Snow Day

We had quite the nice snow storm over the weekend and I came back to the Farm to find these kale plants looking like small pines covered with snow. Merry Christmas.

Good News

We received the good news today from the Wilton PTA that we have been approved for a grant to purchase the equipment we need to tap the sugar maples out back of the school to make maple syrup. Kevin Meehan, who teaches at Cider Mill and runs the programs at Ambler Farm, was essential in getting this going. Thanks Kevin. We are teaming up because last year Abler Farm got their own maple sugaring system going and hopefully with the amount of sap we can take from the trees here at Middlebrook we may be able to double production. That all depends on what kind of season it is going to be, but it should be fun no matter. Also, since maple sugaring is really the beginning of the growing season we hope to funnel any students who work with the maple sugaring into the Middlebrook Farm School scene. In other news the Farm here has been put to bed and has a nice blanket of snow.

Tree

Put To Bed

With several nights of killing frost it is now time to put the farm to bed. Hopefully we can get on top of building some cold frames and try to grow through the winter. Thanks to Carol Festa whose brother owns a garlic farm in Massachusetts for the planting garlic we will enjoy next spring. The cloves went in the ground this morning.

Long Time

Wow, it's been a long time since the last post here at the Farm School. Everything is moving along nicely and today began the process of putting the garden to sleep. Well most of it. The idea of building cold frames and growing through the winter is still intriguing. Anyway, check out the photos from today of the last summer produce harvest. Mrs. Festa brought us back some garlic from a garlic festival in Massachusetts so we will be planting that soon for the spring. Thanks Mrs. Festa.

The Harvest...that's almost six gallons of eggplants



















One gallon of Hot Serrano peppers



















One gallon of Jalapeno peppers



















Connecticut Field Pumpkins

Making A Positive Difference

Check out this link to an article about a Texas National Guard unit in Afghanistan that is focusing on revitalizing the Afghan agricultural infrastructure. Hopefully their efforts will bear many fruitful returns for the people of Afghanistan and our military service members working there. Check the right side of the article for a link to a short slide show of what they are doing there.

Farm Stand

With all the produce coming out of the Farm I have been setting up a "farm stand" in the teachers' work room. Get down there early before it all goes. Enjoy.

First Day of School...eep

Wow, first day of the 2008-2009 school season and it looks like everyone has hit the ground running, including the harvest at the Farm. The basket I picked today must weigh 15 pounds.

A Distinguished Visit & Continued Bounty

First day back for teachers here at the Middlebrook Farm School and it was a good, exciting day. Not only was it good to be back with all the faculty and staff but we had an unexpected visit from our state's official insect to the farm. Check out the photo op.






































Also, the harvest continues...check the mail room for our farm stand

Harvest Time

The harvests are really starting to pick up with tomatoes, peppers, a rogue zucchini, and eggplants all getting picked or almost ready to be picked. Here are some shots of recent pickings.
































A nice stripped eggplant



















A standard eggplant just about ready for the grill

Just around the corner

So all the teachers will be back in less than a week, and I have been in my class room trying to put everything back together. The farm is doing really well. My wife Jenn came down to help out on Wednesday. We were able to clear two more beds and plant lettuce and spinach seeds for a second harvest of greens. We were also able to pick some ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and beans. They made an outstanding salsa. Here are some shots.

The harvest













Eggplant almost ready for the grill



















Dragonfly on patrol













And finally a fruit has come out on the giant volunteer squash

Cleaning Up

After being away from the farm for almost two weeks things were getting a little out of control. It took a couple hours over two days but things are back to an acceptable state. Everything is doing well and there have even been some ripe tomatoes, several cucumbers, and the hot and cool peppers are popping out all over. The very first eggplant is fruiting too. Four beds have been cleared for a late season planting of lettuce, spinach and maybe a try at cabbage again.

Hot Serrano peppers



















Cool Bell peppers













Pink Beauty tomato



















Striped German tomato



















A volunteer Roma tomato plant



















First baby eggplant



















A volunteer sunflower



















An out of control squash of unknown variety.



















A volunteer corn plant that probably came from bird seed



















Friendly neighborhood pollinator













Eggplant and peppers



















Beds cleaned up for late plantings













Another view of the other bed

Checking In

It's been a while since the last post here and the farm is doing very well, almost too well. There has also been some nice landscaping added to the front entrance. Here are some shots.

New landscaping













Garden dragon fly













Harvest of the day



















Early tomato













Herbs gone to seed













Beetle in a squash flower

Summer Buzz

Well it's been a few weeks since the last post and things are really growing away here on the farm. There has been a decent amount of rain so getting in to water has not been such an issue. So here are some shots from today. Hope everyone is having a nice summer.

Last rogue radish



















Pole bean pyramids













First pole beans



















the beginning of a cucumber













Pepper plants are doing well



















And the egg plants too



















The tomatoes are booming



















And the first ones have come out