Star Light Gardens

Take a look around the farm and at first glance you may not see it but there are a lot of new and exciting things going on. Perhaps it is because some of these new things are small enough they could be easily overlooked. Or the fact that some of this newness is taking place further in the back fields and out of sight as it maybe. We suppose some of the new isn’t enough of a change in things to the casual observer, but it surely is new to us. And admittedly so, we are a small operation so perhaps even this newness that is so in the face for us isn’t much of a big deal to most.

Maybe breaking new to us ground is well only exciting to farmers like ourselves but we would be speaking out of step to say that opening up new field space in Middlefield is anything less than a thrill. In an ambitious plan to free up space in our most production friendly beds in Durham, we decided to plant all of this years onions and kale in the outside field space in Middlefield. This may not sound like a wild idea to most but if you saw this overgrown area and combine that vision with the fact it is being done without the use of mechanical intervention, than the ambitiousness of this plan would be clear. However, through the use of tarps and with the hard work of the crew, we now not only have areas prepped for onions, Kale and Collards in the ground, but also arguably the hardest prepping of the season(hopefully) out of the way. Some more new things have come in the way of the first official planting of J and J’s home orchard. Four elderberry bushes, two pear, two peach and three apple trees have been planted into the front most pasture in Middlefield. Unfortunately, we have neither the space nor ambition to tend and actual orchard, so this fruit won’t be making it to market, though in the years to come we hope to be able to offer some value added products from our humble plantings.

One of the most in your face things to happen on the farm this past week is 7 fresh new hair cuts. No not to soften up the rough edges of the farmers but for the sheep. So they not only look cool all summer long but actually stay cool while their home made sweaters slowly regrow. Another in your face thing on the farm these days that frankly isn’t at all new is the ramping up of you Spring Plant Sale. Take one look into our nursery and it quickly becomes apparent just how busy we have been prepping for all of this. We have a had a lot of the herbs and some cold weather veg on the website and at the markets the past couple of weeks with more being added each week. As the weather gets warmer the selection will grow with tomatoes, peppers and flowers showing up at the market and online as soon as next week. As always we encourage your growing questions, stories, hopes, dreams, successes and failures, after all we do love talking plants.

Have a Great week

Though Spring by all accounts is here, the fierceness of Winter itself doesn’t want to let go. The was extremely evident this past Thursday as a snowy squall filled the first half of that day. Cold temperatures, wind and snow aside we remained steadfast in our goals to prep and plant. This past week saw ambitious goals like planting tomatoes, the seasons first flowers, getting ready for the NOFA field day, not to mention all the seeding and potting that needs to be done in the nursery this time of year. Though mama Nature was determined to make us work for it with the help of our crew both new and old we were determined to get it all done starting off with planting the seasons first tomatoes in the heated tunnel named Mizuna.

Now the saga of the heat itself has been quite an ordeal one that started back in February when we attempted to fire up the heater, to thaw out the veg and harvest. It was then we discovered that mice had made themselves a home inside and as mice do chewed some wires while in there. After cleaning out the mouse nest assessing the damage and electrical taping the wires, we were a little closer to but still not achieving flame. With the expert guidance of technical assistance we were able to crimp the damaged wires and finally achieve flame, success or so we thought. Though we were getting flame upon testing the heater in preparation for planting we quickly realized the heater was not putting out nearly enough btu’s. A strange problem that seemed to make no sense as the heater seemed to run fine giving us no error codes. After several conversations with technical support and some trouble shooting help from our propane delivery guy what seemed most likely was a blockage some where in the burner gas line. So taking the piping which leads to the cast iron burner apart was the next step. Once disassembled a quick inspection of the brass fitting where the propane enters the burner did appear to show a blockage. Remove that fitting and we find a little jumping spider that had crawled in there for safety during a molt(a bad choice for spidey it turned out). Everything was reassembled tested for leaks and fired back up and yes we have heat and the tomato planting is on. So we ran the heater over night Tuesday as a test and Wednesday planted around 50 grafted heirlooms and 75 or so sungolds.

