Though we have always been an organic vegetable farm, one thing that has been a long time staple here at SLG is the Jacobs sheep. Though mostly pets and artistic muses over the years, in addition to this the 2nd gen of SLG sheep have been integrated into the farm as working animals. 2026 marks the fifth season we are growing here in Middlefield where the sheep reside. Over the past 4 years we have worked out the timing with a few crops rotations that allow us to have the sheep and chickens on a crop of let’s say lettuce that has been harvested. Those hard working farm animals in easily a day or two make short work of what remains saving us not only time and labor but resources feeding both themselves and the soil as they graze. As a special meet the farm segment we will be rolling out periodically this season, we are introducing you to one particular farm animal. Seeing as yesterday was Mother’s day we feel the best place to start is with the “Mother” of the Flock Kanga. Though her only actual child is Sunny, Kanga’s cautious and wise nature guides the entire flock. When we first got Kanga and her 3 siblings she was suspected to be pregnant and though we were picking up 4 sheep we would soon have 5. Despite Jen having some limited experience with lambing we of course were nervous that the birth would go smoothly especially considering at the time we still resided in Durham. However, one April morning our fears were cast aside. As Jen arrived early to check on the sheep, there was the proud Mama Kanga with her sweet little lamb Sunny nursing away. Kanga peered at Jen with a confident smile as if saying no need to worry mamas got this and we instantly knew she’d become the Mother she was always meant to be.
This evening the sheep will be embarking on the 2nd tunnel grazing of this year, helping us prepare for the sweet potato slip planting that will be happening by months end. Of course sweet potatoes aren’t the only thing on our minds and certainly not the only thing on the to do list. After all of last weeks hard work we are looking at nearly 3 entire tunnels planted with tomatoes and our pepper tunnel now 60 percent of the way planted. We’ve cleared the way in the jungle for the first round of eggplant and with any luck we will not only have all of that planted but the remainder of the grafted tomatoes also in the ground by weeks end. We’ve mowed and covered the stands of Winter rye to make way for the 300 or so pounds of potatoes we will also be planting in the coming weeks. Suffice it to say that this is a lot to get done but realistically it is only the tip of the iceberg that is the 2026 season.
We wrapped up the second annual SLG on Farm Plant sale yesterday and couldn’t have been happier with the result. Another Sunday on the farm seeing both friends and new faces, meeting neighbors and Good Food People who may only know us from these weekly writings. Even though the on Farm Plant sale has passed for this year the good news for those of you still looking for garden starts is that for the next month garden starts will be at the markets and online. That gives you two chance to get your plants on Fridays from 3-6 either on farm in Middlefield or at the Madison Farmers’ Market and every Saturday from 9-1 in New Haven.
Have a Great Week