Category: SLG Newsletter

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

The bad news is that if you didn’t stop by the farm yesterday you did in fact miss the first iteration of the 2nd Annual SLG on farm Plant Sale. The good news it that this coming Sunday May 10th(yes Mothers’ day) we will be having one more Sunday on farm plant sale and open farm shop. Now for those of you who stop by the farm Fridays, preorder or visit us at the markets, plants will still be available for the next month or so. But for any of you who can’t get here for regular hours or stop at the markets this is one last chance to visit the farm, meet the farmers and have your pick of what many describe as some of the best garden starts around. We will be open the 10th from 10-3 giving you plenty of time to stop by and get Mom some plants for the garden, or maybe a nice little Sunday outing with Mom to check out a local organic farm and see just what’s growing up there on School Street. We hope to see you there.

Now the first iteration of the plant sale yesterday was a smashing success. It is always great to see old friends, meet new customers many of whom are our neighbors and feel the love and support of the Good Food community especially at these on farm events. Overall it was a great weekend both on the farm as well as Friday and Saturday at the markets. Friday was the opening day for the Madison Farmers’ Market 2026 season and between the weather and overall enthusiasm of you great folks we couldn’t have asked for a better one. Seeing all those familiar faces had us feeling like we hadn’t even missed a beat as if we stepped from the last November 2025 market right into a beautiful May afternoon, which happened to be opening day. One note of caution for all of you gardening enthusiast out there. This years gardens starts are selling fast and to ensure you get the varieties you really want to plant we recommend picking them up soon.

Last week also saw another 3 farm crew members start off their season with SLG. We’re sure that most of you have noticed as well that things outside are really coming to life and as one could guess the to do list is getting longer than we’d like to acknowledge. Having three more crew members to help balance the load will be indispensable in the weeks and months to come. Our goal of completing this year’s onion planting went off without a hitch, with nearly 2,000 row feet of onions in the ground. No time to rest on the laurels of this accomplishment though because as we all know, time and nature wait for no one. This week in addition the the weekly work load of plant ,prep, plant for quick crops like greens and roots, we are planning to get as many tomatoes and peppers into the ground as we can. Jen has spent countless hours this Winter grafting tomatoes and those plants are now big and lush and shouting”get me into the ground”. And after all what sort of farmers would we be, to not heed the instinctual call of all the lovely plants we have been taking care of for months now.

Have a Great Week

There may still be a some cold nights ahead but it’s a sure thing to say here at SLG, farmers and animals alike we are ready for the warmth. Yes, that could be something we’ll be regretting saying in a short while but for now we are sticking to it. There is a lot happening this week and the reality is for the next six months that will be the case week after week. Three more crew members will be starting on the farm bringing the total up to 7 plus J and J. We ambitiously plan to get the last 750 row feet of onions prepped and planted as well as preparing space for the first round of Summer crops in unheated tunnels. There will also be a ton of nursery work as we continue to propagate all kinds of flowers and veg for the season ahead as well as your own Good Food growing pursuits.

This year in addition to getting garden starts from us at the markets, by preorder or open farm shop Fridays, we are returning with the Second Annual SLG Plant Sale. This year we have decided to double down with not just one but two Sundays. This Coming Sunday May 3rd and the following Sunday May 10th we will have the full line up of veg and flower starts on display and open farm shop from 10-3. It’s a great chance for anyone who can’t get out to the markets and open farm shop hours, to take a little bit of SLG home in the form of nutritious food and garden starts. Maybe you live near by and wonder just what is growing in all those high tunnels and field space? Well consider this your invitation to stop by meet the farmers, see the flock’s new haircuts and maybe even meet some farm dogs.

Speaking of humans best friend we expect to see a lot tails wagging on the Madison Historic green this Friday for the first market of the Madison farmer’s market 2026 season. We are really excited to be back in Madison with all of you every Friday from 3-6 running through mid November. This now means you have two options to shop with us on Fridays, here in Middlefield for open farm shop hours and at the Madison market both from 3-6. With two farmer’s markets in full swing one could say we are hanging out around 60% capacity and as the season’s bounty and Chester Sunday market appear on the scene in early June we’ll be running near 115% conservatively. It is a lot of work and also very gratifying to be an integral part of such wonderful Good Food communities. Hope to see all of you this weekend whether it’s Friday(on farm or at market) Saturday(at market) or Sunday(on farm).

Have a Great Week

It sure doesn’t feel quite like Spring outside this morning and we suppose a lot of this past week also didn’t feel like Spring. Rather this past week really felt like Summer complete with shorts, sandals, tank tops and plenty of water to go along with all the hard work. The outside fields are filling up fast making needed room in the nursery for the more heat loving not frost tolerant plants that will be more than just a Winter’s dream before we know it. In fact a sure sign of the season to come beyond Summer like days is the fact that we are less than two weeks away from both May and the start of the 2026 Madison Farmers’ Market season. That’s right Friday May 1st we will be returning to the Madison Historic Green every Friday 3-6pm running through late November. That means on Fridays you will have two chances to shop with us both here on the farm for open Farm Shop Hours and the Madison Farmers’ market both from 3-6.