Feeling confident in our fixes and the safety of the tomatoes before closing everything down for the evening Joel decided to see how the tomato planting had went and enjoy the heated tunnel. Then as he starred through the small port hole where the led error light indicator was to his horror a two flash error code was discovered and the tunnel was getting cold. Turning the heater off then on again resulted in ignition and the heat began to flow for now. A couple of hours later Joel again went out to check the heater and once again the red led light of horror flashed twice like a mocking wink. Turning it off and on once again remedied the problem, but without their temperature monitoring system in place it seemed J and J were in for a sleepless night, trading shifts throughout to check. Thursday was cold enough that the heater would run all day and in fact it did without issue. Similarly overnight and into Friday everything was fine and we resolved ourselves to the fact that perhaps the issue had worked itself out. However, one should know better than to think such things and when checked early Saturday the evil red wink was back, but luckily temperatures hadn’t fallen too low. Another lucky thing was that we do have temperature monitors they simply had not been set up yet in Middlefield. Apparently all we needed was the proper motivation and once the dust settled on Saturday the system was set up and working like a charm. Though the issue was not resolved nightly shifts to check the heater have been replaced with a phone call if the tunnel goes below 45. Not the best wake up call but it surely beats a sleepless night. With some luck and guidance from technical assistance we should be able to resolve the issue this week.

To be clear this past week was much more than just cold sleepless nights and heating issues. This week we welcomed the majority of our main season crew to the farm. The fresh faces and enthusiasm of the new crew members truly is what we need to push us through these last cold days. Their first week went great helping us check many items like planting flowers and tomatoes to name a few off our to do list, even with the hiccups this week brought. We also celebrated 20 years of the CitySeed Saturday New Haven market and despite the cold and wind had a tremendous start to the main season. Saturday also saw SLG hosting a CT NOFA field day, that went off without a hitch, . The event was well attended with the people from CT NOFA, the guest speakers and the attendees being very engaged and enthusiastic, Joel was even able to talk his way through more than the 45 minutes required for the farm tour. We want to give a big thank you to CT NOFA, NCRS, FSA, CT Greenhouse company and all the participants for a great field day here at Star Light Gardens. And of course a big Thank You to all of you the Good Food People.

Have a Great week

Collectively we’re all hoping that April isn’t going to be be fooling us with the arrival of Spring and hoping for just a little bit more of a reprieve from precipitation(at least for a while). Meanwhile we cannot be deterred and have to press forward. You may recall us mentioning our intention to get the first outside plantings in the fields of Durham this past week. We are pleased to report that both kale and red long of Tropea onions have been planted in the fields of Durham. It even felt good enough to power harrow a few rows with the tractor. Meanwhile the dance between late winter/early spring plantings and summer crops in the high tunnels continues in Full force. Lettuce, spinach and beets to name a few lay in wait ready to quickly replace beds of brassicas which were seeded in December. These early Spring plantings will be the last of cool weather crops planted in the tunnels until after the summer run of heat loving crops. There are a few exceptions to this of course. The tunnels where late tomatoes and Fall/Winter carrots will be planted may have another round of direct seeding or transplanting in their future depending on the timing of things.

The need to plant, prep, seed and repeat is nearly at it’s peak the timing of which is working out just perfectly. This week we will be welcoming three of the five new crew members that will be joining us for the 2024 season. Besides J and J , Sam and Zoe have been helping to hold things down the past couple of months. But as the workload begins to pile up and the opening day of the farmer’s markets are on the horizon we are enthusiastic to have some fresh faces and extra help around the farm.

Speaking of Farmer’s markets this past Saturday was the conclusion of the 2024 New Haven Winter market season. It was certainly the best winter market we have seen yet and we are so pleased to continue to see it grow. This coming Saturday marks the 20th(that’s right 20th) anniversary of the CitySeed Saturday New Haven market. Same location at Conte West School just outside and opening one hour earlier 9-1. To celebrate and commemorate the occasion 89.5 WPKN will be on hand. They are a great community radio station that will definitely add to the celebration of this little Saturday community that many of us know and love. And of course David himself will be there with tales of the humble origins of this now incredible community and Farmer’s Market.

