic night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Vibe Yoga (182 Main St.) and a 5 p.m. concert at the Nashua Community Music School (2 Lock St.).
Palmer said that the Office of the Mayor had wanted to introduce an after-festival event for people too young to attend adult-only events but who want to still keep the party going.
“We discovered after the first few years of Pride that there was a big need for things for the youth of the community to do,” Palmer said. They partnered with the Gender and Sexualities Alliance at Nashua Community College and the Unitarian Universalist Church to host an after-festival dance party.
The party is for youth ages 14 to 20 and free. It’s being held at the Unitarian Universalist Church and will start at 7 p.m.
Palmer said that the fun-filled day is one that the mayor’s office hopes emphasizes the message that Nashua is a friendly place for LGBTQ people.
“The event is important to Mayor Donchess,” Palmer said. “We want everyone to know that Nashua is a welcoming city for the LGBTQ community.”
Nashua Pride Festival When: Saturday, June 25, from 2 to 6 p.m. Where: Parade will kick off at Elm Street Middle School, 117 Elm St., and the festival will be at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. Cost: The festival is free; afterparty events prices vary. Visit: https://hipaa.jotform.com/200574115477151 to sign up to walk in the parade.
Find live performances, family fun and shopping in downtown Concord
By Delaney Beaudoin
Market Days Festival is returning for its 48th year this weekend in downtown Concord. Located right on Main Street, the festival will run from Thursday, June 23, through Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. At no cost to attend, the festival has events scheduled for the entire family, making it an ideal and affordable way to spend a summer weekend.
This year, the festival will feature more than 160 vendors setting up tents and booths along Main Street, along with three outdoor stages of live music each day, kid-friendly activities including yoga and bounce houses, a dog-friendly park and three beer gardens. Vendors include local retail stores, restaurants and cafes, nonprofit organizations and local service providers.
Originally known as Old Fashioned Market Days, the festival was started as a way for merchants to clear out their old inventory and make room for the new season. Jessica Martin, Executive Director of the nonprofit Intown Concord, responsible for planning the festival, noted the important role that the Market Days Festival has played in the community of Concord throughout its duration.
“It’s just grown and just became this tradition. It’s kind of taken on a life of its own as far as a community event goes, I think it does a lot for bringing people downtown. We really try to focus on making it accessible for everyone,” Martin said.
In addition to playing a large role in building Concord’s community, the festival acts as an important event for the city’s arts scene. Each of the festival’s three stages will feature a wide array of live music performances throughout each day. Most notably, the nationally known band Vertical Horizon is set to perform on the main stage on Saturday, June 25, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. This performance, born from a collaboration between the festival and the Capitol Center for the Arts, is, according to Executive Director Salvatore Prizio, the first time the pair has hosted such a high-profile artist.
“This is our proof of concept. And if it works really well this year, we’ll come back next year,” he said. “We’re going to mix things up and we’re going to try new things with it and just kind of keep the audience happy and entertained. I want everybody to have a good time.”
The Concord Arts Market will also be set up at the festival, on Pleasant Street each day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. More than 30 artists and artisans will be selling their handmade work. Some of the items available to purchase include fine art paintings, jewelry, photography, handmade soaps and pottery.
“I think it’s an opportunity to bring in a wider audience that we don’t always have, or that we’re not always able to tap into for our regular market,” said Christa Zuber, producer of the Concord Arts Market. According to Zuber, the arts market, which previously operated on a weekly basis, has transitioned to monthly in recent years.
“We found that switching it to monthly from weekly … kind of gives it a little more of an event status. A little more urgency for people to come on the day that it’s there … like if you don’t come, and you’re going to miss it,” she said.
Market Days Festival Here are some of the events planned at this weekend’s festival.
Clueless (PG-13, 1995) film screening Where: Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St., Concord When: Friday, June 24, dusk Red River Theatres will also hold its Music, Movie & Poster sale during Market Days.
