Category: SLG Newsletter

Coming off the first weekend of October and the stretch of two or three 80 degree days that came with it, makes it hard to envision the need for all the season extension tools we employ. However, one quick look at the week’s forecast and you can see the dreaded 35 degree low for Thursday night. Now we all know that weather changes fast and Thursday’s low may very well end up being in the 40’s but it could also go the other direction and threaten a frost. It is difficult to know either way so we’ll develop a loose plan and be at the ready. No matter what the outcome we would be wise to take it as a sign of the season and cold to come.

Getting ready for the cooler temps is only a portion of the battle because there still is a ton of harvest, prepping, planting and seeding to be done to keep the wave of nutritious organic veg rolling all Winter long. The exquisite weather of late has kept an abundance of warm season veg on our plates at the same time as the arrival of wonderful Fall harvests. With half of the purple sweet potatoes harvested and curing in the nursery we are extremely pleased with the results thus far. Also in the nursery the butternut squash will be done curing this week and showing up at the markets this weekend and online next week. Speaking of Winter squashes(sort of) we want to highlight our two pumpkin varieties you may be seeing at the markets. Rouge vif d’Etampes a centuries-old French heirloom pumpkin who’s tasty, orange flesh transforms pies and savory dishes. Another heirloom variety, Small Sugar has very smooth-textured, bright orange flesh and the finest flavor for making mouthwatering pies. In addition to finding these two at the markets we will have some available for purchase in the shop where order pick up is. The final Winter squash we grow delicata is available now both online and at market. The “no fuss” winter squash is easy to cook requiring no peeling just slice, season, roast and eat. It’s delicious and versatile you can find Max of Frank Andrew’s mobile kitchen cooking up a specialty pizza featuring the squash at both the Friday Madison Farmer’s market and the Chester Sunday market.

Coming into the final few weeks with the farm crew we are trying our best to stay focused and accomplish just the right tasks to close out the season. With just about 3 high tunnels left in warm season veg and the two cat tunnels it’s time to make a tough choice of what is next to go. Sad as it is to say the heirloom production has slowed down significantly so the time has come to bid farewell to some of the most productive plants we have ever had. The Jungle our 200 ft tunnel named for the wild and overgrown sate of it when we started, has those tomatoes and the last of the flowers growing in it and it’s 2025 warm season has come to an end. Clearing out a tunnel full of summer veg and replacing it with a blank canvas ready to be painted with Winter greens has a bitter sweet feeling to it, not unlike having to say goodbye but for the right reasons.

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It’s in the changing leaves, the beautiful light at dusk and dawn, the chill in the night air and the foggy mornings, signs of Autumn are everywhere. Around the farm it means a few different things. One, time to clean up a bit outside getting things ready for the need to apply row covers which will arrive as suddenly as it always does. There will still be plenty of harvesting to take place in the outside fields but the only seeding and transplanting taking place will be for overwintering. Our ears, eyes and hearts are now turned to the high tunnels, our Winter oasis of inside growing space. Bed by bed, tunnel by tunnel we switch over from Summer jungles of seasonal favs like tomatoes, peppers and melons, to Winter seas of roots and greens. The clock is ticking and the push is on to plant just enough at the right time over the next two months so that we can carry a bountiful Fall deep into the Winter.

Besides the obvious signs of the season Mother Nature gives us, on farms and at the markets the displays also slowly change with the season. Currently, we still have one foot in each season and the market tables are full with the best of both worlds. Spinach is making it’s long awaited return and more than likely some bunches of Siberian kale will also be making their way to the market this week. This year’s run of Winter squash has been harvested and we are pleased to report the 3D electric fencing more or less was a successful deterrent for the hungry deer. Pumpkins, delicata and butternut squash are curing in the nursery as we speak. The butternut will take another week however pumpkins and delicata are available now.

With October just at arms length we are also getting excited to harvest this year’s crop of purple sweet potatoes. Great news for all of you sweet potato lovers but also a bit of a tease since they require at least a month of curing. Your patience mind you will be rewarded, not only will they store for months but develop a heavenly sweetness when cured long enough. October also brings with it the end of the Chester Sunday Market with just two more Sundays to go. We would be lying if we told you that we won’t mind having an easier day on Sundays but we would also be lying to say that we won’t miss seeing everyone on Sunday’s too. It has truly been a great season in Chester this year and we want to thank all the town merchants, fellow vendors, lovely customers and of course excellent market staff for welcoming Star Light Gardens into your community. If you haven’t had a chance to stop by there are still two more chances this season.

