Category: SLG Newsletter

The final farmer’s market and on farm sales of 2025 have shown up almost as quickly and surprisingly as the cold weather of late. Sure just like the cold we knew it was coming but sometimes it’s easy to stay stuck in the routine. Alas here we are staring right into the face of the Holiday Season and New Year to come. To say that it has been a good season would be putting it mildly. It has been a year filled with great weather, great markets and a lot of hard work, integral to it all is all of you The Good Food People. As we reflect upon this great season and how much we have grown as a farm we can only be grateful for all the Love, Support and Luck that has been afforded to us over the years. But before we say farewell for the year (just a week actually) there is still one more weekend of Good Food and Good People to fill your belly and nourish your heart and soul. This Friday and Saturday will be the last preorder pick up days of 2025 and Friday from 3-6 in Middlefield is the final open farm shop this year. Saturday is also the last New Haven Farmer’s Market of 2025. The good news is we will be returning with preorder pickup and the New Haven market on Saturday 1/3. That week there will only be the New Haven market and Saturday on farm pick up. The following weekend 1/9 and 1/10 we will be back to business as usual with Friday and Saturday pickup, Friday open Farm Shop hours 3-6 and the New Haven Market. Remember from now until when the market goes back outside in April it starts one hour later running from 10-1.

Meanwhile out on the farm things look like the Winter wonderland that only a fresh snowfall can create. However the temps are low and the wind is strong enough for one to really feel the bite of Winter if they aren’t careful. Loose ends and unfinished tasks are few and far between or a least can be put off long enough to enjoy a Wintry day organizing and cleaning heated inside spaces. With a warm couple of days on the horizon it should be a little more pleasant to work the next few days outside rather than needlessly suffer in the cold today. Beyond harvesting for the market and shop there is still a bit of planting on the schedule, something that seems to never really stop around here. It just slows down like everything else. We know we won’t get the opportunity to see and wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season and Healthy New year, so we’ll say it here. We hope the holidays and year to come treat you and yours with a gentle kindness that can only be described as blessed.

Have a Great Week

With another night of bitter cold ahead we are finding peace and solace in the fact that the outer fields are for the most part protected and put to bed. Last week we spent nearly every above freezing daylight hour harvesting what bounty remained outside. Yesterday, the last of the garlic was mulched with leaves and what bare spots remained in the fields were covered to protect the soil from Winter’s relentless assault. With the outside veg harvesting all but a memory we now turn to the tunnels which will receive our undivided attention, both harvest and otherwise for the next 4 months or so.

The life of the Winter grower inside the cold weather oasis that is the high tunnels is a strange paradox. It is a life filled with blessings and struggles, a harsh environment a times while at others a warm place like no other on a cold Winter’s day. When night time temps are low enough and days are sunny there is the twice daily ritual of covering and uncovering the veg. This protects them from the cool night air and allows them to breath and absorb the warmth of the sun. Arguably the quality and flavor of Winter produce far surpasses that of their Summer counter parts. And of course some things like spinach and claytonia just can’t be grown successfully out of season. Yet, growing enough to last the Winter is a task which challenges even the best of growers every year. And then the harvest, how can we forget that. So easy and so plentiful at first. But as the Winter drags on and scarcity shows it’s face the task of harvesting too becomes something not for the feint of heart. Luckily for the Winter grower we have more to keep us warm than just our insulted overalls and the micro climate created by the tunnels, we also have the unwavering support from all of you The Good Food People.

That support was especially evident this past week as we came off a rare week of no farm sales. Despite a cold Friday it was great to see both new and familiar faces at our Friday open farm shop hours, 3-6 in Middlefield. On Saturday we officially moved inside for the New Haven farmer’s market. Now running one hour later from 10-1. After such a cold week it was nice to thaw out on Saturday morning and of course great to see all of you. If you made it out to either the market or the farm shop you may have noticed a couple of different items on the table. A good friend of the farm, fiber artist Lily Stabile has been working tirelessly for a few years now cleaning, processing and hand spinning yarn from our very Jacobs sheep. The initial limited run has been popular and only two skeins remain. Also SLG crushed cayenne pepper flakes are now available both online and at market. These peppers are our favorite cayenne Arapaho, hot and flavorful, use sparingly a little goes a long way.

