Homegrown In Vermont
Just south of Malletts Bay, Sam Mazza’s Family Farm celebrates the seasons in its market, bakery, and greenhouses.
Fresh produce in season, bakery goods, greenhouse plants, and holiday décor are also part of the experience.
With roots in a general store that opened in 1935, Sam Mazza’s Family Farm is located in Colchester, Vermont, where three generations of the family currently work the 350-acre farmstead. The original general store was located on Mallets Bay Avenue and operated by Sam Mazza Sr., who also was a butcher.
In 1969, Sam Mazza Jr. and his wife, Annette, started their own farm where the farm market and greenhouses are currently located, adjacent to his father’s land. The first small greenhouse and retail store at that site opened in 1988, and the bakery was added in 1992. The farm has a tradition of employing local high school students on a part-time basis to help out during the summer, which is typically the farm’s busiest season.
Sam Mazza’s is also a Harvest Hosts location, so RVers can camp at the farm. Harvest Hosts is a program that allows its RV-owning members to stay overnight at over 4,000 farms, wineries, breweries, museums, golf courses, and other attractions across North America.
In winter, locals and Harvest Hosts guests can check out Christmas trees at Sam Mazza’s, along with poinsettias, Vermont gift baskets, and other holiday items.
As the holiday season nears, Sam Mazza’s stocks its market with Christmas trees, handmade wreaths, gift baskets, and garlands. In the greenhouses — spanning over 100,000 square feet of growing space across 17 buildings — you’ll find poinsettias, houseplants, and African violets. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, head toward the bakery for fresh bread, apple pies, raspberry crescents, and other seasonal baked goods.
The farm also functions as a community center, as it hosts two festivals and other seasonal events throughout the year. The Strawberry Festival is held in June and celebrates everything strawberry. Visitors can enjoy strawberry milkshakes, jam, fudge, shortcakes, and much more. Starting in October, the Harvest Festival has all the autumnal staples: hayrides, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin pie, and a corn maze. In December, you may have the chance to meet Santa and decorate cookies, and kids can participate in other arts and crafts activities. If you need space for an outdoor event, you can rent the 40-by-60-foot pavilion space next to the farm market.
Navigating Sam Mazza’s corn maze is a popular autumn adventure. This year, images of animals — and the state of Vermont — were artfully carved into the fields.
Linda Burnap, an FMCA and Harvest Hosts member, camped at Sam Mazza’s earlier this year and was impressed by the courteous and helpful staff. “We were there in the spring and missed the corn maze, but locals told us it is quite the attraction along with the hayrides,” Linda said. “The Vermont-specialty products, seasonal produce, baked goods, and maple creemees really cannot be beaten! Sam Mazza’s Market is a generational business with generational customers, and we can tell you that we’ll stop by and request a stay any time we’re in the area.”
Details
Sam Mazza’s Farm
277 Lavigne Road
Colchester, VT 05446
(802) 655-3440
www.sammazzafarms.com
Bookshelf
Off To The Park
Add to the fun of national park visits for children ages 6 to 9 by providing them a travel journal to capture their memories. Published in August 2022, Jason and Abby Epperson’s National Parks Journal For Kids: Log And Remember Your Awesome Outdoor Adventures allows youngsters to record their experiences at national parks through guided journaling. With space to write about four U.S. national park visits, kids can answer questions, draw pictures, and complete other park-related activities by filling in blank spaces within the 96-page book. While adding their information to the journal, they also can learn new things by reading trivia and fun facts about certain national parks.
Jason and Abby Epperson, the minds behind RV Miles and the “America’s National Parks” podcast, have been traveling the United States full-time with their children since 2016. You can find their website at rvmiles.com and their podcast at nationalparkpodcast.com.
National Parks Journal For Kids: Log And Remember Your Awesome Outdoor Adventures (Rockridge Press, $9.99) is available for purchase at various bookseller websites and stores.
App File
Holiday Season
The winter season is upon us. It’s time to get ready for snow, ice, igloos, holidays, and family get-togethers. We’ve gathered a few apps to help you with December festivities. Note that the apps themselves are free; the products and services they provide are available for purchase.
Punchbowl: Personalize and send online invitations and greeting cards to your friends and loved ones, all through one app. Whether it’s holiday-themed, for a birthday, or even just to say “Thank you,” sending digital cards with the app is simple and user-friendly. You can use Punchbowl’s art or import your own photos. For invitations, the app allows you to keep track of RSVPs, add and chat with guests, and send by email or text. Free on iOS and Android. www.punchbowl.com
Print Studio: Whether you’re memorializing a special moment or just taking a picture for fun, it’s always nice to see your photos professionally developed. The Print Studio app provides various options for having your pictures printed. Possibilities include classic matte prints, framed photographs, and photo books. Or your pictures can be emblazoned on home décor, calendars, stationery, and more. In the app, you can crop and edit your photo, customize your order, and have it mailed to nearly anywhere in the world. Free on iOS. www.socialprintstudio.com
Etsy: Looking for an unusual gift? Etsy, both the website and the app, allows you to peruse and purchase one-of-a-kind items, many of them handmade by skilled artists and craftspeople. You can even chat with shop owners to ask about products or customization, and many of them are quick to reply. While shopping, you can compile lists of products you’ve liked and come back to them later. With millions of items available, there really is something for everyone. Free on iOS and Android. www.etsy.com