Roses Berry Farm llc

Our Bird Man returns

Sandi Rose — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:58:38 +0000

Eric and Lola

Once again, Eric Swanson from Falcon Environmental, is at the farm with his troupe of falcons and hawk to patrol the farm for unwanted birds. Non-native species of birds such as Starlings and English Sparrows can do an incredible amount of damage to our blueberries.

Our blueberry season is in full swing and the raspberries are still producing very heavily. It’s a great time to come to the farm, learn about falcons and also get some great berries.

Eric flys his birds on a regular basis to keep the birds from getting comfortable at the farm. The objective is to make the farm a hostile place for them to be so they go elsewhere.
He is more than happy to show you his birds and to explain how he approaches bird control at Rose’s.

Sunny days are here again!

Sandi Rose — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:57:17 +0000

We are hoping that this is the end of the monsoon season at Rose’s. Strawberry season was very disappointing, but now that we we are picking both raspberries and blueberries, sunny days are indeed here again! we look forward to a great blueberry season and the raspberries are very promising. Breakfast is still going strong every Sunday from 8:30-1 pm. The seasonal topping is now blueberry.
Our hours for this month are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8 am to 5 pm, Thursday 8 am to 8 pm and Sunday’s 9 am to 5 pm. We close the fields to new pickers 30 minutes prior to closing.
If you would like updates on daily conditions check out our twitter link at www.twitter.com/rosesberryfarm. Thank you for your patience during June and we look forward to a great month.

Here comes the sun?

Sandi Rose — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:53:10 +0000

If the local weathermen are correct we might just see some sun this week. The strawberry crop suffered from too much water and too little sun. I am hopeful that a little sun and a lack of rain should help bring in some great late strawberries. Our raspberries are also ready for picking at our main farm in South Glastonbury. Let’s hope that with the arrival of summer , our weather will become more seasonable.

Strawberries are Ready!

Sandi Rose — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:11:40 +0000

It’s taken a while but strawberry season is finaly here. If you want strawberries now is the time to pick. With any luck the weathermen will be wrong and we’ll be able to pick for the upcoming weekend. We plan to be open at our stand on Hebron Ave. for picking Monday through Firday 9 am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. At the home farm on Matson Hill our hours are Wednesday 8 to 5 pm then Saturday 8 to 5 pm and Sunday 9 am to 5pm., weather permitting. Please call our infor line 860-633-7467 the day you plan to come to make sure we are indeed open. Enjoy the season!

Rain, Rain Go Away

Sandi Rose — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:59:56 +0000

I am beginning to think that the farm has been transported to the British Isles. We did need a good rain but it needs to go away so we can start the pick-your-own season. We hope to start on Sunday June 14 in conjunction with our first Breakfast.
If the rain cooperates we will be starting the Old Lyme Market on Friday 3 pm to 6pm and the Chester Market on Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm. We continue to be at the Wooster Square Market and New Milford on Saturday mornings. One way or another we hope to see you for your first taste of native strawberries.

Let the sun shine!

Sandi Rose — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:24:25 +0000

It is a wonderful sight to see the sun after so much gloom. Our berries need a whole lot of sun and warmth to ripen them so we hope mother nature will be kind to use for the next few days. Strawberry season will have an uneven start. We hope to be able to pick a few within the next week for our markets and by opening day for Breakfast with a view we hope to open for picking. Please check our info line at 860-633-7467 in another week to see how they’re coming along. Until then, we’ll have to be content with the other local offerings: asparagus, rhubarb, greens, cucumbers and radishes.

Sandi Rose — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:42:05 +0000

Morning has come and most of our plantings appear to have survived the mild frost with little damage. The sun is out and they are promising wonderful weather for the rest of the week. That is good news sinceour strawberries need a healthy dose of sunshine to bring on the crop. I predict that the strawberries should be ready around June 12 this year. Until then we have a great supply of our own lettuce, spinach, basil and Swiss chard. Asparagus is plentiful and rhubarb had just started. Every week will bring more additions. Stay tuned…

As the Farm Turns

Sandi Rose — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:59:22 +0000

As the Farm Turns

Spring is a busy time at the farm. We are mulching the blueberries, planting the lettuce, waiting for the tomatoes to ripen, picking spinach and other greens from our cold houses and praying for warm weather during the night.

Frost is a very big problem this year. The local stations are forecasting cold weather for Monday and Tuesday mornings, so if you’re driving by our fields at Hebron Avenue or Matson Hill either of those mornings be sure to enjoy the beauty of the ice on the fields. We irrigate to protect our the tender blossoms on the strawberries and blueberries. How it works is when water freezes it gives off heat thereby keeping the ambient temperature around the blossom above freezing. It is necessary to keep pumping sufficient quantities of water to keep the process going until the air temperature is above 35 degrees. The beautiful ice is merely a by product.

We are glad to be growing into our next century and we thank you all for your continued patronage.