Happy Mother's Day, mamas!
- Victoria & Randy Rogowski
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
STORIES & UPDATES
Another week, another terrible forecast! We are officially behind schedule about a week so far. This past week, Randy needed to get out into the field to make raised beds with the tractor. Unfortunately, the fields were completely muddy and it wasn't possible. It takes about 2 days for them to dry out after a rain, so by the time they had a chance to dry out, the rain was back.
In the greenhouse, the quality of our plants is decreasing as they wait their turn to be planted out in the field. They require water, but once watered, due to the lack of sun, many are starting to rot. In just a couple of days, this lettuce went to muck.
We absolutely need to get out into the field this week, so we're praying for a break in the weather.
Still, we carry on with more seeding. Did you know that we seed continuously through September? Seeding isn't just for springtime. This week, we seeded the third of five rounds of brassicas (cabbage family crops). The ones that we seeded will be ready for harvest at the end of July, and we'll continue seeding more to take us right through Thanksgiving.
We're just about done harvesting from our greenhouse - this will be the final week until the field crops are just about ready. Yet those are slightly behind, too, so we'll see how it goes.
On Wednesday, we got off the farm for a bit to attend a UConn Extension event focused on connecting farmers with school food service directors. It was exciting to be able to present about our farm in the hopes of having our yummy, healthy veggies served in school cafeterias across the state. I was honored to have been asked to attend, because as a former teacher I’m especially passionate about this mission. Fingers crossed for some more partnerships this year...
Shelton families, you’ll be glad to know that our food service director already collaborates with us and serves our produce periodically! He has placed an order for this week, and I believe the greens will be served at the high school!
The "chicks" are now pullets, which means they can join the girls in the coop. Randy has a feeling this one is a rooster... See the little circle knob on his ankle? That's one telltale sign. If that's the case, we'll rehome him and the other roosters - after all, our farm is reliant on egg sales to continue having chickens. The new hens should start laying eggs in late summer.
See the little tiny green berry on the honeyberry bush?! That means the late spring fruit will be ripening soon...
Despite the hardships on the farm, battling the weather, balancing childcare, crop losses, and more, I still feel incredibly blessed to live this life. Cheers to all of the mamas out there who do it all and feed your kids this farm fresh food. Happy Mother's Day!
UPCOMING EVENTS
SPRING SEEDLING SALE
Saturday, May 17, 2025
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Seedlings will be set up in the barnyard on these days. Come browse and bring a box to transfer your seedlings home!
Remaining seedlings will continue to be sold during our store's open hours into June while availability lasts.
Sold as single plants:
Heirloom slicing tomatoes
Red and yellow slicing tomatoes
Red and yellow grape tomatoes
Red cherry tomatoes
Eggplant
Red bell peppers
Jalapenos
Sold in 2-packs:
Slicing and pickling cucumbers
Zucchini
Yellow squash
Broccoli
Kale
Pumpkins
Melons
Sold in 4-packs:
Green and red lettuce
Green beans
Basil, cilantro, dill, thyme, parsley, mint, oregano, and sage
Sunflowers and zinnias
The Shelton Farmers' Market begins on Saturday, May 17th, 2025. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 100 Canal Street.
The Monroe Farmers' Market begins on Friday, June 13, 2025. 3 to 6 p.m. 7 Fan Hill Road.
STORE INFORMATION
Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last:
Arugula
Asian greens mix
Bok choy
Broccoli rabe
Carrots
Escarole
Fresh herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary, mint, oregano)
Lettuce
Radishes
Scallions
Spinach
Tokyo bekana (a leaf cabbage for stir fry, salad, or slaw)
SPRING HOURS:
Monday: CLOSED
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.
Hanging flower baskets are ready! We have 8 different color palettes each with sweet names like "Pop the Bubbly" and "Into the Blue." They're $27.50 each or 2 for $52 and you can mix and match varieties (to choose one for you and one for a Mother's Day gift!)
Plus, our shelves are stocked with the products from other local vendors... HIGHLIGHTED BRANDS ARE NEW!
Amrita Health Foods (protein bars)
Cato Corner Farm
Cheese (Other)
Cross Culture Kombucha
Dash 'N Drizzle
Durante's Pasta
Field Trip Snacks (beef jerky)
Hawthorne Valley Ferments
One Part Co. (cocktail infusion mixes)
Oui Charcuterie
Redding Roasters
Rise Brewing Company (cold brew coffee)
Rose Sisters Chips
Savor
Seasonal Catering
Shaggy Coos Farm
Stani Dairy
Sugar Maple Farms
Telios
Treefort Naturals (soap)
Twin Pines Farm
Wave Hill Breads
Also available:
Dahlia plants ($2.75 each or 4 for $10)
Laurel Glen Farm shirts (limited availability - medium, large, XL)
New crocheted chicken plushies!
All 3 of our jarred products: Sunday Sauce, butternut squash sauce, "Just a Crush" tomatoes
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
EXTENDED SEASON WEEK 3 OF 32
(Tuesday, May 13th through Saturday, May 17th)
Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 head of lettuce
2 heads of escarole
1 bunch of broccoli rabe
1 bunch of radishes
2 free choice items: bok choy, lettuce, escarole, broccoli rabe, arugula, carrots, Tokyo bekana
Small:
1 head of lettuce
1 head of escarole
1 bunch of broccoli rabe
1 bunch of radishes
1 free choice item: bok choy, lettuce, escarole, broccoli rabe, arugula, carrots, Tokyo bekana
Storage tips and recipes for all of the vegetables in this week's share can be located on our website, here.
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION HOUSEKEEPING
Please remember to bring the balance for your share by cash or check this week.
If you haven't already joined our Facebook group, here is the link to join where we'll be sharing recipes together. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/168wiN8JJh/
If anyone else needs to receive the emails and you haven't already sent me their address, please pass it along to me. I think I added everyone who asked, but my apologies if I missed an addition.
Since we can't make calls to remind you of your pickup, this newsletter will serve as a reminder. Set yourself an alert on your phone!
Please note that Victoria does not work on Thursdays. Emails or phone calls received on Wednesday night through Thursday will be answered on Fridays.
How to Change Your Vegetable Subscription Pickup Day
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 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 of those pickup days in a given week: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
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. A paper trail is always best!
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