Have a Great Week

A lot can change in a week, especially when you’re talking about the weather in the last few weeks of Fall. The Next couple of weeks are gonna be bringing on the real chill with days mostly in the 30’s and nights that will be well below freezing. The weather over the past few months has been tremendous and allowed for a bounty to be grown outside. Protected with row cover for over a month now, we’ve been able to keep most of the harvest coming from the outside spaces. However, with the extra cold nights ahead it is time to pull as much as we can from the outside. Not only to preserve as much of this veg as we can but also to remove and store the row cover that has been protecting them. That way we can keep using it as many seasons as possible. All it takes is one good snowfall and many of the things we use around the farm could be buried and forgotten about for months. So the first snowfall is always a good reminder to get organized while you can.

This past week was a great chance to take a break from selling with the holiday and focus on a few things, getting all the garlic and tulips in the ground as well as getting some quality time with friends and family. It might sound simple enough when we say it at first, “we’re planting 400 lbs of garlic”. But when it comes down to it especially without mechanization, it’s quite a lot of work. With so much garlic to plant, Jen needing to focus on the 5,000 tulip bulbs getting in the ground and in keeping with the idea of seeing friends and family we called in Durham’s resident Garlic Scientist himself, David to help. So on Wednesday for a few short hours it was like the old days on the farm in Durham with just David and Joel planting the same German white garlic we have been planting for years. Meanwhile Jen and Adriana(and Annie)finished planting the seemingly endless supply of tulip bulbs. A nice thought to carry us through the cold to come 5,000 bulbs blooming next Spring.

Beyond getting organized, we’ll be getting back to business as usual with the last three weeks of markets and on farm sales of 2025. It’s been a great year and it really is incredible how fast the time has gone, some part of us feels there has to be more than three weeks left. Nope, those are the facts 12/5, 12/6, 12/12, 12/13, 12/19 and 12/20 will be the final 2025 Farm sales. That means just 3 more Saturday markets in New Haven, 3 more Fridays of open farm shop from 3-6 in Middlefield and 3 more weekends of preorder pickup. Oh where does the time go.

Have a Great Week

With Fall kicking into full gear, Winter nipping at our heels and nearly all the garlic planted(by weeks end hopefully) we are taking a bit of a break this Holiday week. That’s right you heard it hear this week there are no markets, open shop hours or preorder pick up. We will return next week and it’s business as usual on the farm with preorder pick up Friday and Saturday and Open Farm Shop Hours Friday 3-6. We of course will be back in New Haven Saturday morning just one hour later from 10-1 and inside the auditorium of Conte West School. We hope to see you there.

Speaking of things being seen at the market if you have gone to either the New Haven or Madison markets over the past year or two, chances are you have met long time crew member Sam. The only SLG employee to work for both David and J and J he has been with us through the expansion to Middlefield and helped the farm grow to what it is today. This is the end of Sam’s 4th season on farm and sadly also the end of his time here at Star Light. We want to Thank him for all his efforts here and wish him good luck in whichever endeavors he finds himself in. But you know around the farm we don’t say Good bye, we say Bye for now.

We hope all of you Good Food People are taking some time out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life to slow down and enjoy some nutritious meals with those closest to you this week. The power of food, family and community is something so strong and because of the support of all of you, it is something we get to be an integral part of. From us here at SLG Thank You all so much.

Have a Great Week

The temps are dropping, the days are getting shorter and the pages of the 2025 calendar are disappearing faster than the daylight. It’s hard to believe that we are here already but it’s true the time has finally come. This Friday is the last Madison Farmer’s Market of 2025, in fact in total we only have 5 markets left this year. We know you’ve heard us say it again and again, that without the support of you the Good Food People none if us growers could do what we do. This support means so much to us, each and every interaction with you all at the markets is a special chance to connect. As our seasonal markets wrap up for the year we can’t help but be overcome by that all too familiar bittersweet feeling. Yes, it is true that we can use the rest and do in fact welcome the less rigorous Winter schedule to come. Also as product selection shrinks with the season, it makes sense to focus on one market and on farm sales. However, we will be missing all of the customers and fellow vendors that have become friends and even feel like family. Sure in the whole scheme of things 4 or 5 months isn’t that long to be away from the heavenly Friday afternoons that the market brings. But it sure does seem pretty long when staring right at it and having to say bye for now. With one market left there’s not much else to do but say thank you so much to all the market staff, vendors and especially you Good Food People who have made the 2025 season another great one. The good news is that we will still be available for your organic veg needs all Winter long either here on farm or Saturdays in New Haven. As a reminder now in addition to preorder pick up we have open farm shop hours 3-6 on Fridays here in Middlefield.

