Jacobsons Retire, Hillhaven Closes

Rich Jacobson gives the thumbs up sign. He and his wife, Jane, are ready to embark on a new and exciting chapter in their lives. They recently auctioned the items from the Hillhaven Farm Stand they operated for nearly 30 years in Stamford and are ready for their long anticipated move to Alaska.

STAMFORD  –  With Mother's Day this Sunday, more than a few will likely be disappointed to note that Hillhaven Farm at the intersection of state Rtes. 10 and 23 has closed and the corner is now empty. The Jacobson's have retired after operating the farm stand on the corner for the past 29 years. Now they are looking toward the next chapter in their lives, moving to Alaska.

The farm stand was a  popular place. They opened in early spring to sell plants, vegetables and fruit and continued through the fall harvest, ending with Christmas trees, kissing balls, fruit baskets and wreaths.

Their four children have all left the nest and no one wanted to take on the family business for themselves, said Jacobson.  Rich understands, it is seven days a week with 10 to 14-hour days. As they get older, he said, it takes them longer to get things done and now it's time to "step back". They worked hard to build and very much enjoyed their resurrected farm and bringing the fruits of their labor to others to enjoy.

An April 18 auction at the farm stand saw things sell quickly he said and everything was sold at the auction. "It went quick," he said.

Now at the home farm in Jefferson, the greenhouses are empty, the garlic patch is bare, and there are no chickens. While it is strange not to be moving plants from their greenhouses and setting up for the season, Jane admits it is nice.

Their leaving is bittersweet. They are both ready to embark on the next chapter, or as Rich refers to his goals, the next 10 years. "I usually set my goals for 10 years. I'm proud of the fact that I haven't not reached any of my goals. This is my last 10 though, I'm running out of 10's," he said with a smile. 

Moving to Alaska has been Rich's dream since he was 12 and he has been on his bucket list for a long time. And you shouldn't lament for Jane or think that he is "dragging her along". She's a very willing partner in his dream. It is their dream now. "I can't wait," she said earlier this week. "It's so beautiful there."

They are hoping the snow has all melted by the time they arrive at their new home over the next few weeks. Rich shows pictures of their house in Alaska and talks about his plans to do more work on the house  and to construct a greenhouse. "Vegetables only this time," he said.

Of course the growing season is shorter there, but he knows how to "trick" the plants into growing.

"It's beautiful, rugged land. We have so much to learn about living in Alaska. It's hazardous country. I grew up in the country, but moving there it's like I have lived in the city." 

He said they could be trampled by a moose or attacked by a bear. There are no neighbors for at least a half mile, and that is what he enjoys most. The freedom of being able to be self reliant and self sufficient. "That's what we are going to work toward. Jane fell in love with it the first time went."

They bought the farm where Jane's grandparents lived, which has been in the family since 1946 when Madeline and Fred Deathridge named it Hillhaven. Fred was a merchant marine and Madeline lived there up until she was 94. The old farmhouse was built in 1865 and is still being renovated, like most old homes in the region. It along with the farm is now for sale.

The farm is a turnkey operation. They added the  subdivided land back over the years.There are greenhouses, four acres of blueberries with two and a half acres of you-pick blueberries. A huge plot of  garlic. Greenhouses and there are a few apple trees and much more on the more than 160 acres. The family has done it all themselves.

Over the past 29 years they have made a lot of friends. "All in all it was a good experience, we met a lot of different people. But I had to just step back from seven days per week  and 8 to 14-hour days,” said Rich. 

He looks at the neighbors house across the road. There never used to be a house there, but now it is right in their face. "We have to get out of the burbs. There were only a couple of farms on this road when we first moved here. Now it is like we are in the suburbs," he said.

"They won't be coming back," he said, but thanks to the internet, they will be able to see their grandchildren grow and keep in touch.

Their many friends wish them well on their next chapter.