That is of course is great news not only for you Good Food enthusiast but for those of you who enjoy growing your own Good Food. If you made it to the market this past Saturday you may have noticed the selection of veg and flower starts had more than doubled from the previous week. For the next month or so that will be the case, more and more of your favorite varieties of garden starts will be showing up here at the farm stand and at markets. Don’t forget that you can also preorder plants for pick up Friday and Saturday on farm or at the markets. When preordering you can take advantage of our 10 plants for 50$ sale by choosing the item Garden Start Sale 10 plants for 50$ and once you have checked out email us with the ten plants of your choice. Not sure what garden starts you want to get? Come on by to the markets or the farm shop and we can go over the options. We always say we love talking plants and growing and there is always something special about sharing the adventure of cultivation with all of you.

On the note of special things for the most part we don’t need to tell any of you just how special the Good Food Community that exists on Saturday is. A lot goes on to make that market what it is the customers, the vendors, CitySeed and the City of New Haven. Building Manager for Conte West Hills School Dennis Tondalo has been a big part of making it a clean and safe environment for all of us who attend the market each week. If you have had the pleasure of meeting Dennis his character and genuine kindness come through instantly and it is quickly apparent that he is dedicated to his position. He goes the extra mile to make the market a great place for every member of the community and is definitely a friend of SLG. Dennis was featured in a recent New Haven Independent article which highlights his concerns with renovations in the school’s currently closed pool. Read Here We encourage you to read the article and if so inclined show support in whatever way you can, even simply commenting and sharing this story.

Have a Great Week

Just over 3 years ago after many years of co management by J and J Star Light Gardens’ ownership officially changed hands from David to them. With his plan being to continue helping SLG at the markets we of course assumed David was a farmer who would be keeping one foot in the garden. Not long after, David reinventing himself yet again renewed his therapist license and began working at the Grove school in Madison. A move that both surprised us and at the same time was no surprise at all. Of course it was a little bitter sweet as we were happy for our dear friend but saddened at the ending of an era where David was a staple on the farm always to be found deep in the tomato jungle pruning and training this year’s crop. So as you could imagine last year when David announced that he was starting a four season gardening group at the Grove school we were delighted. Over the Summer and Fall of 2025 David was popping by the farm more and more grabbing extra seedlings, seeds and supplies, telling tales of the garden they are building, proving that you really can’t take the Farmer out of David. Last week the cafeteria at the grove school featured a unique Winter only green claytonia, grown by the school’s very own gardening group led by none other than the Tomato Scientist himself. So here we are the teacher’s students, watching him continue to impact lives with his kindness, understanding and love of growing all while knowing just how lucky we were to have been in that position.

Nostalgia aside the fact of the matter is the weather is turning and the fields are calling our names. It is week 3 for the main season and we have filled all the tunnel space we are willing to with cooler season crops and now must turn to the outer fields. More onions, lettuce, kale, collards, spinach, chard and choys are slated to get into the ground as well as this season’s first outdoor direct seedings. So far two of the high tunnels are in full Summer crop mode one with tomatoes and the other with flowers. This year’s first cukes will be getting transplanted this week and we even are getting so enthusiastic as to be starting melons in the grow room.

With temps this week approaching the 80 degree mark it might not seem like the craziest idea to be starting melons, however there are two things to keep in mind. One concerning melons our first rounds will be in a high tunnel and two this is Connecticut and the weather can be fickle. Just this morning after days of being reassured that no low temps were ahead the evil number 34 showed up as a low in the not too distant future. It is with this thought in mind as to when we start and bring the warmer weather garden starts to the markets. The next few weeks will still be mostly cooler weather crops but rest assured the nursery is filling up with all your favorite Summer veg. The plant sale is live on the website now for your preordering needs or just stop by the the farm stand 3-6 on Fridays.

Have a Great Week

With it officially being Spring and the worst of the cold weather behind us(hopefully) for the season it is time to say goodbye to the good and bad of Winter. Yes we did say good, despite it’s best efforts to sour us the fact is Winter does have some redeeming qualities. So as we rejoice with the returning of the Summer sun let us not forget and send a fond farewell to Winter’s unique treats. Goodbye claytonia and Siberian kale, your resilience, cold hardiness and nutritional density rivals that of any veg we grow. Sweet Winter spinach oh how we love you so and though we will continue to plant spinach for a couple of months, the sweetness and growth pattern of Winter Spinach will have us spending hot summer days dreaming of easy late season spinach harvests. Then there is of course Winter carrots, as sweet as candy, a bright orange ray of sunlight in the bleak landscape of Winter. Carrots too are something we grow all season but as we say around the markets, “the only trouble with Winter carrots is they are so good it ruins carrots for the rest of the year.” The good news is we have a little bit of time left for you to enjoy all this Winter Veg, but be warned the clock is ticking.

