In this newsletter:
What is happening at the farm?
Upcoming events
What is available this week?
Weekly farm fun fact!
What is happening at the farm?
This one will be extra short and sweet as there is now much to do at the farm! The main event last week was getting the squash field planted. To avoid pesticide use, we cover the squash field with landscape fabric to give them an advantage over wild growing "weeds". Squash plants like to sprawl out and they take a long time in the field before offering us beautiful fruits in the fall so laying out and pinning down landscape fabric is a laborious but necessary task.
We also planted the flower patch for our u-pick bouquets, which will be available starting in in July.
Celery, celeriac, parsley, sage, rosemary, lisianthus, eucalyptus, peppers and more were also planted.
In other news, we are doing what we can to keep the team safe during this wild weather. From the frost to the heat spell to the wild fire smoke, farming in light of climate change is increasingly more challenging and unpredictable...
Above: Squash field ready for landscape fabric; our team planting squash seed in the landscape fabric; flower plugs and their beautiful roots.
Upcoming Events
Our Peony Fest is around the corner in time for Father's Day!
June 17th 10h-2h.
11h-12h: Kids concert with SING SONG PARTY TIME
Hot dogs
Ice cream and popsicles
Craft tables
Flower costume contest!
Dress-up as a flower to win a prize!
photo station
See you there (or rather here!) June 17th 10h-2h!
Above: Jess harvesting peonies
Join us for an outdoor concert at the farm with singer, songwriter, guitarist and nascent banjo player Kate Weekes who performs alongside James Stephens (fiddle, mandolin), Brian Sanderson (sousaphone, horns) and Rob Graves (percussion).
Bring a picnic of your favourite snacks & drinks and settle down on a picnic blanket with your friends and family!
July 22nd 5PM-8PM $18 advance $20 at the door
Guarantee your supply of fresh vegetables for 2023!
Our Summer CSA begins June 21st! 18 weeks of seasonal vegetables just in time for our greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants!
Above: CSA Sneak Peak: tomatoes, cucumbers and a mid-summer share
What is available this week?
Lettuce heads, cucumbers, asparagus, North Eastern Pole Beans, parsley, rhubarb, green garlic, green onion, carrots, turnips, beets, and the first eggplants! Spinach and salad mix are still small but will be ready soon!
Above: butter head lettuce; green onion; cucumbers and beans
Above: Asparagus; rhubarb; our children's garden for picnics (shade is available)
Weekly Fun Fact
The cucurbit family includes cucumbers, squash, melons and zucchini!
Keeping in touch
Our current farm-store hours are:
Thursday - Friday 10h-5h
Saturday 10h-2h
*hours will change later in June
*Check us out on Facebook and instagram to get a daily glimpse of the Roots and Shoots Farm life.
Keep safe out there!
-The Roots and Shoots Farm Team
Great newsletter. Well done!