TOP TEN Reasons Why it’s a “TREAT” to Participate in a Farm Share Program

Here are our TOP TEN reasons why it’s a “TREAT” to participate in a Farm Share Program!! We’d like to expand the list so send us your reasons.

CSA’s are about strengthening a sense of community. Individuals who pledge support to a farm operation bring farms and families together for delicious healthy food and to support small local farms and sustainable agriculture.


Through a farm share membership you and your family get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking things you’ve never experienced before.


Introducing truly fresh, locally grown vegetables to your children’s lives is a gift you give for the future of their health and the ecological health of our planet.


Our veggies are loaded with flavor, freshness and vitamins. Grocery store vegetables are picked days to weeks in advance of your eating them. Your vegetables have no time to lose their ability to enhance your well being.


 Hey!! You get to visit the farm once a week and talk to an real live FARMER!! Think about it. You get to know the person who is actually feeding you and through that relationship you learn more about how your food is grown.


Our CSA program includes options for you to expand the “eat local” movement to other areas of your diet. You are being introduced to local dairy, eggs, seafood and fruits. In time we hope to expand that to both poultry and beef. Just think of the possibilities of bringing  a new level of expectation to your dinner plate!


By participating in a farm share program you are helping maintain the future of farming in your state. What kind of world would it be if you weren’t able to see an open field peppered with crops. Watching the corn grow is good for the health and a reminder of the gift our Earth is to all of us!!


Members get the “pick of the crop.” You get the first and the freshest selections hand picked with you in mind and at heart.


It’s FUN to be surprised by nature’s bounty.


The 20 week journey of following a growing season through it’s lifespan is a rare experience most American’s will never experience. Consider yourself one of the few to be fortunate enough to rediscover a way of life nearly forgotten about. Congratulations on being part of this delicious movement!

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We hope you continue to enjoy the benifits of being a member of The Robert Treat Farm CSA program.

Geoff Fox's Garden Plan. Fox CT News.

We’re very excited to host Geoff’s Garden this season on FOX CT NEWS. If you’d like a copy, you can download it here. Or stop by our store for a copy. Our map includes a shopping list. Items are available in our Garden Center while supplies last. But what’s nice about this plan is you can substitute items if you desire. Keith designed the layout in a way that basically plants rows every 12”. The most difficult part will be preparing the plot of land. But it’s really an easy size to build and maintain. When we arrived in Harford, the soil was already prepared for planting. The planting and trellis including the drip irrigation took us about 2 1/2 hours to install. But just planting the seed and seedlings should only take you an hour or so. It’s a great family project, and your kids can enjoy their veggies all season long!   (This size garden is suitable to feed a family of four.) Happy Planting!

Download a .PDF of the file, CLICK HERE.

Keith and Sean Help Geoff Fox Plant His Garden

Download the Garden Plan, CLICK HERE.

This week Robert Treat Farm is pleased to announce we are sponsoring a 4'x15' garden for meteorologist, Geoff Fox at Fox CT News. Farmer Keith and Sean Fallon traveled to Hartford to help plant and set up a drip irrigation system. Our garden plan is available in our store if you're interested. Plants are available for sale in our Garden Center while supplies last. Tune into Fox CT News Thursday's starting this week to see how our garden grows!

Keith and Geoff plant cucumbers. We had to water right away...planting at 3pm was a bit too hot for the plants.

Keith explains how important healthy soil is to the success of a garden.

 

Geoff and Keith plant squash.

Geoff’s Garden is located in the visitor’s parking lot on the side of the Hartford Courant Building in Hartford, CT.

The final garden with drip irrigation in place...we had to put some newspaper over the tender lettuce to protect it from the heat. Geoff Fox and the Fox crew will tend the garden for the next 13 weeks. You too can see how our garden grows...4PM Thursday’s starting this week on Fox CT NEWS.

B's Garden Buzz-'Roses'

     Roses have come a long way with many new varieties that don’t require the extra maintenance often associated with rose care.  These varieties include the Knock Out series, ‘Living Easy’, ‘Easy Going’ and my favorite, ‘Hot Cocoa’.   If you want the classic rose scent and full petal beauty, you may want to try a hybrid tea, grandiflora, or David Austin variety.  When given the conditions they prefer, maintenance becomes easier.  To start they need six to eight hours of sun with four of those hours falling between ten am. and two pm.  Then a rich, organic, well drained soil that is close to neutral ph.  When planting a new rose bush I incorporate good compost, like Coast of Maine’s Lobster Compost, into the hole and a two inch layer of compost on top once the plant is in.  They like a deep soak once a week if less than an inch of rain has fallen.

     For established roses my start up routine is as follows:

Choose three to five healthy, well spaced canes the diameter of your pinky. With sharp, clean pruners, prune down to about twelve inches (or until you reach healthy growth) just above an outward facing bud.  Remove any inward facing, spindly or dead branches.  Cover the fresh cuts with exterior wood glue to create a barrier to the rose cane borer.

