The Lunenburg greenhouses are open, our BPM stall has morphed and the outdoor farmers’ markets begin!
There’s so much growing on around here these days. We have filled up every spot in every greenhouse with stunning flowering annuals and hanging baskets, herb and vegetable plants and, of course, all our own transplants. Glenn has pushed to stick to the field transplanting schedule just to be able to clear some bench space in the greenhouse, only to fill it up with new seedlings the next day. Now we need you to help us empty the greenhouses. Please shop local and plan the planting of your containers, boxes, beds and kitchen gardens around a visit to Lunenburg or one of our markets. Stay tuned for specials by following us on facebook – this week it is buy 2 get 1 on perennials at Lunenburg. We offer the single largest variety of vegetable transplants anywhere, and what else should you expect from a vegetable farm? Our tomato, pepper and eggplant seedling varieties are listed online at GreatTomatoPlants.com, the ordering link brings you to the Stillman’s Farm online store.
Lunenburg Greenhouses open daily 9-5, 1410 Lancaster Ave. Are you are garden club member? Let us know. Coming up: Container Gardening Weekend!!! May 28th and 29th 11am and 1pm. See our Calendar page for more information.
May Markets starting! Jamaica Plain & Copley Plaza!!!
Jamaica Plain- Saturday May 7th, 12-3 (667 Centre St, Bank of America) Tuesdays starting June
Copley Plaza- Tuesday May 10 &Friday May 13, 11-6
And many more starting in June!!!
Farm Dirt
We are hiring! We are looking for a couple new marketers to drive from New Braintree to Boston area markets and sell for the day. It’s actually pretty fun work, but it does require a strong back and the ability to stand for most of the day. We are also looking for some dynamic salespeople to add to our wonderful BPM team. And, lastly, our orchard manager retired, so we are looking to replace him with another person to manage the fruits OR greens crops. Please email stillmans@verizon.net if you are interested and by all means, pass the info along to anyone who might be interested/qualified.
The April 1 crew from Jamaica finally arrived on May 1st! Now we are catching up with some of the planting and other projects lagging on the farm. Of course, we are delighted to see our great employees return not just to get the work done, but because they are truly part of our family after working together for 10, 15, 20 years!
Glenn and I spent Tuesday at BPM working on the build out of our new space. Check it out if you have not been in for a while. We’ve got a super cool arbor up, complete with a standing shelf for eating lunch from Red’s or whoever else you are grazing from. I’ve lined up some other products from neighboring farms to have at our BPM stall like Hancock Farm fresh cheese that we love spread on our bagels in the morning, June’s Bakeshop cookies, Elzire’s Acres goat milk soap, and soon wool and alpaca fiber products.
Super fresh, first out-of-the field mesclun at BPM, along with spinach, kale, arugula, asparagus, and more new things every day! The remay and row covers paid off during that freeze and we have some magical greens outside. The greens inside the cold frames were pretty well run out so the timing couldn’t be better. We have some other exciting things growing under covers and I cannot wait until they are ready!!!
Wildlife
The turkeys have been strutting about the farm, the Bluebirds have gotten secretive about their nesting locations, BUT we see them every day feeding right in the back yard, the Great Blue Heron has had success along the edge of the pond gulping down small fish and the frogs he can catch, the Phoebes and swallows have been feeding on the insects flying low over or floating the pond, the Wood Ducks must be nesting in a tree close by because I see one of them on the pond almost daily, the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks are back and giving us hope that Spring is really indeed happening, in spite of the cold nights and raw days.
The other wildlife around here involves wild flowers! The Trout Lily, Marsh Marigold, and Wood Anemone were all blooming at our last walk and I expect when I get out tomorrow the Clintonia and Solomon’s Seal will be blooming. Ooh, and I also discovered a few new patched of Ramps, which was kind of exciting.