News from the Farm
Newsletter date: June 30, 2008
    
       Everything is growing nicely, including the weeds! Oh, the weeds! We do not spray herbicides to kill weeds here, but I tell you, we can get tempted when we are aching and sore from so much weeding by hand and hoe! We've been getting a bit too much rain, which also brings out the bugs. A farmer has so much to battle: the weeds, the bugs, too much rain....... but we still look forward to the harvest of all that we grow. We do strive to stay away from chemical solutions to our problems.

This year we are participating in two new farmer's markets: One in Simsbury on Thursdays from 3 -7 on rte. 202 at Simsmore Square, and the other is in New Hartford on Fridays from 4 - 7 on the town green on rte. 44. We have never been involved with farmer's markets before this, so this is new for us. But we are looking forward to a season of meeting new people and promoting our products directly to the consumer. With the price of gas, it made sense to bring our farm products to the people, rather than hoping that the crowds will come up here. We will be bringing all that we can down to these markets. Please stop by at one or both and check it out ! We still hope you come up here though! We are going to be offering pick-your-own for the first time this year as well, on Saturdays from 10-6. If you can't make it at that time, you are welcome to call ahead and make an appointment. You can plan on making this a "destination" for you and your family. It's something fun to do, and it gives you the best freshness available anywhere. Free lemonade for you in the shade!

Our blueberries are coming along nicely, we usually start to see some blue ones around Independence Day. The bird netting is in need of repair, and there are weeds to deal with, but the bushes look loaded. We have not used any chemical fertilizers, or any other chemicals like herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides on our berries. This year we planted 65 new bushes too. They are still on the small side, and we won't be picking a lot from these berry bushes this year, but in a few years we hope to have a double crop. We have blueberries available until late September. Pick your own will be available for blueberries, and when they get ready: beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, peppers, flowers and more. We will still have a few select crops offered at our farm stand already picked as well. Please note: we will NOT be offering flowers at the farmstand already picked and on display. If you wish to get flowers, please call ahead for a bouquet to be picked for you, or you can pick your own. This goes for other items such as swiss chard, beans, peas, and herbs. It's hard to keep these crops fresh and long lasting, and we hate to discard our hard work.

We hope that by July 19 we will have an abundance of fresh produce to offer. We hope that on this date we will be having our Blueberry Festival as well. (We may have to push that off for a week if some things don't get done around here on time.) Feel free to call us about availability.

What we are growing in our gardens: Tomatoes, (slicing, some heirloom, grape and cherry types) Peppers, (hot and sweet) Cucumbers (slicing and pickling), Summer Squash, Zucchini, Green beans, Yellow beans, Sugar and Snow peas, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Eggplant, Winter Squash: (Acorn, Butternut,Spaghetti,and Buttercup) , Pumpkins of all types and sizes, Gourds of assorted types, Watermelon, Canteloupe, Corn, Dill, Basil, Cosmos, Zinnias, Sunflowers of assorted types, Onions, Leeks, Lettuce, and did I forget anything????
Growing in our greenhouse, potted herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Chammomile, Dill, Lemon Balm, Oregeno, Chives, and Garlic Chives.  Please check back with us on a class being offered here on "Cooking with Herbs".

Something for you to consider: Did you ever think about where your food comes from? The answer isn't "Stop and Shop"! Most of what is offered in stores is from far far away...... Even the term "Native" doesn't always mean much. "Native" could mean from this country vs. another foreign source. A lot of the varieties of produce grown for grocery stores are the kind that have a longer shelf life and can hold up to shipping. This can mean (and usually does) that you sacrifice flavor and texture for these attributes. Whole foods vs. processsed foods is another thing to consider. Many packaged or precooked items are not "whole foods", which means produce in its natural state, not dissected. We hope you will consider that buying from a local farm like ours helps you and your family to eat better, enjoy it more, and promotes farming in your local community. If you don't support local farms, they will cease to exist, and more and more of your food will come from "far far away". Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you here soon!

    

          
                ***STONE for SALE***
Stonewall stones for sale:  Nice flat rocks for building stonewalls, patios, other landscaping projects.  Round stone for wall builder/filler, and boulders of all sizes. Sold by the pallet load or truck load. Prices vary according to your selection, range between $75.00 a pallet for round wall builder/filler, to $100.00 a pallet for flat rock. A pallet is a 4' x 4' base up to 20" high stacked. Discounts on multiple pallet purchases, or by the truckload.  You pick up, or delivery available. Please call ahead to make a scheduled  visit time with us, and we will show you what we have to offer, and you can make your selection on site. (860) 653-2038


                                                                      ***FIREWOOD for SALE***
Seasoned Firewood for sale: Hardwood mix, Cut and split.  $200.00 a cord, delivery available to local areas .  4 cord load for $700.00 includes delivery fee.  Campfire bundles for $20.00 at our farmstand. Call us at (860) 653-2038 to place an order.
                              ***Christmas Trees for Sale****

Live Christmas trees: Choose and cut, price varies from $20 and up. You also may choose to dig and wrap to keep your tree living for planting in your own backyard after the holidays. Trees for landscaping projects available any time of the year. Visit our farm for selection.