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Official SLG Merch

Here at Star Light Gardens as you may or may not know we live and often celebrate by the seasons. If you have had the chance to attend one of our Winter Solstice celebrations you’ve seen this first hand and if not you can only imagine how farmers behave celebrating the longest night of the year. With the arrival of Fall we decided to gather some folks to celebrate the equinox and to conjure up some medicinal potions for the season to come. With the cooler weather comes the seasons of colds and coughs, indeed this very week we’ve heard people saying “there’s something going around”. Some of you may have heard of fire cider a vinegar, lemon, garlic, onion, hot pepper, herbs and ginger packed concoction which aids in immunity support. This potion is not only easy to make but versatile you can simply take a shot for your health or mix it to create a delicious salad dressing, just to name a few uses. The best part is that besides the lemon, herbs and apple cider vinegar(which are readily available organically) all of the ingredients can currently be sourced from your very own local neighborhood organic farm Star Light Gardens.

This equinox celebration of course was more than just a celebration because after all this is a working farm and it was only the last day of Summer(or is that the first of Fall). Luckily good friends both new and old were eager to pitch in to help us create this season’s first batch of Fire Cider. So with a small fire in the background, snacks and refreshments on hand everyone grabbed a cutting board and knife getting to work in assembly line fashion making short work of all the onions, garlic, ginger and hot peppers that needed to be chopped. Within no time we had all the ingredients diced and in jars and were ready to add the vinegar. Five large jars were filled for farm use and each attendee went home with their own batch for personal use. It was a really great time spent with great people and we probably will be adding this equinox tradition to our annual celebrations. Eager to try making some yourselves? There are an endless amount of recipes out there many of which include optional ingredients such as horseradish and turmeric. Our specific batch included ginger, cayenne peppers, thyme, sage, oregano, garlic, red and yellow onion(all grown on farm) as well as organic lemons and apple cider vinegar. Not too eager on making things yourself not to worry because our farm made fire cider will be available in around a month and a half when the first batch is done.

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Official SLG Merch

The last week of Summer seems to hit you as suddenly as the appearance of a first frost. You know it’s coming and we think about and even prepare for it for weeks if not more. Put in all the preparation you want, there is just no getting away from that sinking feeling of how did we let the Summer slip away. Funny to think this way considering the work load and long days that go along with the best couple months of the year, but there is no denying the timeless beauty of the season. It’s hard not to look back and say we should have done things this way instead or maybe if we got to that a week or so earlier things would have been different. Indeed even in the best of years there exists some regret. However, instead of harping on the things that didn’t happen perhaps we’ll take a bit of time to write those things down as reminders not only for the coming seasons but as to ourselves that perfection exists in it’s pursuit.

Summer’s second to last weekend was certainly picturesque especially from a farmers’ market perspective with all of you the Good Food People showing up in earnest. This time of year going to three markets a week you can’t deny the beauty of this thing and the community that is created around it. Sharing something so essential as food and coming at it from a place of love and nutrition, makes it feel almost like a family. The first seasonal market of the year that ends for us Chester, has just 4 markets left. Thinking of not seeing folks we’ve seen week after week now for months, leaves you with a sad feeling not unlike the end of Summer itself. It’s a sadness that comes from all the good times we’ve had and for now we’ll enjoy what time remains of this season, while smiling on the inside thinking of the seasons to come.

Similarly, on the farm itself we begin to reach the inevitable end of season points that exist for growers. When it comes to planting outside there is only a handful of direct seedings and transplantings and our attention for the most part is turning to the tunnels. Most of the cover crop has been sown and is coming in nicely, besides the Winter rye which will be getting it’s turn in the soil any day now. Even the end of the main season with the crew is coming into view and we can count on one hand how many more weeks remain. Thoughts of prepping areas for the garlic and planting overwintered onions fill our heads along with sweet images of spinach and claytonia. But before we get too far ahead there still is one more week of Summer left so enjoy it, after all you deserve to.