This coming market weekend is not just the last Madison Market it is also your last chance to get veg for your Thanksgiving needs. Next week there will be no markets, open farm shop or preorder pickup, so this Friday and Saturday are the days to shop. Though this is a bit of a departure from previous years we are taking the week to not only catch up on those non harvest farm related tasks that have been getting pushed off, but also take a little time to relax with friends and family. Of course relaxing for a farmer will likely include planting as much garlic and tulips as we can, or fixing all the low tunnels and row cover that the wind has removed but hey that’s the life and we’ll get what R and R we can as it comes. So to recap this weekend is your last chance to get nutritious organic veg before the coming holiday so plan appropriately. After that we will be returning the 5th and 6th of December with preorder pickup, open farm shop hours and the Saturday New Haven Market.

Have a Great Week

The cool and damp of Fall slowly makes it’s way into the lives of growers like our selves, especially in a year that is warm and lacking rain fall like the one we just had. The strong sun and dry soil becomes a way of life but as the days get shorter and the soil cools moisture does not so easily disappear. The sun however is one thing that begins to disappear, staying away a little longer each and everyday. More or less all of this isn’t too much of a problem just more like a challenge which must be overcome. With a bit of planning and a bit of the old farmer resilience finishing off Fall’s key tasks should happen in no time at all. The challenge of moist soil almost impeded one of the most time sensitive tasks of the season, seeding overwintered carrots. Direct seeding like we do in the case of carrots requires relatively dry soil with a smoothly prepared surface. Despite incredible Saturday weather over night sprinkles left the carrot beds wet and needing additional prep. Originally we planned to seed sometime this week but the already wet ground and impending storm necessitated seeding on Sunday. With a bit of torching, swiveling and raking the beds were quickly prepped and seeded, just in time for the rain. With a break in the weather today we will cover the beds creating low tunnels, the perfect home for our baby carrots to overwinter until their grand emergence in late Spring.

Meanwhile the epic task of planting 400 lbs or garlic continues in earnest. Jen is laser focused at accomplishing this task and we are happy to report nearly a third of the way there. Though there is still a good deal of bed prep which remains before we can plant too much more, to be this far along so early in November gives us an optimistic feeling to say the least. In addition to the garlic progress the second caterpillar tunnel is up and covered, needing only the end walls in place before we can call that task complete. Much like the low tunnels on the carrots putting up these end walls should happen easy enough today during the break in the weather.

On the market fronts there isn’t much else to say but we continue to be honored and in awe of this Good Food community we are a part of. The return of the Madison market went about as well as a market could. The only down side being that there are only two markets remaining in the season before we have to say bye for now to many of our Madison friends until the Spring. On Saturday CIty Seed through an amazing donation from just one person continued their generous work of supplementing the loss of snap. We again saw a flurry of new faces, overwhelmingly families who were coming to the market for the first time. Being able to bring nutritious organic food to those who need and appreciate it is a big part of why we do what we do and cannot say enough how powerful being a part of this community is. Meanwhile in our own small community of Middlefield we are continuing to have our open farm shop hours on Fridays 3-6 as another option for you to get the veg you want and need. We of course still offer preorder on Friday and Saturdays but encourage you to come by on Fridays if you haven’t ordered. One quick note on preorder, we have moved the Friday pick up time forward one hour to 3pm so as to line up with the farm shop opening.

