Question 1

What growing practices do you use?

Accepted Answer

We are proud to produce over 80 varieties of vegetables sustainably by using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system. Key factors in IPM include planting on black plastic and hand weeding, composting and using natural soil amendments, utilizing beneficial insects, rotating crops, and scouting for pest and diseases.

Question 2

What are some of the practices you follow to protect the environment and grow sustainably?

Accepted Answer

We believe in investing our time and resources into preventative measures to protect the environment as much as possible.
 
Some of these practices are as follows:​
 • Growing on a 3-year rotation schedule to keep soil health vibrant
 • Using drip irrigation to prevent the spread of disease and avoid water waste
 • Hand weeding and using plastic mulch to control weeds
 • Growing on biodegradable plastic mulch
 • Composting excess crops and adding compost back to raised beds
 • Introducing beneficial insects to our fields and greenhouses to prey on pests
 • Testing and amending soil fertility

Question 3

Do you use pesticides?

Accepted Answer

During weekly scoutings of our fields, we collect data to monitor the health of our plants. We only use chemicals if destructive thresholds of pests and diseases are evident, and the needs vary depending on the crop and the weather conditions in a given season.

Farmer Randy works closely with consultants to devise plans for using minimal chemical inputs. His repertoire is ever growing and changing. Many of the chemicals used on the farm are certified organic options. No chemicals on the farm are "restricted use" products. Randy is also trained to follow strict schedules regarding waiting certain intervals before harvesting crops after a chemical has been applied. These schedules are determined by the EPA.

Our farm is also intermittently tested by the Department of Consumer Protection to ensure that no unapproved levels of chemical residue are evident on our produce.

Question 4

What type of seeds do you use?

Accepted Answer

All of our seed is non-GMO. Some seeds that we use are heirloom varieties. We vary the types of crops we grow based on timing and weather conditions. For example, we grow 6 different kinds of broccoli, which are suited to thrive in the spring or fall and ripen at different intervals for optimal harvest timing.

Question 5

What do you do to stay up-to-date with new farming practices?

Accepted Answer

Throughout the 2016 season we collaborated with the UConn Extension Center in order to refine our IPM practices, including resistance management and pest and disease identification.

Both Randy and Victoria collaborate with other farmers in Connecticut and nationally to learn and add to their respective repertoires.

We've also taken courses in chemical application safety, worker protection standards, and federal laws regarding food safety.

Question 6

Do you grow all of the produce you sell?

Accepted Answer

While many farm stands supplement with commercially-grown produce (and may not even label it as such!), we believe in being honest about our growing practices and our products. The number one way we do this is by only selling what we grow ourselves. You will never find out-of-season, trucked-in produce in our farm store or CSA shares.

HOW WE GROW

COMMON QUESTIONS

247 Waverly Road,
Shelton, CT 06484

STORE HOURS

OPEN MAY 3, 2025- DECEMBER 7, 2025

Mon 10:30AM - 4PM
Tue-Thu 10:30AM - 6PM
Fri 10:30AM - 3PM
Sat 9AM - 4PM
Sun 10AM - 3PM

475 Booth Hill Road,
Shelton, CT 06484

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laurelglenfarm@gmail.com | 203-305-9179