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Subcommittee hears Rocky Hill Community Farm update: 34 plots sold, holding tank and utilities remain
Summary
Parks staff told the April 27 subcommittee that the Rocky Hill Community Farm has sold 34 garden plots and ordered raised beds, but shallow ledge requires a holding tank for wastewater, and water and a permanent bathroom are not expected until later in the year.
Parks staff updated the Open Space Land Acquisition & Farmland Preservation Subcommittee on April 27 about the Rocky Hill Community Farm, reporting that the program has sold 34 plots and that site work and utilities are in progress.
"We've sold 34 plots, 20 at 15 by 15 and 14 at 10 by 20," the staff member reported, and said plot staking and a final field turn are expected this weekend, which will likely delay opening by a few days. The committee was told the plots should be ready by mid‑next week, weather permitting.
Staff described site infrastructure: test pits showed ledge at about 3 feet, and Connecticut Department of Public Health staff indicated a buried holding tank would be an acceptable interim wastewater solution. The committee discussed options for a roughly 2,000‑gallon buried holding tank and noted that without a septic system there will be no permanent bathroom until the fall. Electric wiring is in place and an Eversource meter is expected; municipal water service was reported as connected by MDC to a shutoff, with final hookups pending a licensed contractor’s work.
Staff also said the program secured 12 raised beds at about $200 each (two feet by eight feet) and that porta‑potties are on site with weekly servicing. Members thanked highway and parks staff for recent site preparation and discussed coordinating parking and pick‑your‑own operations nearby when seasonal events overlap.
What's next: the farm’s opening hinges on completing the final field turn and staking; the barn will be used for storage until water and a permanent septic solution are installed. Staff will return with further logistical updates as utilities and site work progress.