It is always tough saying goodbye to old friends even if it is just for a few months but it helps when there are some new folks(or plants) around to lighten the mood. So with the first 240 or so sungold plants in the ground and another 240 fennel getting ready to join them it’s safe the say that any sad feelings about the season transitioning are quickly replaced with the thoughts of the first tomato or sweet crisp cucumber of Summer. This week saw the official start of the main season and we were joined by 3 more crew members, giving us a better chance to grab the bull by the horns so to speak. With 90% of the field space in Middlefield, having been in production the previous year, this year we are starting off in a much better place concerning bed prep in Middlefield than ever before. This was quite evident last week with the ease of planting this year’s first onions, kales, collards, chard and parsley. More onions are on the agenda this week as well as the first major flower planting of the year which will take place in the tunnel most recently occupied by our hardworking farm animals the chickens and sheep.

This past Saturday we also kicked off the official outside market season with the New Haven Saturday market moving back outside and returning to it’s regular 9-1 schedule. The first garden starts and tulips of the season made their appearance and will be showing up in force again this week at the market as well as our Open Farm Shop hours, every Friday from 3-6 in Middlefield. Oh, you didn’t know about our open shop hours? It’s a newer thing here at Star Light Gardens and it’s a chance for you Good Food people to shop without or in addition to preordering, see what has made it to the market that hadn’t made it onto the website and a chance for us and you to chat and connect around an important community staple Good Food.

Have a Great Week

With all the effort, planning and organization that goes into farming especially on a 12 month schedule it’s hard to not feel a little warn out. There does certainly come a point at this transitional phase in the season, when trying to wrap our heads around how much needs to be done is seemingly impossible. If we could just get a little more help or maybe just push pause on one of the tunnels for a few days? Luckily for us we always keep a few extra helpers on hand just for these situations, enter the chickens and sheep.

The use of animals going hand in hand with vegetable production is by no means a new idea and when done right can be looked at as a true form of regenerative agriculture or even better yet the way things used to be. Ever since acquiring SLGNW the use of animals to help maintain and regenerate the soil health of the fields and tunnels has been a goal. It can be a tricky thing for intensive market gardeners like ourselves though, since the requirements for organic production put a 3-4 month time line from incorporation to harvest depending on the crop. We have found a few things like Winter carrots, sweet potatoes and late tomatoes where the timing is perfect. Though it is not possible for everything, we do continue to get the animals on the soil for both it’s improvement and saving us some effort as much as we possibly can. Another great crop to follow the animals after they have been munching in a tunnel is flowers. Even though the timing is pretty close to that of food production, flowers being not consumed for food relieve us of these time restrictions. The first tunnel this year to receive a visit from the animals, will be just that case, veg to flowers. So Thursday after harvesting the last spinach from that tunnel we released the animals to eat to their hearts content. It is always impressive to us just how much a small group of animals can do in just a short period of time transforming and overgrown, flowering tunnel of greens to something that looks like a lawn mower went over it.

Unfortunately for us there are still a lot of tunnels to be transformed from Winter to Summer production and the animals just can’t do their thing in every one. Fortunately, for us tomorrow marks the official start of the main growing season and with it comes three more crew members to help us take on April. Including J and J that will have us up to 6 bodies on the farm and certainly just in the nick of time as the fields are drying out and the daily temps keep rising. Remember in addition to preorder the farm stand is officially open for the season Friday’s 3-6, come by, say hi and get a chance to meet the stars of this weeks newsletter.

Have a Great Week

With the long awaited arrival of Spring finally upon us it is certainly cause for celebration. The day length, the angle of the sun, visibly growing plants as well as the Spring songs of countless birds, all indicate that we are rounding the bend into a warmer time of year. Still some restraint is required as the outside fields remain a bit too wet and cold to prep and plant into. Rest assured that we and growers like us across the region wait with baited breath, transplants, seeds and compost in hand, for just the right moment to officially commence the outside growing season.

Here at SLG this could be considered the last week of the scaled down Winter crew(Thanks Adrianna). Next week with the last day of March we will be welcoming the first 3 crew members back and to the farm for the main season. With some additional help on the farm we plan to be planting the first round of outside crops for 2026, realistically nearly a month later than we would have liked to. We’ll be transplanting a couple of types of kale and collards, some Swiss chard, parsley and around 4,000 or so onions. Surely there is no need to tell any of you how good it will feel to be getting back out into the fields and we will certainly be glad to have the number of farmers on site doubling to accommodate the work load.

