Florists, event designers and wholesalers may contact me directly for an availability list. See www.firstbloomfarm.com for contact info.
Availability list are faxed, or e-mailed on a weekly basis by early Monday morning. Keep in mind that orders are on a "first come, first serve" basis. Availability may change quickly!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Visit the flower field with NOFA on Monday August 30th!
First Bloom Farm is one of the incubator farmer plots featured at the on-farm workshop on Monday night 5-8pm, August 30th. FBF field will be open for viewing. Also discussed will be growing practices and farming challenges.
Interested? To register (you must register!) contact the Ct NOFA office or see their website at http://www.ctnofa.org/ and look for the "On-farm workshop: Incubator Farm Project".
Interested? To register (you must register!) contact the Ct NOFA office or see their website at http://www.ctnofa.org/ and look for the "On-farm workshop: Incubator Farm Project".
Sustainable vs. Organic Flowers- what's the difference?
Okay. For those of you who wonder why some flowers may be called "organic" and other sustainably grown.... Here's the difference as I see it:
Organic. At the Simsbury site where all of the annual flowers are produced First Bloom Farm follows strict organic practices for production- this includes organic fertilizers, organic pesticides and field materials. This extends all the way to post-harvest practices (what happens between field cutting and customer), holding the plants in pure well water , or using OMRI* approved treatments. Flowers and herb fillers, started with "Organic" seed may then be called "organic". Here's the tricky part...not all productive cut flower varieties are available from an organic source. These varieties, cannot be labeled "organic" even though they were grown with the same "organic" practices. It would not be "legal" for me to label these items as "organic"... confused?...
Sustainable. I like this word. To understand it requires a sense of trust, perhaps a leap of faith and knowing your producer, me, Maggie at First Bloom Farm. "Sustainable" is the word FBF can attach to all of the other annuals grown at the Simsbury site. These crops were started from non-organic seed or tubers (in the case of Dahlias) and were grown using the same "organic" production practices. Sustainably grown. No one owns the word sustainable, you cannot be fined for using it improperly, and it encourages you ask, perhaps start a conversation with me, the farmer. Sustainable, I like it.
As I see it, my goal as a producer is to provide the highest possible quality product, choosing the best cut flower cultivars. I choose responsible field practices regardless of labels. If you want to know how I grow, ask. I love cut flowers and am happy to discuss them with anyone!
*What's OMRI? The national certifier for organic stuff... Visit http://www.omri.org/
Organic. At the Simsbury site where all of the annual flowers are produced First Bloom Farm follows strict organic practices for production- this includes organic fertilizers, organic pesticides and field materials. This extends all the way to post-harvest practices (what happens between field cutting and customer), holding the plants in pure well water , or using OMRI* approved treatments. Flowers and herb fillers, started with "Organic" seed may then be called "organic". Here's the tricky part...not all productive cut flower varieties are available from an organic source. These varieties, cannot be labeled "organic" even though they were grown with the same "organic" practices. It would not be "legal" for me to label these items as "organic"... confused?...
Sustainable. I like this word. To understand it requires a sense of trust, perhaps a leap of faith and knowing your producer, me, Maggie at First Bloom Farm. "Sustainable" is the word FBF can attach to all of the other annuals grown at the Simsbury site. These crops were started from non-organic seed or tubers (in the case of Dahlias) and were grown using the same "organic" production practices. Sustainably grown. No one owns the word sustainable, you cannot be fined for using it improperly, and it encourages you ask, perhaps start a conversation with me, the farmer. Sustainable, I like it.
As I see it, my goal as a producer is to provide the highest possible quality product, choosing the best cut flower cultivars. I choose responsible field practices regardless of labels. If you want to know how I grow, ask. I love cut flowers and am happy to discuss them with anyone!
*What's OMRI? The national certifier for organic stuff... Visit http://www.omri.org/
Farmers' Markets Schedule Summer 2010
For most of the season, FBF has been selling to florists, event designers and at the farmstand. Now FBF will be selling direct to the public at farmers' markets in central and western CT!
This Saturday 8/7/10, 10 am -1pm, First Bloom Farm will be sharing a table with Sarah Worden of Sarah Worden Natural design at the Litchfield farmers' market held on Woodruff St near the center of town. We will have fresh cut arrangements by Sarah Worden as well as simple bouquets.
This Saturday 8/7/10, 10 am -1pm, First Bloom Farm will be sharing a table with Sarah Worden of Sarah Worden Natural design at the Litchfield farmers' market held on Woodruff St near the center of town. We will have fresh cut arrangements by Sarah Worden as well as simple bouquets.
For directions visit http://www.litchfieldhillsfood.org/
Thursdays beginning 8/12/10, 11 am- 2 pm, FBF will be at the Billings Forge Farmers' Market on Broad Street in Hartford, CT. We will have bouquets, and loose flowers from the Simsbury Farm field! For directions visit http://www.hartfordfarmersmarket.org/
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Upside of a Rainstorm....
.....a Rainbow!
Just as I was about to drive off and throw in the towel this evening, something told me to wait out the driving rain, trapped in the truck with freshly harvested basil & sunflowers. When I emerged, I found beautiful sunlight, cooler air and a rainbow spanning the field. What could be better?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Now Available...
Sunflowers Procut Series: Red/Lemon bicolor, Bicolor, Peach and Orange.
Millet 'Highlander'
Basil 'Cinnamon' and 'Mrs. Burns' lemon'
Finally, Flowers!
This week the first organically grown flowers from the Simsbury site are being harvested out of the field. Soon to follow will be zinnia, grasses, dahlia and other assorted annuals.
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