Guidelines for Parking Lot Refreshments

Welcome! We invite all visitors to come and enjoy a peaceful day in the woods with their family and to find a perfect tree for their Christmas celebration or in the fields to find a great pumpkin or some delicious summer berries. On our very busy weekends, parking is a premium at our farm locations and thus we need to ensure all guests looking to harvest with us have the ability to find parking.

Our guidelines regarding parking lot refreshments and activities during harvest seasons are as follows:

• At Christmas time, all cars are expected to leave with at least one tree.
• Simple snacks and/or refreshments, such as homemade sandwiches and hot cocoa from a thermos, are not a problem if served on the rear tailgate or standing near a vehicle.
• Carry In/Carry Out is our policy. Each guest is asked to please remove (take home) his or her trash from the farm.
• Due to crowded parking lots groups may not request to park in a designated area.
• Our farm crew and parking attendants decide what is safe for all our guests.
• We cannot allow fires, grills or cooking of any kind. (Our parking areas are hay fields.)
• Tables and chairs cannot be set up due to overcrowding parking spaces, and for the safety of vehicles driving through the lots.
• Jones Family Farms is a NO Smoking farm. (This includes pipes and cigars.)
• Outside alcohol is not allowed on the farm.
• Game/ball playing cannot be allowed for the safety of all our guests.
• Tents or canopies can't be set up due to crowded parking situations.
• Children should be attended to at all times. (This has been an issue as children have wandered away and fell in the pond, twisted ankles, etc. while parents were busy tailgating.)

Over the past few years, group activities have become increasingly elaborate and have included too many guests who do not purchase farm product. We have revised our group policy. No longer can we allow groups to “party”.

Unfortunately, we have observed that, for some, more emphasis is being placed on the party in the parking area and less on taking a walk on the farm and finding beautiful trees. Other farm guests have complained to us about the party atmosphere in the parking lot and our parking staff is increasingly challenged trying to provide sufficient, safe parking for all farm guests. We want to be able to provide a happy experience for all of our guests.

Remember, our purpose in having guests visit our farm is to provide an experience of harvesting in the fields or hiking some beautiful CT land and cutting down a Christmas tree. Our livelihood is dependent upon our guests harvesting our products. Please respect our private property as you expect others to respect yours.

Groups hosting non-permitted parties have upset our other guests and can sometimes get out of hand. We reserve the right to ask any groups/individuals that are participating in unwanted activities to leave the farm.

Guests are required to vacate our parking area when requested by our parking staff or by dusk.

Once again, we thank you for visiting our farm. We believe that following the above guidelines will make for a very pleasant experience for all of our visitors, including you.