Have a Great Week

November is here and the days are getting shorter and shorter. Not quite as short as the time change would have you believe but short none the less. It’s time to put away the pumpkins, ration the Halloween candy and embrace the coming season of long nights. Here on the farm we are officially entering into what is referred to as the shoulder seasons. This time of year as outside work begins to wrap up four season growers like ourselves turn to the micro climates created through the use of high and low tunnels. Our Winter hideaway from the harsh cold and snow that waits for us just months away. Even though the majority of our attention is on the high tunnels outside there are still a few plantings that must be done. Scheduled for early next week is the annual planting of our overwintered carrots. Seeding them this late in the season but before it gets too cold we like to say that theses carrots will be ready by Mothers day. After direct seeding them we’ll create low tunnels using old greenhouse plastic and by December the little carrot seedlings will have mostly emerged. In addition to carrots there is the great garlic planting of 2025. This is the first year we will be using 100% our own seed garlic and the second year we are planting around 400lbs the most we have planted to date. With less than half of the planting area prepped and only 25lbs in the ground, we still have a long way to go but with any luck we’ll be practically done by December.

On the subject of practical something that has seemed to be just that and we have wanted to do for awhile is now in motion. What could that be you ask, well it’s open farm shop hours here at Star Light Gardens. Returning this and every coming Friday afternoon from 3-6 we will be open for you to come spontaneously choose your veggies instead of or in addition to preordering. Preorder is still open both Friday and Saturday but this is just another way for you to get some of our fresh organic produce. Also returning this Friday from it’s brief hiatus is the Madison Farmer’s Market for the last three markets of the season. Seeing that we missed having a Halloween Market this week there will be a costume contest available for all to enter. The final season schedule for Madison is 11/7, 11/14, 11/21 running from 3-5pm with the change in time and early darkness.

Speaking of darkness we all know that every one who is suffering due to the government being shut down is a victim of dark times. This hits in particular for us with the loss of SNAP benefits. For many of us who are a part of this Good Food Movement we know the difference access to fresh organic produce makes in peoples lives and have also seen the added value of benefit doubling for fresh fruits and veggies facilitated by City Seed. The food access mission of City Seed and the Saturday market in particular is one of the most powerful things we have had the opportunity to be a part of, this Good Food Community is like nothing else we know. With the loss of benefits affecting many people we know and care about many of us were asking just what can be done. Acting quickly City Seed has stepped up offering 50 dollars in snap tokens to up to fifty people providing up to 100 dollars of produce for those who lost snap benefits. We applaud City Seed for this great deed and are honored to be apart of this resilient community. Coming to the markets and supporting growers and vendors is just one way to show your support and also a good opportunity to learn more about City Seed and all that they do.

Have A Great Week

Here we are, another morning with the frost kissing the leaves and coating blades of grass, hopefully helping to harden off the crops rather than give them cold damage. November is just days away ending the week for us and just like October the main season is really wrapping up too. This is officially the last week with the crew this season, some have left at August’s end, some a week or so early. And for those who remain only three more days of glorious farm work are left. Farming is hard work and certainly made easier with extra help around. As solitary as most farmers may be the fact of the matter is you need people around in this line of work. It’s been a really great season and there is certainly no way we could have gotten this far without the hard work of the 2025 farm crew. Walking through the back fields at SLGNW it looks like a proper farm and indeed at times looked like paradise this Summer where just months before it had been an overgrown mess of perennial and annual weeds. The sweat and toil that was put in this season is truly apparent and if left solely to J and J we’d more than likely have two broken farmers rather than these beautiful backfields. So for one last time this season(at least in writing) we want to give a shout out to the 2025 farm crew, Thanks so much for all your help we will miss you.

Another thing we will be missing this week is the Madison Farmers’ Market which is off because of the town’s trunk or treat. It will be be back for 3 last markets in November closing one hour early due to day light savings from 3-5. Luckily for all of you that don’t want to miss us this Friday we will be having the Grand Opening of our open farm shop hours, at 85 School Street in Middlefield. Starting this Friday and continuing every other we will have open farm shop hours Friday from 3-6pm, this will be in addition to the regular preorder pick up option for both Friday and Saturday. We will of course continue to be in New Haven Saturdays year round. A quick note on the uncertainty of funding for the SNAP program. If you are a snap customer we don’t want this to deter you from coming to the market, we are brainstorming ideas to continue to serve all of you, more on this next week if it still in an issue.

