The Metal "Rainbow": the High Tunnel is Framed!

Very exciting news for the Community Farm of Simsbury and First Bloom Farm (by extension!): last Friday, a new high tunnel frame went up at CFS ! To paraphrase Anne, the CFS farmer, "when it went up, I thought it was like a rainbow".... I couldn't agree more, Anne. What does this mean for us farmers? Season Extension! High tunnels are essentially tall unheated greenhouses that allow warmer temperatures in early spring and late fall- perfect for growing at the extremes of our New England seasons. In the high tunnel, farmers have the benefit of planting directly into the ground in an environment higher than outdoor temperatures!

Flower growers use high tunnels for crops such as larkspur, sweet William, lisianthus and spring flowering bulbs. Break out the fall catalogues!

Simsbury: Flower CSA 2011, anyone?

First Bloom Farm is planning for the 2011 summer growing season (next year!) in Simsbury. As such, FBF is toying with the idea of offering a Flower CSA subscription for pickup at the Simsbury site on Wolcott Road. What would this mean for a CSA member? For a set price, you would have weekly beautiful fresh flowers in the summer & be supporting local agriculture!

Interested? Good! Let me know by sending an email to maggie@firstbloomfarm.com. I'll keep you posted on planning, pricing and details!

Thank you for visiting with NOFA!

Thanks to all who visited the Community Farm of Simsbury, and the First Bloom Farm growing field. I enjoyed seeing new faces in the field. Some of you may join us next year- who knows!?! If anyone has flower questions that they didn't have answered (or thought of later!), please don't hestitate to contact me!

So, how's it growin'?

Finally, RAIN! A rainy day is a great chance to catch-up on inside work, and maybe take a few pics between raindrops. Here are a few *very* fresh pictures from the field of flowering, and yet-to-flower crops!

A chance meeting at Billings Forge Farmers' Market....

with photographer Lynn Damon led to some fantastic photos! Dare I say these may be even more beautiful than the real thing? Love the light in these pictures... To check out more visit Lynn at www.lynndamon.com/blog/ .........thanks, Lynn!

Keeping it Local with Sarah Worden Natural Design at Market

Sarah Worden Natural Design and First Bloom Farm teamed up to share a booth at the Litchfield Farmers' Market. Sarah spent a morning picking flowers at the farm in Simsbury, and arranged the flowers later that day. I brought my bunched cut flowers and met Sarah at Market...The result: a beautiful summer display! To see more of Sarah's work visit her at http://www.sarahwordennaturaldesign.com/

Sunflowers March into Flora & Fauna, Litchfield CT

This morning, FBF delivered beautiful summer sunflowers to Flora & Fauna in Litchfield. The flowers will be available today, and this evening for the Date Night event in the center of town! Stop in at Flora & Fauna for a great selection of gift and natural products for home & body, and much more!

Take a look at their blog at http://www.floraandfaunallc.blogspot.com/ , also on Etsy.com (Etsy.com=very cool!)