Lots of victories this week

STORIES & UPDATES

---

We had a pretty successful week, which is always nice to report. It started early in the week with a hustle to bring in all of our garlic. This is the field that we harvested, as the thunder was rumbling in the distance, and the skies threatened to open up.

And guess what?

We did it in record time!

This week, we'll now need to string and tie up all of the garlic so it can dry out. We're not impressed with our yields this year, but our feeling was that the garlic didn't have enough time between a late scape harvest to bulk up before it was time to get it out of the ground.

The block where the garlic was has since already been plowed, harrowed, made into raised beds, and planted with another round of summer squash to take us into September.

The carrots are starting to yield, and extremely late this year. Randy is super disappointed with the spot he chose to plant the carrots this season. It's a very sandy, dry spot, which means they also aren't bulking up the way they should. They have beautiful greens but are like pencils beneath the soil.

This week, large shares will receive carrots so that we can start to thin out what is yielding. We'll continue to irrigate the section every day until one of our biggest, most profitable crops is successful.

I do want to share a huge growing win for Randy. If you've been following us on social media stories @laurelglenfarmllc, you know that we battled the critters over winter squash about a month ago. Randy noticed the plants weren't germinating, and when he dug up the soil, there were no traces of the seed - it had been eaten. We seeded it again, thanks to Jamie Jones, who shared more seed with us so we didn't have to wait on a delivery to supplement the stock we had left. Then, we covered it with Reemay cloth to keep the critters from getting at it.

No such luck, they ransacked the seeds again.

So, Randy asked his seed representative to help him find quick yielding varieties. We got a shipment of seeds sent, and he seeded them right away. Then he had the idea to cover them with clear cups, with holes drilled in the top (for air), to keep the critters away.

And guess what again?

It worked!

The squash that survived might be okay, but these new ones might be late. Time will tell - we'll at least be happy they're here at all...

We've always thought that some day we'd like to offer a fruit share add-on, but our fruit fields are small - only a few rows of each fruit. That's why you'll see fruit in our store, but never in the shares, except for watermelon.

Red raspberries are on their way out, but blackberries are in.

We decided we want to continue to offer pick-your-own flowers even though pick-your-own raspberries is most likely done for the season.

Join us on Friday, July 25th from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday, July 26th from 10 a.m. to noon at 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.

---

UPCOMING EVENTS

---

• 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, July 25th):

• Basil

• Beans (green/wax)

• Beets

• Blackberries (limited quantities)

• Broccoli (limited quantities)

• Cabbage

• Celery (leafy variety)

• Collard Greens

• Cucumbers

• Eggplant

• Garlic

• Grape/cherry tomatoes

• Kale

• Onions

• Radishes

• Scallions

• Swiss Chard

• Yellow Squash

• Zucchini

  

  Bulk boxes of pickling cucumbers are now available!

  
  

  Walk in during open hours and let us know that you would like a bulk box. We will bring one out to you until they sell out for the day. No pre-orders.

  Bulk boxes are 25 lbs. for $34.50.

  You are welcome to buy more than one box if available.

  Boxes are expected to be available through August. Subscribe to our mailing list for up-to-date information.

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 7 of 20

(Tuesday, July 22nd through Saturday, July 26th)

Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)

Large:

• 1 bunch of leafy celery

• 2 lbs. of cucumbers

• 2 lbs. of summer squash

• 1 bunch of kale

• 1 bunch of carrots

• 1 lb. of fresh onions

• 2 free choice items (TBD! The heat can change things in an instant...)

  
  

Small:

• 2 lbs. of cucumbers

• 1 lb. of summer squash

• 1 bunch of kale

• 1 lb. of fresh onions

• 2 free choice items (TBD! The heat can change things in an instant...)

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. A paper trail is always best!