Headliner: Vertical Horizon Performance Where: The Main Stage (South Main Street, Concord) When: Saturday, June 25, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
KidZone presented by Vertical Entertainment Where: Statehouse lawn When: June 23 through June 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Meet the Instruments and Students Where: City Hall Plaza When: Saturday, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Storytime Under the Tree Where: State House Lawn When: All three days, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Blossom Yoga Where: State House Lawn When: Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Comedy and Juggling with Jason Tardy Where: City Hall Plaza When: Saturday, June 25, noon and 3 p.m.
Music & Movement with Miss Heather Where: City Hall Plaza When: All three days, 10 a.m.
Zumba for the Whole Family Where: City Hall Plaza When: Friday, June 24, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Doggy Splash Pad Where: By the Statehouse When: June 23 through June 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Concord Pilates Where: Statehouse Lawn When: June 23 through June 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Boy Scouts Mobile Base Camp Where: City Plaza When: Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Concord Arts Market Where: Pleasant Street When: June 23 through June 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Health and safety team for Manchester
A new Public Health and Safety Team has been formed to serve the City of Manchester, combining the efforts of the Manchester Police and Manchester Public Health departments, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. The team, which was announced by Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, Manchester Public Health Director Anna Thomas and Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg at a press conference on June 21, will consist of trained Community Health Workers who have experience and training in advocacy and conflict resolution and speak 14 different languages, collectively. They will be a multilingual point of contact for community and individual health and safety concerns and are trained in “violence interruption,” an evidence-based response technique for non-police and non-emergency matters to help reduce violent crime. The Public Health and Safety Team is one of the programs approved through the American Rescue Plan Act Recommendations.
Safer schools
A request from the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Bureau of School Safety and Facility Management to invest more than $10 million in federal funds in improving the safety infrastructure for all schools in the state was approved by the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, Gov. Chris Sununu announced on June 17. “Ensuring kids are safe in school has been a priority of this administration for years, and this latest $10 million investment into school safety reaffirms our commitment to keeping students safe in the classroom,” Sununu said in a statement. “From our historic school safety taskforce to our initial first-of-its-kind $30 million fund to strengthen security in our schools, New Hampshire remains a leader in school safety investments.”
Voting access
A new law sponsored by Rep. Mark Paige, D-Exeter, will make it easier for New Hampshire students living with disabilities to vote. According to the Associated Press, the legislation requires discussion about voter registration to take place between school officials, parents and students living with disabilities who are age 17 and older as part of the special education planning for the student’s life after graduation. It will take effect in August.
Help for camps
A new program funded by federal Covid relief funds to make summer camp in New Hampshire more accessible to families includes mental health training for camp counselors. According to the Associated Press, 10 staff members from mental health facilities across the state will work with camps across the state to teach counselors how to identify children’s behaviors that may warrant reaching out for professional mental health support. Eight camps have received the training as of mid-June, according to the article.
A coach retires
NHTI Director of Athletics Paul Hogan announced his retirement on June 19 after 43 years working in education and athletics. According to a press release from NHTI, Hogan served as the men’s basketball head coach and athletic director at the school for more than two decades. Prior to that, his teaching, coaching and administrative career included positions at Woodsville, Litchfield, Laconia, Plymouth State and Spaulding High School in Rochester. Hogan has celebrated a total of 649 college basketball wins during his time as a coach — 513 at NHTI and 136 at Plymouth State, as well as two USCAA National Championships. “NHTI has been a very special place for the past 23 years,” Hogan said in a statement about his retirement. “My time with our Lynx will always be cherished. I look forward to continuing my relationship with NHTI in a different role moving into a new chapter of my life.”
Every dog at Cow Palace Creamery in Epping on June 21 had its day when Golden Dog Adventure Co. was slated to host a fundraiser and party for dogs and their owners in honor of National Dog Party Day. Attendees could enjoy a dog costume contest, ice cream and dog cornhole, and Mary’s Dogs Rescue & Adoption — Golden Dog Adventure Co’s charitable partner for the fundraiser — brought dogs available for adoption for people to meet, according to a press release.
Twiggs Gallery in Boscawen will host its second annual Arts Fest on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a “Fun & Fiber” theme. See the story on page 14 of the June 9 issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com) about the current exhibition “Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition.” Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.