Not that we encourage missing the market that day(in fact we don’t) but other goings on that day include a CT NOFA field day hosted by none other than your very own Star Light Gardens. High Tunnels How to Get and Use Them will be taking place 4/6 from 10-2 at SLGNW in Middlefield, all details linked above. And while we are on the topics of CT NOFA and the wonderful community that is you The Good Food People, we are pleased to announce the we have met and surpassed our fund raising goal for the CT NOFA Farm Share program. The continued support from all of you in efforts like this, speaks to the power and heart of the Good Food Movement, we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it and cannot thank all of you enough.

Have a Great week

We’ve waited and waited and waited but we can’t wait any longer, it’s time to plant outside. We certainly are happy to have waited as long as we have, considering the night time lows and rain of this past week . Though teased as usual by Spring temps in late Winter we remained disciplined and protected inside. With any luck we can leave that type of weather behind us and that is what we will be thinking tomorrow as we plant this year’s first kale and onions outside into the fields in Durham. If the weather seems right enough we may even fire up the tractor and harrow then cover a few beds in preparation for the coming weeks.

One key ingredient to the preparation is compost. Generally we get at least one but in some years two 35 yard loads delivered to each farm property a year. With the overly wet weather we have had timing the delivery to Durham can be a bit tricky. However conditions early Friday were perfect and the timing of which could not have been better. In Middlefield the timing of such deliveries is not as complicated, as was communicated to the dispatch their dispatch. ‘And we knew they were coming Monday morning, we just did not realize between 9-12 meant 7:50. Imagine our surprise as we poured another cup of coffee and refine this week’s plan only to hear then see the dump truck pulling in the driveway. This sent J and J running outside into the morning air to move the vehicles that perhaps should have been moved Sunday afternoon. We have to give a shout out to the drivers over at We Care Denali for skill in backing down the farm road in Durham and their patience dealing with us first thing on Monday morning. Two farmers running around outside in the pajamas aside, it is always a great feeling to have a fresh delivery of compost to start the season off.

Speaking of starting the season off the opening day of the 20th annual CitySeed Saturday New Haven Market is right around the Corner. Saturday April 6th we will be back outside at Conte West School opening one hour earlier from 9-1. Special guest and as some have described the greatest radio station on earth 89.5 WPKN will be on hand to celebrate and hear testimonial about the market from vendors and customers. Here at SLG we will be stretching ourselves a bit thin while also hosting a CT NOFA field day on farm April 6th as well. High Tunnels: How to Get and Use Them will take place in Middlefield from 10am-2pm details in the link. But don’t worry we will be in full force at the market that day. That will also be the kickoff for our annual plant sale, you’ll start to see a selection of colder weather plants show up online and at market and as the weather warms up more and more of your hot weather favorites, then before we know it summer will be at our doorstep.

Have a great week

With the beautiful temps we experienced last week and the fact that Spring is literally just around the corner the desire to get planting in the fields themselves is nearly impossible to fight. But we’ve learned our lesson enough times and as a result have been habitually checking the night time lows for this week. Though earlier last week, forested lows were just a bit below freezing, currently lows well into the 20’s are predicted for Wednesday and Thursday. This doesn’t change our need to and want to get things into the ground so we will be prepping as many areas as possible. Of course the need for table space in the nursery continues to be at an all time high and is exacerbated by the fact that Ginger and Turmeric have arrived from our friend Biker Dude. Those will be occupying all the basement space by the start of next week. This means one thing for sure, that it is time to fire up the nursery in Durham. Luckily we will be able to use this as a hardening off zone for all the plants we want to get into the ground by week’s end. By simply setting the thermostat to around 30 will allow the transplants to experience just enough cold before to prepare them for life in the fields.

