Tuesday, July 12, 2011

News from the Field in Simsbury





























After another long spring of sowing, planting and cultivating...the first flowers are blooming in the field at the Community Farm of Simsbury. First Bloom Farm is fortunate to be part of the growing number of new farmers in Connecticut. In the field this year, we have had the wonderful addition of a serious deer fence and high pressure water connection. And believe me this is a BIG deal! More efficient farming makes happier farmers, who can spend more time on fine tuning their crops! We even recieved a little press about our CFS 'incubator' farming businesses in the Hartford Courant! Onward!



This year, First Bloom Farm will have over more land under cultivation, but won't make the 1 acre bench mark...there's always next year! The goal has been to produce more varieties, in more secession plantings. Secession plantings means planting the same crop at staggered intervals over the course of the summer season, ensuring fresh blooms until frost!







Fresh from the field are my favorites from last year such as: purple Queen Anne's lace, Salvia 'Marble Arch', frosted explosion grass, broom corn, green zinnia, dark dahlias, basil, celosia, sunflowers. 'Highlander' millet and love-in-a-mist. New this year and beautiful are: rattlesnake grass, deep purple scabiosa, scabiosa pods, verbena bonairiensis, cherry-petaled black-eye Susan, Rubysilk grass, corncockle, and more! New herbs and veggies this year are: purple loose leaf kale, tomatillo stems with fruit (they look like green/purple Chinese lanterns!), tomato vines with green fruit, more basil, hyacinth bean for pods and flowers, and ornamental black peppers.





Stay tuned!


























Going Bridal!






One phone call from Green Bride Guide and a quick trip to the field, last Friday the July field flowers were on their way to the NBC studio for their 30 seconds of fame. After picking in the late afternoon heat, I headed over to my local flower enthusiast fresh-is-beautiful designer to seek her help in making these bridal arrangements picture perfect. An evening of chatting, and picking through fresh-picked boxes of flowers and ta-dah!



Thanks Sarah Worden!































Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Seeding for Summer

Summer seeding has begun!... several weeks ago flowers, grass and herbs alike started emerging from the soil, expanding their leaves in the comfort of a warm, sunny spot. In the field, Queen Anne's lace, poppies, dill, and bluplureum all await warmer weather of late spring!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Floral Design Classes on the Farm with Maggie of First Bloom Farm and Sarah Worden of Sarah Worden Natural Design... coming summer 2011

Does an evening of flower fields and arranging sound appealing to you?

This summer, Maggie at First Bloom Farm will host flower arranging classes with Sarah Worden of Sarah Worden Natural Design (http://www.sarahwordennaturaldesign.com/). Visit Sarah's website to see her unique design style and view picture from the winter design class... We are hoping to hold the classes across from the flower fields in the facilities at the Community Farm of Simsbury.

We'll post the dates soon.

Westport Winter Market at Gilbertie's, Thrusday March 24

Last minute market addition : First Bloom Farm will be at the Westport Farmers' Market hosted at Gilbertie's! Thursday 3/24 from 10am-2pm.

for directions visit www.westportfarmersmarket.com


See you there!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Park Slope Outdoor Market Sunday, March 27

Date changed from Sunday March 20 to Sunday March 27 for Park Slope Market, Brooklyn NY!

Hoping for good weather!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Farmers' Markets Dates for March in Brooklyn, NY

It'll be a first, Farmers' Markets in Brooklyn ....

FBF will be at the Park Slope Farmer's Market for two dates:

Sunday, March 13 and Sunday, March 20th 11am-5pm. For directions go to: www.communitymarkets.biz

See you there!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Its been a loooong winter....finally signs of spring!


So, it has been a very long winter. Deep snow. Ice. More deep snow. It has made it very difficult to access the willow field, and harvest has been nearly impossible...but, finally we'll have some stems for Market!
Last week, with a mild warm-up, I was able to harvest some stems for sale. And they are beautiful!

Farmers' Market Dates and Locations Feb and March 2011

Winter Farmers' Market Dates are as Follows...

Sunday, February 27....Edgewood Park, New Haven, CT 10am- 1pm
Saturday, March 5......Wooster Square, New Haven, CT 10am- 1pm
Saturday, March 19.....Wooster Square New Haven, CT 10am- 1pm

For directions go to http://www.cityseed.org/


I'll have may types of willow, pussywillow and decorative branches for Spring!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Stay posted for up-and- coming Markets for February and March 2011

The willows are growing happily in the field, getting ready to show their late winter blooms. Farmers' market sales will run late February-March 2011 in CT. Will post schedule soon!