The City of Manchester will have its Independence Day celebration on Sunday, July 3, at Arms Park. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be food and beverage vendors, and the 39th Army Band will perform at around 7:30 p.m., until the fireworks begin at around 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, and attendees may bring their own chairs or blankets. The rain date, which would include the fireworks only, is Tuesday, July 5.
Some of you will remember the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” that Clinton’s campaign used in 1992 against President George H.W. Bush. This phrase keeps coming to mind while perusing President Biden’s recent rosy assessment of the current economic climate in the United States. In a speech given by President Biden on June 3 in Delaware, he noted, “A recent survey from the Federal Reserve found that more Americans feel financially comfortable than at any time since the survey began in 2013.”
I am curious to see the details that drove those results, given that Americans are facing a myriad of economic issues. Annual inflation hit 8.6% percent in May versus the current 5 percent pace of wage increases. Gas prices have risen above $5 per gallon. The stock market continues to flirt with bear market territory. While low unemployment is good, too much of a good thing can work against the economy. When too low, it creates negative consequences for businesses in reduced productivity and triggers inflation. A tight labor force is exacerbating shortages in the supply chain and impacting the service industry. There is also the war in Ukraine. And, finally, a shortage of baby formula.
While the current administration tends to put the blame for most of these items on either the war, Covid or the prior administration, Politico reported that Treasury Secretary Yellen publicly admitted that the administration got it wrong on inflation. Trying to recover, the Fed announced the biggest rate hike in 28 years, 75 basis points, and indicated a similar increase could be coming in July.
New Hampshire is certainly not immune to what is happening nationally. According to the Union Leader, Liberty Utilities recently filed to double its price per kilowatt hour, and Eversource is expected to follow suit. It’s an election year, and while Gov. Sununu remains popular, five Republican candidates have filed to run against him in the primary. I happen to like Gov. Sununu and think he has done a fine job leading our state through a tumultuous time. However, voters quickly forget the past when it is time to go to the polls and focus on what their current point of pain is. Voters likely won’t accept finger-pointing at Washington for economic woes in New Hampshire. As a reminder, “It’s the economy….”
An effort that began as crisis management in the pandemic’s early days is poised to be a highlight of this summer and many more. The Northlands Music & Arts Festival is a cultural buffet sure to please many palates. It includes five heavy hitters at the top of the bill: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Twiddle, Lotus, Lettuce and Melvin Seals’ Grateful Revue, a collaboration that promoters believe might not happen again. There’s also a stellar undercard.
After indoor venues shuttered in the dark spring of 2020, Seth McNally and Mike Chadinha of M.E. Productions launched socially distanced Drive-In Live shows at Cheshire Fairgrounds. As restrictions eased the next year, it became Northlands, with audience pods and close to two dozen more events.
This time around, they’re packing an entire season into one weekend. They hope to do two festivals in 2023.
Starting with Russo as a linchpin, the duo built a blend of big-name anchors and curated support acts, like buzzy Jersey jam band Dogs In A Pile, who kick off the show on Friday, June 24, and Blue Star Radiation, a supergroup that includes moe. members Rob Derhak and Vinnie Amico alongside Tim Palmieri of Lotus, and Percy Hill’s Nate Wilson.
Also eagerly anticipated are sets from progressive bluegrass stalwarts Yonder Mountain String Band, and Haley Jane & The Primates playing together for the first time following a long hiatus. Local favorites Dopapod, Lespecial, Pink Talking Fish and Joe Samba — the latter debuting a new album — are other highlights.
Chadinha brought experience organizing the charity-based Uplift Festival in his hometown of Peterborough for several years, and playing drums with circuit veterans Roots of Creation. McNally’s resume includes booking the Flying Monkey in Plymouth and a few other facilities. Professional chemistry is a big part of their success, the two stated in a recent videoconference interview.
“Our dynamic works because we bounce a lot of things off one another,” Chadinha said. “I have the artist angle, he has the back of the house booking angle, and somewhere in the middle of those two, we make things work perfectly for artists and the venue.”