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OFFICIAL SLG MERCH

After what seems to be nearly months without rain this weekend we finally got the relief from drought that has been well overdue. It really for the most part was a good soaking rain that all the life whether plant, animal or soil organism truly needed. Now don’t get us wrong the timing of the rain wasn’t the best for those of us who do Sunday markets but as some old timers say”we’ll get the rain when we need it” and we certainly needed it. The only question now is what to do with all of our free time since at least for a few days we can ignore the regiment of rotating irrigation.

One thing we of course we will be spending our time on is planting for the seasons to come. Though we have just under 2 weeks of Summer left with that chill in the night air it’s easy to see Fall is just around the bend. And as we all know with those cooler nights also come longer nights and consequently less hours of daylight for our little veggy friends. In some ways this is a good thing the cool temps and reducing light allow for things to grow larger and hold in the field longer without bolting. Not to mention the sweetness that the cold imparts upon the veg. But things are also growing slower and many things are past their point of seeding for this year. This really puts the the pressure on us four season growers as the countdown is on until you can’t realistically plant anything that will be harvestable this year.

So for about the next month and a half it’s plant, plant, plant, then the pace changes a bit. Once November rolls around there are a few key direct seedings and transplantings that will take place in the last months of the year. First and foremost is a November seeding of overwintered carrots that will be harvested in late Spring 2026. After that it’s some seedings of brassicas each month for salad greens and of course transplanting spinach and lettuce for late Winter. Then before we know we’ll be back grafting tomatoes in the basement and dreaming of that Summer sun.

That being said with the last two weeks of Summer being in the here and now there is still a lot to plant out in the fields before we turn exclusivity to planting inside the tunnels. Our goal each year is to continue harvesting outside up until at least Thanksgiving so that we have a deep pocket of veg safely tucked away for the Winter. The nursery seems to be an ever lasting sea of transplants with more lettuce, choys and spinach dying to get into the ground in the coming weeks. We’ll get as much space prepped for the last round of Arugula and Mizuna seedings out in the field. Those seedings will also be the first official sightings of row cover, it’s ghostly white appearance returning to the fields and heralding in the spooky season to come. With the cooler weather and longer nights it’s also a great time of year to bring out those SLG sweatshirts find all Official SLG Merch here.

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It’s easy to get excited about something new be it an idea, method, shirt design(foreshadowing) or in this case tool. Perhaps in the initial enthusiasm one thinks this is great and will make everything easier. And that is definitely how we felt about our new potato digging implement, as you may remember from last week. Much work was put into prepping the second section of potatoes to facilitate an even better result, and that indeed was the case with the first row dug in round two. It was nearly picture perfect until when raising the implement up to reposition for row two, the unmistakable crisp snap that can only be metal breaking was heard. Surely from some manufactures defect and not user error the spine clamp which connects to the PTO was sheared clean off. More than likely repairable and covered by the warranty, none the less frustratingly heart breaking to say the least. After a brief period of disbelief and colorful language, there was nothing left to do but park the implement and grab the digging broad fork. Luckily between the prep that was done to the area preharvest and the need to get out some of that energy a new tool breaking gives one, the area was broad forked and dug up before noon. With all the potatoes now harvested all we can do is repair the machine and wait until next year’s harvest so stay tuned.

For now let’s leave those August memories be them good or bad behind us because after all the calendar doesn’t lie. Beyond the heart break of letting Summer go that September brings it also heralds in the new season and with it some great things we haven’t seen in months. With one row of spinach already transplanted and 40 more trays ready to get into the ground it won’t be long till we see our delicious green friend on our plates again. We have already turned over 3 tunnels and transplanted in Siberian kale, Swiss chard and celery for Winter long production. Then there is our old favorite claytonia which is slated to be direct seeded either Tuesday or Wednesday. There is also a lot of brassicas getting seeded in the these tunnels, radish, arugula and mizuna just to name a few. Seeding now we have a small window to get some excellent late Summer production out of the tunnels before they are planted for the Winter. The difference in the quality of things like arugula especially will be quite evident over the next month plus.

