McKay's Family Farm Market Expands in Williamstown
The greenhouse will be opening in the next couple weeks but pansies are available now.
In October, the McKays took over the former Chenail's Farmstand on Simonds Road. McKay's Family Farm is located in Stamford, Vt., and raises cattle, sheep, horses and goats and grows a variety of vegetables. They have expanded into the shopping plaza near the greenhouse.
"We took over growing mums and pumpkins and stuff, and then folks just kept coming in, asking for different things, and we just kept expanding our offerings," said Luke McKay. "And before long, we realized that half of the greenhouse was full of retail supplies and that we were growing so quick that we need to figure out what our next step was.
"The space became available, and we decided to make this our retail operation so that we could continue to have more space for plants and shrubs and trees and all the good stuff that we're gonna put in."
The family had noticed the building, part of the property with the farmstand, became available in December and decided to move in. He said customers were looking for a place to buy feed and to support locally.
"It was just a couple of bags of grain back in the fall when we opened up. And more and more folks said that they didn't want to go to box stores that they wanted to support a local business to be able to buy their feed for their animals or their pet foods and such," he said.
The store sells Nutrena Feeds and Blue Seal, garden supplies and stoves and pellets. It also offers goods from other local farms, whether it be eggs, meat, or more.
"We work with USDA butchers have it all processed so other producers can bring their meats or eggs or honeys, whatever they have here," he said. "We're happy to work out a deal to to sell it for them. You know, the goal is to offer the community local and fresh products, not only from our farm, but from the community."
Once the weather is consistently nicer, the family has plans to do more with their animals and for children in the area.
"When we opened, we had no plans to doing this. You know, this just kind of fell in our lap and we took the opportunity when we could," McKay said. "We do have some future plans coming up within the next couple of months, out front in the yard. We're going to put a play set up for the kids.
"We're going to have an ice cream trailer out front for the summertime. We'll have a couple of goats and sheep out there for the kids to feed and play with. And we'll be getting all of our soils and mulches and stuff in pretty quick. And then we'll see where the next set of progress comes from."
The store not only has feed but currently has baby ducks and chicks, fire pits and wood stoves, gardening needs, and more.
"Basically, our goal is to be your one-stop shop for all your feeds, seeds and needs. That's our biggest, that's what we pride ourselves on. Want to make sure that we can support the community again, and anything that anybody needs, just feel free to ask," he said. "Like, that's how this all started. Folks just kept saying, hey, we need you should carry this. You should carry that. And that's how the expansion came about."
The McKay also said the greenhouse will be opening in the next couple of weeks. The store is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tags: farm & garden, farmers market, garden center,