The hope that doing only one event would mean a quicker process turned out to be over-optimistic. “I thought it was going to be maybe a little less work, but it’s the same amount as an entire season,” McNally said. “A hundred times harder than I thought, and 1,000 times more than anybody in the audience knows.”
In an inverse of horn-honking concerts necessitated by the Covid-19 outbreak, scaling back became the only option when the Swanzey facility returned to its normal schedule of fairs and agricultural events. But both McNally and Chadinha are glad things are returning to normal, as they’ve thought about doing an event like this for a while.
“It was the perfect time to take the leap, because a season wasn’t an option,” McNally said. “We decided to pull the trigger almost right after the end of last season and it’s good…. We needed every moment to prepare. Booking alone took four months at least before we got it fully wrapped up. It’s a long process.”
Along with music, there will be a caravan of food trucks, far more than at last year’s Northlands concerts, and more than a dozen craft artisan vendors. There’s also tent and RV camping available. “A lot of unique things are going to be happening for campers; some of them are going to be surprises,” McNally said. “We’re going to keep them occupied and happy the whole time. It’s going to be 24/7 for us as a crew.”
Music will be nonstop, as setup teams quickly transition between two main stages, different from big festivals that force fans to inevitably skip an act or two. “We like being boutique,” Chadinha said. “The stages aren’t far from each other, so you can do a quick shift. With no overlapping sets, there’s no chance you’ll miss anyone.”
The fans in both of them are eager for everything to begin.
“I can’t wait for the music to actually play,” Chadinha said, adding, “I know Dogs In A Pile are going to come out of the gate smoking, because I know the feeling of being the first band on a big festival and thinking, ‘We’re going to get out there and with the first note we’re going to hit it, we’re going to get this started.’ So get there early, and make sure you see them.”
Northlands Music & Arts Festival When: Friday, June 24, 1 p.m. and Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m. Where: Northlands (Cheshire Fairgrounds), 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey Performers June 24 – Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Lotus, Lettuce, Dopapod, Dogs In A Pile, Blue Star Radiation June 25 – Twiddle, Melvin Seals Grateful Revue, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Movement, Lespecial, Pink Talking Fish, Haley Jane & The Primates, The Trichomes, Joe Samba Band Tickets Two-day: general admission $166.35, VIP $254.95, children $43.76 One-day: general admission $95.62, VIP $201.71, children $25.77 Add-ons: Two-day on-site camping $220.75 (RV or tow $237.07), parking $20 and up
Featured photo: Northlands Music & Arts Fest 2021. Courtesy photo.
LaBelle Winery unveils new sparkling wine barn in Derry
Last year was quite a busy one for LaBelle Winery — in 2021 alone, the company introduced a farm-to-table restaurant, a retail market, performance and event spaces and even a golf course, all on a 45-acre property on Route 111 in Derry acquired the previous December. The expansions have continued in the form of an on-site sparkling wine tasting barn and vineyard wedding ceremony space, brand new additions that recently began welcoming visitors. Following a June 8 ribbon cutting with the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, a grand opening celebration is planned for Wednesday, June 22, and will include a cocktail reception, hors d’oeuvres, tours of the new property, an interactive sparkling wine display and more.
Construction on the 3,448-square-foot barn broke ground last October. A short walking path from the northeast end of the parking lot leads to the front doors of the tasting room.
Amy LaBelle, who founded LaBelle Winery in 2005, said building the barn was always part of the plan since she and her husband, Cesar Arboleda, took over the Derry property. Its chief purpose will be a production facility for new sparkling wine varieties created via Méthode Champenoise, a classic French technique only a few New England area wineries are known for.
“We have all these interesting businesses now under the LaBelle umbrella, but we can’t ever forget that the core of LaBelle is wine,” LaBelle said. “Real French-style Champagne is something that I’ve always wanted to make but just didn’t have enough production space for. … So we’ll be able to do that, and I’m really excited to use New England grapes for that process.”
