A reflection on late summer seasonality
- Victoria & Randy Rogowski
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
STORIES & UPDATES
New England farmers seed their watermelons at the exact time every year - we couldn't plant them out in the fields sooner than we do without them being killed by frost in the spring. That's why every farmer in Connecticut is now harvesting watermelons. We often think of watermelon for the 4th of July, but the reality is, it would be impossible to harvest it in our area for that date. We can truck them in, but we can't enjoy them from local farms.
Shopping at local farms (and farming) means letting nature be our guide. Waiting when it's hard to wait, preserving when it's time to preserve... We have ways to combat weather patterns, resources, and expertise, but at the end of the day, we are never in control of the climate. And that's a hard thing to accept!
It's still tomato season, and on warm years, we have tomatoes available through Halloween.
I love this time of year because it's when two worlds collide (and because I have to - I'm a summer girl, in denial). I love that I can eat a caprese salad, and make a pot of sauce. I can snack on a juicy peach and make a hearty eggplant parm. I can put a pumpkin on my stoop (or at least leave it there when Randy puts it there...) and a bright bouquet of flowers on my table.
I think this is a hard time of year because change is hard. Our summer vacation memories are behind us. There's a new chill in the air and our wardrobes are shifting. But if farming has taught me anything, it's to look ahead, and to embrace the here and now. I don't have to say goodbye to watermelon just because my son went back to school. Who wrote the rules on what you can eat when?
This week, we're sending 1,000 lbs. of tomatoes off to our processor to make another batch of Sunday Sauce. We're getting down to the final few cases of our 2024 stock, and we need more to take us through the winter. That means we'll be sorting and weighing crates of tomatoes - a job that takes half a day or more! - one day this week.
With that being said, tomatoes will not be in all shares this week, but they'll be in free choice if you'd like to snatch 'em up.
Plum tomatoes are iffy, and we just can't pinpoint when we'll get to harvesting them, when they'll be ripe, and when they'll be available. We apologize for the disappointment that inevitably causes.
Peaches have been a hit this season! We are so thrilled that you had such a great time at the PYO peach pop-up event! Large share members will receive a couple of peaches in their share this week - let's keep the fruit fun going!
It's a huge week for a plethora of odds and ends - tomatillos, peppers, eggplant, summer squash, carrots, and more. Because of this, we're offering 3 free choice options for everyone. We don't want to force unwanted summer repeats on you, so we'd love for you to select the items that will make you happiest.
We will also see the return of some cooler season crops. Either radishes or salad turnips, plus Tokyo bekana. Tokyo bekana is a mild, tender leaf cabbage with no bitterness. It's perfect for salads, soup, and stir fry. No need to de-stem it; it has a tender crunch.
Here are some recipe ideas. When in doubt, make a slaw or use it in place of lettuce as a salad green.
Everything on the farm can be gamified or turned into a workout… especially during watermelon season. This week, we worked our muscles, competed in guessing games with weight, and played catch - making hard tasks more enjoyable. But, farming wouldn’t be fun without the right crew. On Friday we said goodbye to Alex, who makes this place more fun and productive, as he heads off to Wesleyan for college.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PICK-YOUR-OWN INFORMATION
Friday, September 5th - 4 to 6 p.m. (flowers only)
Saturday, August 30 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (flowers, and additional items TBD)
475 Booth Hill Road in Shelton
Bouquets of flowers are $30, which includes tax and a collectible transport cup for your blooms. Bring the cup to use on a subsequent visit for $1 off! Your bouquet must fit into one hand when grasped around the stems. After you finish harvesting, please see us at the checkout station for a complimentary water cup, to fit into your car's cupholder on the journey home.
Dahlias are now blooming as well as sunflowers. It's prime time for a beautiful bouquet!
Our store is CLOSED Monday, September 1st for Labor Day. Our crew will still be laboring, but we'd like to take the store off our plates that day. Thank you for supporting our staff!
The Shelton Farmers' Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 100 Canal Street.
The Monroe Farmers' Market runs every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m at 7 Fan Hill Road.
STORE INFORMATION
Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Friday, September 5th):
Arugula
Basil
Bell peppers
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cilantro
Collard greens
Cucumbers (slicing and pickling)
Eggplant
Garlic
Grapes (red and green seedless)
Grape/cherry tomatoes
Green & wax beans
Hot peppers (assorted)
Husk cherries
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lunchbox peppers
Napa cabbage
Onions
Parsley
Peaches
Scallions
Shishito peppers
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Watermelon (red and yellow, both with seeds)
Yellow squash
Zucchini
CURRENT STORE HOURS:
Monday: 10:30 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
MAIN SEASON WEEK 13 of 20
(Tuesday, September 2nd through Saturday, September 6th)
Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 bunch of Tokyo bekana
1 bunch of radishes or salad turnips (farmers' choice)
1 lb. of tomatoes
1/2 pint of grape tomatoes
1 lb. of peaches
3 free choice items: think summer favorites!
1 bulb of garlic
Small:
1 bunch of Tokyo bekana
1 bunch of radishes or salad turnips (farmers' choice)
1/2 pint of grape tomatoes
3 free choice items: think summer favorites!
Storage tips and recipes for all of the vegetables in this week's share can be located on our website, here.
Vegetable Subscription Pickup Policies
All pickups must take place within store operating hours. For many reasons, we can't leave shares outside the store. Pickup days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours' notice for any of the options below. This is because we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not change or cancel your pickup.
For Tuesday pickups being changed, we need to know by Sunday.
Wednesday pickups, we need to know by Monday.
Saturday pickups, we need to know by Thursday.
You have the option to choose another pickup day in a given week: we offer share pickup on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday only.
You can skip a pickup and receive a double the following week.
If you miss your pickup, we will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day, and then it will be donated to a local food pantry. With more members than ever before, we don't have the cooler space to hold onto shares longer than this. This is a great option if you accidentally miss your pickup - just come the next day.
You can always send a guest to pick up in your place by simply notifying us of their name.
Please send us an email to laurelglenfarm@gmail.com 48 hours before your anticipated pickup in order to make a change. You must submit your request in writing in order to leave a paper trail. This allows you to show proof to our store staff at pickup in the event that we need clarification.
If a share is picked up outside of your scheduled time (aside from an approved change) or the 24 hour holding period, you will be billed for an additional share.