For at least a few years now fashion forward individuals across the globe have been spotted wearing a wide variety of Star Light Gardens shirts featuring original artwork from one of the farm’s founders Ty Zemelsky. As popularity for the shirts grew, true fans of the art and food of SLG have wanted, no dare we say demanded a new design. So today we are here to announce the official release of the SLG a lot to chew on shirt once again featuring original art work from Ty Zemelsky. Available in tank top, t shirt, sweat shirt, hoodie and kids shirts you can order them now through the website and link below.

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Official SLG Merch

As August fades into the sunset and September’s new day begins to rise the push and pull of Summer and Fall gets stronger everyday. The desire to turn over a tunnel and plant into this prime farm real estate is pitted against the need to hold onto those Summer crops just a few weeks longer. For some of the tunnels it is an easy choice. The earliest plantings of tomatoes, cucumbers and squash or the tunnels where we have seeded Winter carrots. There are the sweet potatoes we won’t harvest until October or the late planting of cherry toms all of these are no brainers. The tunnels that have all the heirlooms we planted for the season or the beautiful peppers we mentioned last week those can really be tough choices.

The fact of the matter is that with the amount of tunnels we are working with and the amount of food we want to grow in them we need to be turning over an average of one tunnel every week and a half to get to the sweet spot. This coming week we are eyeing the tunnel that was pole beans and melons, a chaotic mess that can be considered largely a success. Of course that is just one item on the last week of August to do list another top contender for need to get done is round two of potato harvest using our new digging implement. The first round did have a bit of a slow start but like the tunnel with beans and melons could also be deemed largely a success. Armed with the experience from the first round along with some adjustments to the implement itself we are excited to try it again.

Another thing this time of year brings is the end of the season for the main season (May thru August) crew members. This past Wednesday was the last day the entire crew would be together for the season. So to celebrate the great season and show our appreciation we ended the work at 1 and had a crew lunch for the remainder of the day. The menu not only highlighted some of the best we have to offer but also included food from some of our fellow market vendors, many of which some of you know and love. Besides a small grill fire to kick off the celebration things went off with out a hitch and a wonderful time was had by all. We’ll miss having everyone around but this is the ebb and flow of the seasons and life on the farm. One week everything is green and overgrown and there are voices and sounds of nature coming from all directions and the next it is quiet and calm, leaves on the ground and a chill in the air.

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Though officially Summer goes right into the end of September for many the unofficial end of Summer comes with the end of August. Perhaps it is ingrained in our minds because of the school year but there is no denying that with the month of September, cooler weather and shorter days are arriving. For four season growers like ourselves the change in light and weather means the count down is on to prep and plant for the seasons to come. We’ve already seeded the last of the carrots that will be enjoyed by you and us all Winter long, some 1,500 row feet or so. And now it is time to turn our attention to our good friend spinach. Before we know it we’ll be replacing the summer crops like tomatoes, melons, beans, peppers and eggplant that now fill the tunnels with cold hardy veg that will thrive through the Fall and Winter.

But before we go too far into the tales and plans for cool weather growing let’s live a little more in the moment and talk about some sweet crops of Summer. Having the majority of the back fields at SLGNW in Middlefield now in production has allowed us to grow more of what we love and experiment. This Spring we relocated the caterpillar tunnels to Middlefield to plant a second succession on cherry tomatoes. These along with an actual outdoor uncovered planting are just beginning to produce and should take off soon just as the first early planting is dying out. We’ve planted more melons than ever before and the peppers oh the peppers. Determined to make up for the less than stellar pepper production of the past Jen set out to give the tunnel planted with peppers nearly as much attention as is given to the tomatoes. The result is stunning plants that are 5 or more feet tall and producing a more constant and regular harvest instead of simply one big flush. Another thing the extra space out back gives us is a chance for some larger scale cover cropping, not only keeping the weeds under control but protecting the soil and fostering more complex soil biology all of which will translate to better veg and better health. Despite all the hard work it is tough not to be excited for the future of SLG as we continue to grow and refine what we do.

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Careful what you ask for cause you might get it in heaps, that’s what a lot growers, gardeners, food enthusiasts and folks with their feet in the dirt generally are feeling this time of year. Besides the lack of rain this growing season has been pretty civil. Though we would like some rain taking into account what’s already been stated, when it comes to water it’s a lot easier to add it than take it away. Famous words from a good organic farmer watching excessive rain wash the days work away. Luckily most growers come equipped with a thick coat of resilience and optimism that allows one to move like a blade of grass in the wind.