Clean away any leaves and the top layer of last year’s mulch.  Spread one cup of lime and one cup of slow release organic fertilizer ( I use Rose-tone by Espoma) for each shrub and scratch into the soil.  Cover with two inches of new compost.  If you like you can put an inch of decorative mulch on top of the compost.  

When the shrubs have fully leafed out I will start a weekly preventative spray of 3T all season horticulture oil and 2T of baking soda per gallon of water.  Be sure to coat the top and undersides of all the leaves.  This usually is enough, along with proper watering techniques, to keep disease at bay.  If you have had black spot in the past, it is very important to keep the ground clean of debris, as that is where it starts.

I usually don’t have major insect problems because I encourage beneficial insects to come and do the job for me.  It is important to identify the insect on your plant.  It may just be one of the good guys coming to keep things in balance.

      Once the initial care is done I wait for the beautiful flowers to come in June!

     On another note, after dropping off some soil samples at the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station in New Haven, I went to the Plant Disease department to ask about a problem I had last summer and wanted to prevent this year.  They were very helpful and took as much time as was needed to answer all my questions.  While I was there another man came in to ask about a weed that was growing in his lawn.  He had his questions answered and was given info sheets to solve the problem.  I can’t say enough about what a useful resource the CAES is for Connecticut residents.  Don’t hesitate to use this service.  It is one of the reasons why it exists.

B's Garden Buzz-'Let's Get Started in the Garden'

     Even though the calendar says it’s the end of April, the weather has been more like the end of March.   Once the temperatures warm up and are less erratic the plants will grow like crazy.

     Like prepping a surface before you paint, prep work in the garden isn’t fun but will produce a better outcome.

     If you have never tested your soil, or it has been three or more years since your last test, do that first.  It is important to gather your samples before any fertilizers or amendments are added.  For information how to test your soil go to http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2836&q=378202.

     In organic landcare a couple of often used mantras are ‘feed the soil, feed the plant’ and ’right plant, right place’.  Soil is teeming with living organisms that interact together in what is termed the soil food web. Their action releases nutrients in the soil to be taken in through plant roots.  Adding organic matter, like compost, feeds these organisms, which in turn feeds the plant.  Synthetic fertilizers, used overtime, disrupts the soil food web and creates an imbalance in the soil.

     ‘Right plant, right place’ is about choosing plants that will thrive in the conditions where they are planted.  Those conditions include, the information from your soil test, the amount of sun and when, the space it needs to fit and your personal preferences. 

     Once you have cleaned out last years plant debris from your garden beds and pruned where needed, an application of slow release organic fertilizer and a 1-2 inch layer of compost is a great start to the growing season.

B's Garden Buzz-'B's Bio'

B Wagner grew up in Woodmont and started working at Robert Treat Farm when she was 12 years old.  A graduate of UCONN’s Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, she is also a CNLA accredited nursery professional and a NOFA accredited Organic Land Care Professional.  For over 25 years, B has tended the grounds of a local private country club.  There she has designed, installed and maintained the gardens, as well as, all aspects of golf course maintenance.  She is available to assist you most Saturdays from 11-2 with your garden questions and plant selections.  Call ahead to ensure she is available.

B's Garden Buzz-'Corn Gluten'

     Corn gluten is the organic alternative to step one of a four step synthetic lawn program.  Unlike the chemical option, it is safe for children and pets. Corn gluten doesn't harm soil organisms or the worms and insects that birds use to feed their young in the spring.
     Corn gluten acts as a preemergent herbicide by creating a barrier that will not allow germinating seeds to form roots.  It will only work on weeds that grow from seed like crabgrass.  There is no need to fertilize because corn gluten contains about 10% nitrogen.  For best results apply when forsythia comes into bloom at a rate of 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.  If it doesn't rain within five days water in with approximately 1/4 inch of water.  This should be followed by a few dry days to be effective.  It should continue to work for about five to six weeks.  This timing is also the same for chemical  applications to be effective.
     If you use a lawn service to mow your lawn, keep in mind they usually don't clean their machines between jobs.  They may bring to your lawn weeds, insects and diseases from other sites.

Tips for a healthy lawn:    
      Mow at 3 inches or higher- more leaf area for deeper roots; shade out weeds.
      Leave clippings on the lawn-returns nitrogen to the soil; creates organic matter.
      Soil pH at 6 to 6.5- makes available most nutrients in the soil.
      If you water do it early in the morning to reduce disease.  Water longer but less often to encourage           deeper roots.



references:  The NOFA Organic Lawn and Turf Handbook
                    Nick Christians, Professor of Horticulture @ Iowa State University

Our Farm Share Program

We are now accepting applications for our 2011 Farm Share Program. A program that
allows families and individuals to prepurchase a share of our harvest as the crops come to ripen.
You pick up a weekly baskets stuffed full of what ever crops are ripe that week.