The onset of this month surely has been a mix of both the lion and the lamb. Just look at last week, Monday’s winds howled through the landscapes chilling farmers to the bone, and leaving us with the unsettled feeling only high wind gusts. Meanwhile the remainder of the week had us feeling that Spring is here. Of course Mother Nature reminded us who was in charge last Monday finishing the job she started removing the plastic from the high tunnel named Paul. The only patch that will fix it now is an entire new cover for the house, but with as many high tunnels as we have we will only benefit from the practice. Speaking of high tunnels we are pleased to announce Star Light Gardens is hosting a CT NOFA field day on April 6, specifically on high tunnels. Info and link to sign up is here High Tunnels how to get and use them. We are excited to be able to host the field day which is made possible by TOPP the Transition to Organic Partnership Program(more on this to come).

With Spring’s arrival we are also returning to the Pick up shed to the left of the driveway at 54 Fowler. Over the Winter to protect from the frigid temps pick up was switched to the studio to the right of the orange house. With warmer temps coming we are returning to the original Pick Up location. Other changes with the Spring include only two more Saturday Winter markets inside the auditorium of Conte West School . Saturday April 6th the Market will return outside to the parking lot and open an hour earlier from 9-1. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the start of CitySeed’s Saturday market, something we are particularly proud of since Star Light Gardens was there from the beginning. David the Tomato scientist/therapist will be on hand, to tell tales of the early days of Star Light and the market. This weekly gathering that happens all but three Saturday’s a year has really turned into a community. We are so fortunate to be apart of it and the Good Food Movement, a big thank you to all involved.

Have a great week

The first time we set eyes upon the unfinished 200ft high tunnel nicknamed the Jungle, to say we were a little intimidated would be a slight understatement. Like much of the Middlefield property it was over grown, rocky and well let us be honest quite the dismal sight. More than likely it is this feeling of intimidation from all these large overgrown parcels which at least in part has inspired the journey of land reclamation and remediation through the age old process of cover cropping and grazing animals. Such farming practices though as old as agriculture itself have largely fallen out of favor with the modern age of American Agriculture. Yet’ among this grim landscape of over mechanized, chemical driven, mono culturals there is hope. All along the horizon members of the good food movement reinvigorate the the notion of food as medicine and the soil as a complete ecosystem unto itself.

It is with this thought in our minds, that intimidation we mentioned and the pleasant notion of letting our animals do the heavy lifting for us, that the stage is set for the first chapter in the story of the Jungle. After all clearing and prepping a bed for us the growers is a laborious task but for the chickens and sheep it is simply grazing, the thing they are naturally inclined to do. Unfortunately the original removal of large rocks, sumac trees and perennial grasses did require quite a deal of effort over the course of a year. After doing this half of this tunnel was planted into tomatoes and sunflowers and the other half occasionally housed the sheep when the timing worked out. That half was then tarped for a couple of weeks in early summer and in late summer planted with a cover crop mix of peas, oats and diakon or tillage radish, destined to be winter forage for the animals. The half planted in tomatoes and sunflowers was then planted with salad brassicas in early fall, growing into one of the more beautiful stands of greens on the farm this Winter. Last week we harvested from these greens one last time and then at long last released the sheep onto the whole of the tunnel, so their feasting could commence. The chickens would be added the following morning. With less than a week in the Jungle, today will be the last day for the sheep as they have nearly exhausted all the grazing for animals their size. The chickens will remain for a day or two after which we will give it a quick mow, let the chickens graze another day, tarp for a few weeks and prep for another season of tomatoes and flowers.

Already are heads are beginning to fill with images of a beautiful stand of early Summer flowers and a lush and pleasantly intimidating tomato jungle in the background. These first early steps in rediscovering and refining a more closed loop and regenerative farming practice are key. These early steps and successes will give us the experience and confidence to apply the systems which respect and encourage the soil as a whole ecosystem more widely throughout both farm properties. We of course could not do any of this without the confidence and support given by all of you out there who support growers like us and the Good Food Movement.

Have a great week

Help us support and participate in the CT NOFA 2024 Farm Share Program. Our goal is to provide $330 Market Cards to 9 households this spring and summer. CT NOFA can match up to $600 donated to help us achieve this goal. Here is a link to make a tax deductible donation towards fundraising for this effort. Any additional funds will go towards providing more Market Cards. Thank you!