That energetic optimism will be needed as much as ever this week as we ride the wave of peak Summer while all the time keeping our gaze focused on the season to come. Honestly we’re being dragged in so many directions. What demands the majority of our attention? Is it worth it? Is there still time? When it comes to hope, Good Food, Empathy and understanding, the answer is of course Yes. This weeks to do list is filling up quickly and truth be told we’d be lucky to cross off everything but we’ll try none the less.

There is as always the usual weekly tasks of seeding, weeding, prepping and planting, but the calendar’s date is putting extra pressure on the need to get some other things done too. This week and next are just about the last chance one is going to get to seed carrots if you want to have them this year and over the winter. We have a lot of space prepped so now it’s time to sow those seeds. Carrots can be a challenging crop to get to germinate. The seed cannot dry out so diligent watering and usually a covering like shade cloth is required. This week’s heat will make that challenging but we are confident that we can succeed. The hot weather to come will of course make any of the farm tasks more difficult but luckily there is a good amount of shade work that must get done sooner than later. Most pressing of this is clipping garlic to one make more room in our storage seeing as the dried stalks take up a lot of space. Also to get the garlic that is still in the barn into storage so we can have it to sell throughout the year as well as have seed to plant come November. Once clipped and cleaned the garlic will take up probably a 5th of the space and crates they now occupy and that will make room for one thing we need to start getting out of the ground the potatoes. In an attempt to cut the labor required to harvest the potatoes down, last year we purchased a potato digging implement for the tractor. Surely as with most things there will be a slight learning curve but with any luck this attachment will be worlds faster than the old farmer digging them out of the ground by hand method which we have used for years. Stay tuned for updates on that harvest. The to do lists and farm topics we could discuss are nearly endless but for now other matters demand our attention, like the 60 yards of compost that are arriving this morning.

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With the Dog Days of Summer now behind us it seems like an appropriate time to introduce the newest feline addition to the farm. It all started about 5 weeks ago while Jen was taking Sid and Annie our trusted farm dogs for a walk around the neighborhood in Middlefield. The two quickly became alerted to something that was hiding in the bushes, however in a more gentle way than when they smell a rodent, more like in the caring way one could expect two dogs who already live with 5 cats to react to a kitten. Meanwhile while preforming some farm tasks in Durham Joel’s phone began to ring, on the other end was Jen. “Turn on the video” she exclaimed and the image of the cutest little fluff ball appeared on the screen. “What do we do” said Jen and Joel’s reply was simple, “pick her up and bring her home” Maybe 4 weeks old this little cat was barely able to eat solid foods, still had blue eyes and hardly a tale was visible. It’s hard to know what would have happen to this little one had her new dog siblings not found her and needless to say she hit the jackpot by joining the Star Light Family. This little grey cat now needed a name so in classic SLG fashion we thought to ourselves what crop do we grow that fits this cat. Petite Gris of course, one of our favorite musk melons to grow which literally translates to little grey seemed quite fitting. Of course this more formal naming of the cat quickly took on a spin all it’s own until it became clear to us that her name would simply be Melon. Needless to say that the name is a great fit and the only thing cuter is seeing how bonded she is with the farm pups who found her and coming inside to find the three of them sleeping together on the couch.

Just because we have been talking cats and the dog days have past doesn’t mean that the Summer’s work is behind us, quite the opposite in fact. Summer is just hitting it’s mid point and the arrival of the first ripe melons of the season speak to just that. It’s tradition around here to share the first melons of the season and this past week’s heat was an excellent opportunity to enjoy this sweet treat with the crew as they ended the day with shade work. August tends to mean a lot of things but for us in screams Fall is on it’s way and the need to seed and plant in arguably at it’s most earnest. There’s broccoli and cauliflower that must be transplanted soon, over wintered onions to start, seeding carrots for Fall and Winter and of course it’s time to begin seeding that old friend of ours spinach. Meanwhile in the background the tomato waterfall continues to flow and all the large demands of the Summer harvest still loom overhead. Yes, these are good problems to have, they speak to the power of this good food movement, they speak of abundance and they speak instinctively to the our hearts and souls through good food in our bellies. Of course all of this would be nothing without the power you The Good Food People give to it each week with your unwavering support and love.

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