In 2010, we proudly introduced our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program. With our Robert Treat Farm (RTF) Membership Basket Program, enjoy a weekly basket of produce hand-picked by Farmer Keith and meticulously prepared by Mary Treat and her devoted staff.
    Every Friday between June and October delight in the flavors our 20-week season has to offer. We offer three bountiful basket sizes to fit any budget. Payments are due before June 10, 2011. The reason for advanced payment is  because the money is used to help fund the farm upfront—for expenses like seed, mulch and fertilizer.

Three Basket Sizes

Full Share
Suitable for a family of four
$35 per week x 20 weeks
$700 season

HALF Share
Suitable for up to two adults
$20 per week x 20 weeks
$400 season

SINGLE Share
Suitable for one person
$12 per week x 20 weeks
$240 season

Add-a-Fruit
Seasonal native strawberries,
raspberries, blueberries, grapes,
plums, peaches, apples and pears.
$8 x 10 weeks = $80 season

Add Fresh-Cut-Flowers
Bi-weekly selection of flowers freshly-cut
from our fields, starting late summer.
$5 x 8 weeks = $40 season 

visit the site for more information.  http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/

We are now accepting applications for our 2011 Farm Share Program. A program that allows families and individuals to prepurchase a share of our harvest as the crops come to ripen. You pick up a weekly baskets stuffed full of what ever crops are ripe that week.

Download the Farm Share application here.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/Robert-Treat-Farm_Images/Robert-Treat-Farm-OurFarm/RTF%202011%20Membership.pdf


The Robert Treat Farm.
Authentic Family Farm and Garden Center.
Located at 1339 New Haven Ave. in Milford CT.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com

Community Supported Agriculture Programs

Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs

This is a shot taken when our fields were in bloom just 2 years ago, mid summer. Our Farm Share program allows people to preorder a piece of our harvest. We prepare the best of the best picks in a neatly organized farm basket, which you can pick up every Friday as soon as the first yields come though. Why spend double to buy food that was grown in Mexico or South America, when you can pay half and get the food freshly picked from our land here in Milford Connecticut.!!!!

Read more and sign up now. Space is limited so preregister asap.
Call us if you have questions. (203) 878-4270
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/OurFarm.html

CSA provides a direct link between local farmers and consumers. Each season, members purchase a share of a farmer's crop before it's planted. This allows the farmer to pay for seed, water and equipment upfront, so s/he is less reliant on banks and loans. Each week during the harvest time, usually June through October, the farmer delivers great tasting, healthy food to the members at pre-determined locations. In some instances, members pick up their share directly from the farm.


We are now accepting applications for our 2011 Farm Share Program. A program that allows families and individuals to prepurchase a share of our harvest as the crops come to ripen. You pick up a weekly baskets stuffed full of what ever crops are ripe that week.

Download the Farm Share application here.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/Robert-Treat-Farm_Images/Robert-Treat-Farm-OurFarm/RTF%202011%20Membership.pdf


The Robert Treat Farm.
Authentic Family Farm and Garden Center.
Located at 1339 New Haven Ave. in Milford CT.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com






http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/whybuylocal/

Buy Locally Grown. It's Thousands of Miles Fresher!

Two of our very best farm hands posing for a photo after harvesting food from our fields right here in Milford, CT at the Robert Treat Farm. Authentic Family Farm and Garden Center.

There Are Many Good Reasons To Buy Locally Grown Food

You'll get exceptional taste and freshness.
Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.

You'll strengthen your local economy.
Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding and trust, the foundation of strong communities.

You'll support endangered family farms.
There's never been a more critical time to support your farming neighbors. With each local food purchase, you ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to the farmer.

You'll safeguard your family's health.
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations. Buy food from local farmers you trust.

You'll protect the environment.
Local food doesn't have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials. Buying local food also helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive.

When you buy local food, you vote with your food dollar. This ensures that family farms in your community will continue to thrive and that healthy, flavorful, plentiful food will be available for future generations.

Article Source: http://www.foodroutes.org/whycare1.jsp

Buying local is this easy:If you live in the Milford, CT area the Robert Treat Farm is hands down, the best way to get locally grown produce. We sell what we grow at our farm store and at the Woodmont Farmer's Market, which is held weekly on our property through out the summer.

The very best way to buy local is:
To enroll in a Farm Share Program!
We are now accepting applications for our 2011 Farm Share Program. A program that allows families and individuals to prepurchase a share of our harvest as the crops come to ripen. You pick up a weekly baskets stuffed full of what ever crops are ripe that week.





Download the Farm Share application here.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/Robert-Treat-Farm_Images/Robert-Treat-Farm-OurFarm/RTF%202011%20Membership.pdf


The Robert Treat Farm.
Authentic Family Farm and Garden Center.
Located at 1339 New Haven Ave. in Milford CT.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com