This week also marks the last indoor Saturday New Haven Market. Starting 4/4 we will be back outside at Conte West School and opening one hour earlier running from 9-1. Being back outside on Saturday’s will be just one more sign of the season as we begin to bring the first round of veg. flower and herb starts for this years plant sale. Of course before we know it we will be talking about all the markets of the season to come and the count down is on with only 5 weeks until the start of the Madison Farmer’s Market and Chester not long after that. In addition to the markets our Open Farm Shop hours kicked off last week so along with preorder pick up you can stop by Fridays from 3-6 and see what delicious veg we have to offer. We will of course also have the full variety of garden starts available at the shop as season progresses.

Have A Great Week

With nearly all of the snow now melted away except for in the darkest corners of the farms and Spring peaking it’s head out from behind what seemed to be an impossibly long Winter, there’s no denying it. The whirlwind that is the main growing season is just ahead. This past week saw a literal transformation on the farm as the thick layers of ice and snow disappeared at a nearly impossible pace. The large amount of snow which had piled up between the tunnels this Winter did have us a little concerned about the state of the garlic planted below. However, our fears were quickly laid to rest and the garlic popped up seemingly overnight and looks to be off to a good start. The low tunnels in the fields with overwintered onions and carrots were accessible for the first time in months and surely appreciated being uncovered and the chance to breath the fresh late Winter air.

On the Subject of good starts, the unofficial start of the season for our first 3 new crew members definitely has us feeling optimistic about the season to come. We have one more round coming in next week for another get your hands dirty orientation day and in just two weeks we’ll be up to 4 crew members on farm with another 4 starting in May. It is always a really interesting change in the liveliness both in nature and activity on the farm. One week it’s cold, desolate and you wonder if the snow will ever reveal those things we neglected to put away last season. And the next you’re firing on all cylinders trying to find space on the overfilled nursery tables, beds to fill with transplants and returning to the rhythm of 12 hours 8 days a week.

In case the official start of Spring doesn’t have you excited enough for the end of the week perhaps the official reopening of SLG Open Farm Shop hours will. That’s right returning this and every Friday for the remainder of the season from 3-6 you can come and shop the farm stand without or in addition to preordering. After a soft start to the Farm Stand this Fall we are excited to be able to offer the bounty of the full season. Keep a look out in the coming weeks as we begin to offer the first of this year’s garden starts and before you know it this season’s first Tulips, hmm Spring.

Have A Great Week

Just as the snow will melt, the mud will dry and the grass will grow and if yesterday’s warm temps weren’t enough the next couple of days should mostly do the trick. We are keeping our eyes peeled for the year’s first snow drops and daffodils while rumors of dandelion sightings fill the air. When you really think about it in a business like ours it can be a challenge to not feel behind. Combine that with behind trapped in an icy prison like Superman’s fortress of solitude for a few months and the pressure is palatable. The feeling that the switch is going to be flicked any moment and we will be hurled head long into the thick of the season is looming and there’s not too much more to say about it besides we are going to be as ready as we can for it. So this week we will be diving right into the mud and meeting the season where it matters most.

Last week on the farm we received two well anticipated deliveries both equally important. Arriving safely, it was a long journey from Hawaii to our doorstep for this year’s ginger and turmeric. However, the journey for our Hawaiian friends is only beginning. Tucked away safely in one of the germ chambers these rhizomes will sit warm and safe for around a month until they begin to sprout. After that it’s another month or so on the nursery table, then the big planting in May followed by late summer harvest. The other delivery though needed turned out to be a little bit of a let down. We did in fact receive a new igniter for our nursery furnace however sans an essential bracket which allows the newer style igniter to attach to the heater. A detail sadly we did not have. So while we wait for the part the game of heaters borrowing parts from each other continues. The good news is that the main nursery is now up and running and nearly filled, suspiciously though with a lot more flowers than vegetables, for now.

Said Nursery will be quite the hot bed of activity tomorrow and not just because the high is in the 70’s. Tomorrow we welcome the first round of new SLG crew members for a little orientation and get your hands dirty day. We are looking at it as a chance to knock off some administrative necessities, while getting to know us, the farm and the work a little better. We are still a few weeks off from the full season crew officially starting but there is no denying that one way to handle the over whelming feeling of a season starting is to fill the farm with a bunch of eager new farmers. With Spring officially starting next week we are also bringing back Open Farm Shop hours Friday from 3-6. That’s right returning 3/20 and running through the remainder of the season in addition to Friday and Saturday preorder you can swing by the farm in Middlefield Friday from 3-6 and see what is available. Hope to see you there.

Have a Great Week