While the effort put into the original patching of the high tunnel affectionately named after our cat Paul, was nothing less than monumental we knew it would not last. This became painfully apparent one cold and blustery Friday morning just over 2 weeks ago. As Joel accessed the ability to get water running for washing, strong gusts of wind ripped through the farm, testing the resilience of the patch. This resilience clearly was not enough as Jen out on her morning run just moments later could clearly see the cold exposed steel of the high tunnel where the patch had once covered. Like the skeleton of some ancient beast it loomed in the background, a foreboding reminder of natures power. On that day they had neither the time, tape or weather conditions to repair the patch and resigned themselves to constructing low tunnels over the beds of spinach and lettuce hopefully protecting them from the cold nights to come. The first patching was flawed for two main reasons, the cold and moisture on the plastic did not allow for the adhesion one wants when applying patch tape and the patch could never be as tightly fitting to the structure as needed. Fast forward a week and a half, with new supplies, experience and the weather on their sides J and J thought “hey let’s try again”. A few hours of climbing on ladders and in the rafters of the tunnel later and patch 2.0 was in place, with a couple of farmers feeling even more confident in it’s strength this time around. One flaw still was in place the fact that the patch could not replicate the tight fit of not ripped plastic and still would be at the mercy of the wind. Borrowing a design from moveable 3 season farm structures called caterpillar tunnels, Jen crisscrossed rope back and forth over the tunnel and patch. Essentially tying down the patch and restricting it’s ability to flap in the wind which was it’s original demise. As always seems to be the case with farming the strength of our new patch would be put to the test quickly, with the following two days forecasting high winds and rain. At this point we are pleased to report that the patch is holding up nicely. Confidence in the fix is high and we may even continue to plant in those beds as the current crop is harvested and before we properly recover this tunnel.

If yesterday’s weather didn’t have your confidence high in the retreating of winter temperatures what could. On and around the farm we are deep into the mixed feelings of confidence and reluctance that come with Spring, but overall the confidence is shining through. We are beginning to utilize more and more outside space in Middlefield each year. Using low till and low disturbance methods of returning the overgrown areas to something akin to a workable tilth. It is a human powered, animal feeding, cover cropping system we envision for the long term restoration of this land, another one of those juxtaposed, intimating and exciting feelings. Of course those feeling of confidence that we at Star Light Gardens enjoy would be few and far between if it wasn’t for the support of all of you the Good Food People.

One area in particular where your support is shining through is in SLG’s participation in the CT NOFA 2024 Farm Share program. Currently we are a mere 150 dollars away from reaching our fundraising goal of providing $330 Market Cards to 9 households this Spring and Summer. CT NOFA can match up to $600 donated to help us achieve this goal. Here is a link to make a tax deductible donation towards fundraising for this effort. Any additional funds will go towards providing more Market Cards. We are blown away by the overwhelming amount of support we get from you in our work and participation in great programs like this. It is support like this that gives meaning to and makes our work possible, it warms our hearts and gives us the confidence to grow and grow and grow.

Have a Great Week

Official Star Light Gardens Merch

With temps overall on the rise and the snow either gone or melting before our very eyes, it is time for the transition of seasons. Wedged in between the freeze of Winter and the sweet embrace of Spring is a slow moving easily slipped in time of year, Mud Season. The paths we have worn into the snow while working are the first areas to be free of snow, leaving deep muddy footprints, with the occasional hand that braced a fall. Not long after that the whole of the landscape is released from Winter’s icy grip, leaving snow blindness behind with it hopefully for the rest of the year. In years past Mud season has ended quickly with a few weeks of sun and above average temperatures, which can deceive the eager grower. In others the cool and rain of early March persisted, while on the rare occasion Spring does break early rewarding those who are prepared and patiently awaiting it’s arrival. Most years we are tricked by a few early March days into planting out early, usually resulting in lack luster results and veg that is ready seemingly no earlier than ones planted weeks later. However, there are also successes in this pushing the limits of planting dates. Lessons and methods are learned and perfected allowing us to avoid slipping too much and being bogged down by Mud season, arriving safely and a few steps ahead for the beauty and bounty of seasons to come.

