Founded in 1995 by Jim Shortt and his late mother Dolly, Shortt’s Farm began as a modest 4-acre farmstead nestled on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. Their vision was simple yet powerful: to grow honest, nourishing food while offering a community gathering place rooted in tradition. Over the years, the Shortt family expanded the property, transitioning from a garden center to a fully functioning organic farm and CSA hub, keeping the original spirit of local, hands-on farming alive.

The farm has steadily grown through the decades, with notable expansions in 2008 and again in 2021, adding acreage and increasing their capacity to grow an impressive array of USDA-certified organic produce. Today, Shortt’s Farm is stewarded by Jim and his wife Sue, who are not only deeply committed to the land, but also to the future—building a legacy for their two sons and a farm that will hopefully carry into the next generation. Their popular CSA program connects local families to the harvest each week, while partnerships with small producers in the region enrich their offerings with meat, dairy, and pantry items.

The farm remains a cherished part of the Newtown and Sandy Hook communities, hosting an honor-based store, a bustling ice cream shop featuring Big Dipper homestyle scoops, and a presence at the Newtown Farmers’ Market. Whether picking up a CSA basket, chatting about heirloom tomatoes, or grabbing a cone after visiting the goats, Shortt’s Farm offers a warm, timeless experience—a true family operation grounded in integrity, stewardship, and love for the land.

Vegetables (USDA Certified Organic)

• Lettuce
• Swiss chard
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Bok choy
• Bush beans
• Carrots
• Beets
• Onions (red & white)
• Scallions
• Leeks
• Potatoes (including sweet potatoes)
• Celery
• Radishes
• Summer squash
• Winter squash
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom, cherry, slicing)
• Eggplant
• Sweet peppers (all colors)
• Arugula
• Garlic
• Garlic scapes
• Cucumbers

Fruit

• Connecticut-grown seasonal fruit (unspecified varieties)

Dairy & Eggs

• Arethusa milk and cheese
• Farm-fresh eggs

Meat & Poultry

• Meat CSA add-on: beef, pork, poultry, and fish from Butcher’s Best and Why Not Farm
• Nodine’s Smokehouse pork products

Pantry & Specialty Items

• Big Dipper ice cream (including vegan flavors: vegan cookie butter and vegan vanilla)
• Local honey, maple syrup, pickles, jams, and jellies
• Loree’s frozen pies, fresh-baked items, tomato sauce, sriracha
• BD Provisions dry goods
• Organic fertilizers (North Country Organics, Neptune’s Harvest, McEnroe compost)
• Seaweed and fish emulsion
• Salt hay and bag hay

Plants

• Organic vegetable plants (many heirloom varieties)
• Garden supplies