Pick-your-own, build-a-bouquet, and more!
- Victoria & Randy Rogowski
- Jul 6
- 6 min read
STORIES & UPDATES
Out with the old, in with the new!
This week, we hand weeded the strawberry patch one last time, and Randy mowed down the strawberry plants. This process is called "renovation" and it ensures that the plant can focus on growing high-quality vegetation that will bear good fruit next season.
Now we'll let the plants grow until the fall - watering, fertilizing, and weeding them along the way - when we'll cover them with straw (hence, strawberries!)
I always get emotional at the end of certain crop seasons (it's also the end of snap peas) because it means we won't get to enjoy them again for a whole year. As the mom of two young kids, this makes me especially sad. I mark the passage of time against certain veggies being in season, and knowing my kids won't return to the peas or the strawberries again until they're another year older is hard. I bet many of you who have participated in this program or have your own garden feel the same way!
But, just as we said goodbye to these berries, we said hello to raspberries. We held the first pick-your-own event of the season at 475 Booth Hill Road on Saturday morning, and it was a blast!
Many of you who came noticed the renovations we did to our former outdoor kitchen to make it our welcome and checkout station. This is all thanks to the grant we were awarded from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. We're continuing to tend to the roadside and soon we'll be installing signage at the entrance.
Jona and the rest of the crew spent the morning on the 4th of July assisting with harvesting for veggie shares. We also spent a little time in the flower fields, weeding and snipping blooms for the first Build-a-Bouquet of the year. I snapped this beautiful photo of Jona, and it just might be one of my all-time favorites.
I feel like it really captures the beauty of this field, and it gives me the same light and airy feeling I get when I'm walking among the blooms.
Emily LOVED seeing all of the build-a-bouquet creations in the farm store on Saturday, too. We all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then.
Sandy T. and Carol B. were the winners of our Asian greens mix photo contest in the Facebook group, and have each won a complimentary bouquet at their next pickup. Thank you all for participating!
Over in our Facebook group, I also polled you to see if you'd like to receive lettuce or romaine again. About 75% of you said yes, so you'll see it in your share again. However, we will also stock the swap basket more than usual in anticipation, so please feel free to swap.
This week, you're all receiving collard greens in your share. Remember to hop over to the Library of Resources on our website for lots of inspiration on how to cook the items in your share. Here's a list of ways you can prepare collard greens. Which one speaks to you?
Finally, if you'd like to join us for pick-your-own this week, details are as follows:
Tuesday, July 8 - 3 to 5 p.m. Raspberries and flowers. Gates open at 3:00 sharp, entries are accepted until 5:00, and the gates close at 5:30.
Saturday, July 12th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Raspberries and flowers. (Gates open at 10:00 sharp, entries are accepted until 12:00, and the gates close at 12:30.)
Please note: If we have a large crowd, the fields may be closed sooner.
The address for this is 475 Booth Hill Road in Shelton (not Trumbull! Check your GPS!). We recommend wearing sturdy walking shoes (and of course photo-worthy attire!)
Feel free to bring a water bottle, however please note that there is no restroom at this property yet - we have a restroom at our home farm property 3 minutes away at 247 Waverly Road and you're welcome to use it at any time before or during the event time frame.
Raspberries are $6.50 per half pint.
Flowers are $25 +tax. Bouquets must be able to be grasped in one hand.
Please pre-pay at the welcome station - we'll then direct you to walk to our harvesting areas and show you how to complete the harvesting.
See you there!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pick-your-own flowers, raspberries, and blackberries are anticipated to occur regularly in July. Watch our social media and open our email messages to receive details.
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.
The Peak Season subscription program begins Thursday, July 10th and runs for 13 weeks every Thursday.
STORE INFORMATION
We have resumed our Monday store hours. We will be open on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Friday, July 11th):
Basil
Beans (green/wax)
Beets
Cabbage
Collard Greens
Cucumbers
Escarole (BOGO free through Sunday, July 13th!)
Greenhouse tomatoes (limited quantities)
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Napa Cabbage
Onions
Radishes
Raspberries (red/black - limited availability)
Romaine
Scallions
Swiss Chard
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
NEW 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 5 of 20
(Tuesday, July 8th through Saturday, July 12th)
Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 head of lettuce or romaine (farmer's choice)
1 bunch of basil
1-2 cucumbers (depending on size)
1 bunch of kale
1 bunch of collard greens
1 lb. of green beans
2 onions
1 free choice item: radishes, cabbage, summer squash, beans, parsley, and more
Small:
1 head of lettuce or romaine (farmer's choice)
1 bunch of basil
1-2 cucumbers (depending on size)
1 bunch of collard greens
1/2 lb. of green beans
1 onions
1 free choice item: radishes, cabbage, summer squash, beans, parsley, and more
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!
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