After all each season and year does bring with it new and exciting things, new friends , new crops, new experiences. One thing Star Light and J and J are new to as well as something embodying New itself is the New CT Farmer Alliance. Yesterday was NCTFA annual gathering the Hootenanny. Enticed with the it’s location at a brewery a short drive from home base and the encouragement of some of our fellow farmers to attend J and J told the dogs and sheep they won’t be back too late and headed out. An excellent and well attended event with an even more excellent cast of attendees, it was and enjoyable night celebrating the work the organization does as well as all the farmers out their with boots in the mud of the Good Food Movement. We were happy to attend and are happy to be involved with an organization like this. They are a great resource for new farmers, farm workers as well as prospective farmers to be.

Meanwhile with this fun filled gathering behind us it’s time to get back into the mud and prep for nicer days to come. Now when we say get back in the mud don’t get us wrong, we’re muddy but we are also fortunate enough to have plenty of high tunnels which we can be growing in this time of year. As you may recall from last week the nursery is overflowing with transplants just waiting for the right space to open up and time to plant. Lettuces, spinach, beets, turnips, radish, scallions and a whole host of brassicass grow a little more each day while younger versions of themselves emerge from the germination chamber awaiting their time to shine. Though the colder nights of the past week did push back our planting schedule we took the opportunity to create more much needed space in the nursery and create a colder back section for hardening off. This time of year everything we plant is cold hardy but even such cold tolerant plants must receive a period of acclimation when they have been thus far raised in the protected world of the nursery. Creating a hardening off zone in nursery allows temps there to drop to 29 or 30 letting those plants next in line to harden off thus greatly increasing their chances for survival in the unheated high tunnels. Meanwhile the summertime hot crops we all are dreaming about are filling up the basement and before long will have to be moved to the nursery. Two main things will be occupying space in the basement in the coming months, the grafted tomatoes, ginger and turmeric details on all of these wonderful things to come.

Have a great week

Help us participate in and support the CT NOFA 2024 Farm Share Program. Our goal is to provide $330 Market Cards to 9 households this spring and summer. CT NOFA can match up to $600 donated to help us achieve this goal. Here is a link to make a tax deductible donation towards fundraising for this effort. Any additional funds will go towards providing more Market Cards. Thank you!

When the world outside is frozen and cold, there are a few places you can find a four season grower hiding. One potentially bright and sunny, even hot, place on a day like today. The other, dark and cavernous, closer to home but fraught with dangers from above. These two locales though seemingly so different in nature actually have one important thing in common, they are the places where we start our baby veg this time of year and do other farm task which require a more hospitable temperature and sometimes water. One we simply call the nursery a high tunnel outfitted with a heater, where we don’t grow in the ground but rather this house is lined with tables for our trays of veggie starts. The other being the basement of our home where we can utilize the fact that we are already heating it and have some space to work when it’s cold and dark.

The subterranean life as we call it has more or less ebbed and flowed over the years. Growing or shrinking with the needs of the farm and the functioning of our nursery heater. Though records of it’s origins are now lost stories of the early days in David’s basement date back to the early 2000’s even before the time of J and J. As far back as we can remember the basement in Durham was used in one capacity or another for the farm, but some eight or nine years ago with the failure of our nursery furnace it was kicked into high gear. It was at this time a couple of young farmers realized just how much of a head start in production one can get embracing the subterranean life and since then it has more or less been a constant. These days with a house of their own J and J have moved the subterranean operation to Middlefield allowing David to reclaim the basement after all the years.

The nurseries themselves have changed over the years as well.  The original nursery in Durham named Skye after one of David’s Grandchildren is the only portion of the original SLG high tunnels to survive a heavy snowfall some 13 years ago.  A forty foot section of this 90 foot structure was framed with a wall to separate the heated nursery space from the colder in ground growing section.  It was this extra bracing which prevented it from the same fate as the other tunnels which collapsed that year.   Only half of this 40 feet was used as a nursery until 2018 when the team of David, Jen and Joel installed a new heater, doubled the nursery space and updated the structures materials.  As you know Star Light has continued to grow since this time with the addition of the Middlefield property we inherited another nursery a full size 30 by 90 foot tunnel.  Currently the Middlefield nursery, nicknamed Annie after the farm pup, is the only one in operation but we are weeks if not only days from the need to fire up the old Hot Dawg heater in Durham and begin filling the nursery tables there.   Each spot where we baby our baby veg is unique in its own way but at this time of year has one thing in common and that is they are filling to the brim and the need to re-pot and start more plants is only outweighed by the need to transplant out, freeing up some of that oh so valuable real estate on the tables.