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It was a beautiful Fall weekend (not unlike we just had) some two years ago when we first got the pleasure of meeting our little scruffy dog Annie. When you are farmers like us living in a small home with a lot of cats and a sweet but intimidating big old muscle dog, you can’t just adopt anyone it has to be just the perfect fit. In addition to Sid and the cats we were also dog sitting David’s little pup Clarkie at the time and knew another little one with a similar demeanor would be a good match. Now flash back a week earlier, due to the last Chester market J and J had missed an adoption event held right next door to the Durham farm. But as fate would have it one shy, reluctant little pup as if she knew what was in store for her, just didn’t warm up to any of the would be adopters. Thus making her the one dog at the event whom wasn’t adopted. A sad story this may have been if it wasn’t for the fact that Jen immediately reached out scheduling a visit for the following Sunday. Then came the day Clarkie, Sid and Joel were out walking on the farm and Jen arrived with our soon to be Annie in the passenger seat. Without missing a tail wag she jumped right into the farm walk as if she belonged there the whole time and well maybe she did. Like the missing piece to this farm family puzzle Annie from then on officially joined the pack and we truly couldn’t imagine life without her.

Speaking of things that we just cannot live without we know for some of you nutritious organic local produce is just that thing. It is with this in mind that we do our best in making that veg available as much as possible. Previously, on farm purchases were restricted to preorder only however, Starting 10/31 we will have open farm shop hours every Friday from 3-6pm. This will be in addition to to our regular preorder schedule of Friday and Saturday. In other produce shopping news a reminder there will be no Madison Farmer’s Market Friday 10/31 due to a town event. However 3 more Madison markets remain after that in November, closing one hour earlier due to daylight savings from 3-5.

.Meanwhile as markets begin to rundown for the season so does the on farm season and there are only two weeks remaining with the main season crew. It’s been a great year and there is no way we could do all this alone. We’ll be out in earnest trying to cross the most important task off the farm to do list. With one cat tunnel deconstructed we are eyeing the one that remains and saying bye to the tomatoes within. The pepper tunnel which has been the most productive and just plain best peppers we’ve grown sadly must go too. The rows of bright reds, yellows and orange will be replaced by the smooth dark green of spinach. One look outside at the trees or inside of the tunnels and there’s just no doubt the season has changed.

Have a Great Week

The passage of time and seasons from the viewpoint of the farm is seemingly surreal at times. Summers are spent hyper focused on the need to get so many things done within a small window. Beneath the brims of our hats eyes occasionally glance up to keep a sense of total awareness but for the most part our heads are down as we tend to the earth below. Then before you know it you’re looking up noticing the changing leaves and awesome quality Fall’s light gives to them. That small(or so you thought)family of turkeys with tiny babies hiding in the grass is actually thirteen strong and the kids are looking all grown up. The fields of bright colors slowly get covered with ghostly white cloths to tuck in the veg and keep them warm. The Summer has passed, dusk is coming earlier and we begin to settle into the shoulder seasons.

Yesterday was our last Sunday Chester Market of the season and it was really a great end to what has been a tremendous season. Despite the threat of rain and wind, which did eventually come the majority of the market was dry and busy. We’d be lying to say that not getting up at 5am on Sunday will be nice but we’ll definitely miss all the customers, local merchants, fellow vendors and market staff that we have had the pleasure to get to know these past 3 years. We have to give a special shout out to Sue and all the other market staff who’s time and hard work have made the market what it is. The good news for those of you seeking SLG we are still going to be in Madison on Fridays until Nov 21st and in New Haven on Saturdays all year round. One note on the Madison Market Friday the 31st Halloween there will not be a Farmer’s market, due to the town’s trunk or treat taking over the green. We also of course will continue with preorder pick up on the farm in Middlefield Friday and Saturday afternoons. One thing we have been thinking about doing for the on farm shop is an Open Shop day where you can come and shop without having to preorder.

After much deliberation we have decided on doing a soft launch of SLG Farm Shop Open Hours. Our thought was to mirror the hours of the Madison Market and open up to offer an option for folks when the market ends for the season. With the cancellation of the Madison Market on Halloween we thought it would be an excellent opportunity for the Grand Opening of the On Farm shop. Starting Friday October 31st we will have open Farm Shop Hours on Fridays from 3-6pm. We are excited to begin to offer this and hope that it brings joy and nourishment to those in need of good food. The Grand opening will be a celebration of sorts and we invite you to come see the farm, meet the farmers, the sheep maybe even some of the cats and a dog or two, hope to see you there.

Have a Great Week