The wines
Plans are currently underway to soon begin producing red, white and rosé sparkling wines out of the new barn. The building features a retail area and tasting room in the front and a production space in the back, plus a covered outdoor patio and an open-air terrace overlooking the vineyard.
Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines are characterized by a second fermentation inside the bottle during the production process. Bottles are intentionally filled with a lower percent ABV wine before yeast is added, as well as a dosage, or a new small amount of wine and sugar, for the yeast to eat. The bottle is then secured with a crown cap for the yeast to go to work.
“It starts breaking down the sugars, creating that extra one or two percent alcohol from what you’ve put in, and creating carbon dioxide as a byproduct,” LaBelle said. “So that’s how that wine gets bubbly. It’s created in the bottle that you’ll eventually drink from. … It also adds these beautiful bread-y notes, which is one reason why I love this method.”
The yeast eventually causes a residual substance called lees to form at the bottom of the bottle. After the second fermentation, LaBelle said, the next step of Méthode Champenoise involves removing the lees through a gradual process known as riddling.
“There are A-frame riddling racks and we place the neck of the bottle into them so that they’re at an angle … and then we turn those bottles every week, maybe just like an eighth of a turn, and that causes the lees to eventually make its way all into the neck,” she said. “That takes a long time, and I never had the space for all these racks before now. I could’ve put them out, but I would’ve had to move them too many times, and that would’ve disturbed the whole process.”
When the lees reaches the bottleneck, it’s flash frozen with nitrogen so it can be removed.
“When the plug goes out, [the bottle] gets a little low, so we fill it back up, pop in the cork and we’re off to the races,” LaBelle said.
LaBelle’s new sparkling wines created using this method will join its dozens of other wines and handcrafted artisan products available for sale out of the barn’s retail area, which include everything from jams, jellies and infused syrups to cooking oils, seasonings and more.
The vineyard
At about 3 acres, LaBelle’s newly planted vineyard in Derry is roughly the same size as its Amherst predecessor. It spans across a former golf course driving range adjacent to the wine barn, with a direct path from there to a central wedding ceremony space among the vines.
“In the middle of the vineyard, we’ve created an arbor built largely out of wine barrel materials,” LaBelle said. “So the idea is that if you want to get married in the vineyard, that space is available to you, and then you would recess up the path to the terrace, which fits 200 people for your cocktail hour. … Then you can go over to our ballroom for your dinner.”
Three grape varieties that have been planted in the vineyard — known as itasca, petit pear and cayuga — are all cold-hardy varieties suitable to withstand the cold winter climate. It will take about two years for the new vines to produce fruit that can be used for winemaking, LaBelle said, and until then the winery is expected to use grapes grown by local farmers.
“We’ll also be planting at the other side of the barn … so when you stand in the tasting room, you’ll literally be surrounded by vineyards, and you won’t be able to see the outside world,” she said. “We really wanted to give people that sense of being transported to wine country.”
The celebration
If you missed last week’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the wine barn, a ticketed grand opening celebration on June 22 will feature a uniquely intimate opportunity to experience the new space.
Attendees will get a chance to tour the property and learn more about the Méthode Champenoise process of making sparkling wine, as well as enjoy hors d’oeuvres and hear future plans for the barn. All ticket holders will also receive a complimentary signed copy of With a Twist, LaBelle’s own cocktail recipe book. The evening will even feature an interactive sparkling wine display.
“We have a performer coming who has a Champagne dress, so you’ll be served Champagne glasses from her dress, which is a whole thing,” LaBelle said. “It will be a lot of fun.”
LaBelle Winery Derry sparkling wine barn A grand opening celebration is happening on Wednesday, June 22, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased online.
Where: 14 Route 111, Derry Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. (the barn stays open an hour later on Thursdays, until 6 p.m., during LaBelle Winery’s concert nights) Cost: Tastings are six for $14 or 10 for $20 More info: Visit labellewinery.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram or call 672-9898
Featured photo: Sparkling wines are placed on riddling racks during the production process to remove excess yeast. Photo by Matt Ingersoll.