Another reason the nurseries are so important to our operation is for starting and nurturing plants for your very own home growing wants and needs. Maybe it is hard to visualize when the ground has snow cover and a cold wind blows outside. Or perhaps it gives you comfort and hope to think yes spring will come again, that within a little more than 2 months outside growing will be kicking off in full swing. Until then we must nurture ourselves with both the thoughts of summers to come, some delicious winter greens and maybe even a hearty soup that warms us to the core.

Have a great week

Join us in supporting the 2024 CT NOFA Farm Share Program. Our goal is to provide $330 Market Cards to 9 households this spring and summer. CT NOFA can match up to $600 donated to help us achieve this goal. Here is a link to make a tax deductible donation towards fundraising for this effort. Any additional funds will go towards providing more Market Cards. Thank you!

It seems like it happens every year at least once or twice, that we get a nice preview and tease into the beauty that is Spring weather. Surely last week was just that with warm sunny days having us walking around in tee shirts wondering if we should change into shorts. Unfortunately we need to keep those shorts packed away for a few more weeks while mother nature reminds us that yeah it is February. Don’t get us wrong a little bit of snow cover is a good thing providing nutrients and protection to the soil. Hopefully with the cold weather we can find the balance of helping to knock down the population of overwintering pests, while not causing too much cold damage to crops or a slow down in production. Yes the cold does make harvesting a bit more time sensitive and difficult, with any luck we can get away with not having to wash veg in the basement this week. Cold weather also often requires us to complete the twice daily ritual of the row cover dance. Sometimes performed solo and at other times with a partner, the tedious but important tradition originates in the days of Elliot Coleman, but may very well have linage and influence as far back as the French Market Gardeners of the 1800’s. The dance that is winter growing can certainly claim to have origin farther back than we have records of. And at the same time winter growing is not new to us, maybe just a bit bigger these days. The row cover waltz takes a little more time, we need to have more transplants ready to go and more beds prepped for said transplants.

Cold, snow and rain aside this season of Winter Growing has been quite a tremendous one so far. Sure it has been and is a lot of work but it is also rewarding and fulfilling work for both spirit and belly. Full beds of beautiful greens like baby kale, arugula, mizuna, and red splendor(just to name a few) have provided a steady supply of nutrition and flavor. Winter only favorites like Siberian kale and claytonia are coming into their prime. Reports from you the Good Food People are that our winter carrots are like no others around. And of course there have been some epic red leaf lettuce heads. Most of what we do of course is nothing innovative or original in thought for the most part, but rather our own creative twist on the traditional Winter growing methods that great growers have been perfecting for years. We’ve just leaned into the work with our hearts and minds. Inspired by the knowledge that what we are doing is contributing to the joy and health of others. In the back of our minds is the praise and encouragement from you the Good Food People, bringing a smile to our faces, to the point we are almost saying that this work is easy.

On the subject of support from all of you out there we can only say one thing, you are all great for supporting the Good Food system we are a part of. Though this statement can be applied generally, specifically in this moment, we are speaking about the the support we have received in raising funds for CT NOFA’s 2024 Farm Share program. Currently we are more the two thirds of the way to our fund raising goal of providing $330 Market Cards to 9 households this spring and summer. CT NOFA can match up to $600 donated to help us achieve this goal. Here is a link to make a tax deductible donation towards fundraising for this effort. Any additional funds will go towards providing more Market Cards. If you haven’t done so yet and want to help support this Good Food thing we encourage you to use the link above to donate directly through NOFA. Also if you are interested in receiving a market card through this program or know of someone who would be we encourage you to reach out directly to us for more info.

Have a great week

Official SLG Merch