Farm News
Last Week Before Thanksgiving...
Brussels, Purple Carrots and Pot Pies!
FARM SHOP HOURS, PLEASE NOTE:
*** THU AND FRI 10AM-4PM ***
SAT 10AM-2PM (due to daylight savings).
NEW CROPS, FARM SWAG AND WHAT'S NEXT?
THE HARVEST
Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Purple Dragon Carrots (purple outside, orange core), Cabbage (red and green), Fennel, Loose Greens - Arugula, Lettuce Mix and Spinach - BYOB (BRING YOUR OWN BAGS!), Rainbow Chard, Kales, Scallion, Hakurei Turnips. Also, assorted mushrooms (limited supply).
FARM SWAG... MAKES A GREAT GIFT! Hand-dyed t-shirts, made from flowers on our farm - goldenrod, marigold and sunflower. By Earth Drenched.
POTPIES AND MORE FROM GRIGGSTOWN FARM
LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE... limited quantities per customer. Potpies, Chicken Sausage and Ground Turkey.
WHAT'S NEXT?
WREATH WORKSHOPS! Fresh cut mixed winter greens, aromatic eucalyptus, a luxury bow, pine cones, winter berries, gold vintage bells, and accents lavishly displayed on your 18" asymmetrical grapevine wreath. All materials provided. Contact info@thebarnworkshop.com.
DEC. FARM SHOP. Dates to be determined based on weather and availability. We will keep you posted! Market Card Members, 2024 Memberships expire at the end of this year. Any remaining balances do not carry over. Thank you for being a customer, we appreciate your support this season. It means the world to us!
Goodbye Oct Hello Nov.
Halloween, what? More like April Fools on another 80 degree day. Let’s enjoy it for whatever it is and move on to more fall like weather ASAP! Farmers need rain!!
IN STOCK THIS WEEK:
FROM OUR FIELDS: Arugula, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Peppers, Radish, Spinach, Scallions.
FROM OUR FARMER FRIENDS: Apples and Sweet Potatoes (Pastore Orchards).
BEEF IS BACK! Ground and Sausages (Sicklers Farm).
FARM SHOP HOURS:
OPEN THIS WEEK Thu, Fri 12-6PM and Sat 10AM-2PM.
CLOSED Nov 7,8,9… in preparation for our Farm Dinner.
OPEN Nov 14, 15, 16… likely the last one in Nov.
Winter sales TBD. Market Card Members have until the end of the year to use remaining balances, memberships do not carry over.
FARM DINNER
We are nearly sold out. It’s gong to be a Grateful night! Join us!
Join us for a Grateful Event
You are invited!
Enjoy good food from our fields and live music.
This event is an expression of our immense gratitude to our customers for trusting us to be your farm, to our farm friends for your unwavering support over the years, and to our hard-working farm crew for your commitment. We appreciate you ALL and we are truly grateful.
The Meal: by Hammerbacher. Includes pre-concert bites, dinner and dessert.
The Music: by Cold Chocolate. Folk, funk and bluegrass fusion.
Seating indoors with heaters and outdoor fire pits. BYOB.
Limited seating. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Flavors of Fall
Harvest of the Week
Acorn Squash, Apples, Broccoli, Cabbage, Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard. Flowers and Herbs.
MEATS.
Back in stock...
Ground Beef and Sweet Sausage.
Sicklers Farms, Monroeville.
Thanks to our Farm Friends!
Acorn squash, Pastore Orchards, Hammonton.
Apples, Nichols Orchards, Franklinville.
Mushrooms, Faith Flower Farm, Estell Manor.
If you ate today, thank a farmer!
HOURS.
THU AND FRI 12-6PM
SAT 10AM-2PM.
We appreciate your business!
Our Fall Season
Farm Store RE-OPENS
Thu 10/3 12PM-6PM
Fri 10/4 12PM-6PM
Sat 10/5 10AM-2PM
THE HARVEST, OUR OWN:
Lettuce, Rainbow Chard, Kales, Sweet Potatoes, Cabbage, Fennel, Broccoli, Peppers, Garlic. More crops coming in every week!
Farm Jars - Pickles (garlic/dill), Garlic Powder and Cowboy Candy (kick it up!).
Flowers and Herbs - Farmer bouquets or UPICK.
POTPIES, BEEF, PORK AND MORE:
From our Farmer Friends at Griggstown, Sicklers and Nichols Orchard...
PotPies - Chicken, Veggie, Beef Sheppard's.
Ravioli.
Sausage - Chicken with Apple and Sweet Italian.
Beef - ground and cubes.
Pork Chops.
Apples - Mutsu, Winesap, Golden Delicious.
FALL HOURS, IN OCT.
THU AND FRI 12-6PM.
SAT 10AM-2PM.
(We will update our hours in Nov for daylight savings).
We anticipate being open up to the 3rd week in Nov.
We look forward to seeing you on back on the Farm for our Fall season!
Concert - GET TICKETS
Join us Sat night…
Live Music featuring Noble Dust.
SAT NIGHT 9/28, doors open 6PM, Concert begins around 7PM.
MUSIC WITH MEAL $50/PERSON:
Cooking on site by Hammerbacher.
Wood-fired burgers, house buns and Farm Accoutrements.
MUSIC ONLY $25/PERSON:
Concert ticket only. BYO food/snacks.
DRINKS:
BYOB or purchase on site.
The Seed Brewery. Cash or Credit.
See you Sat night for LIVE music, burgers and brews!
Seasons Change
As our Summer Season ends this weekend, we flow right into our Annual Arts and Crafts Festival next weekend, Sat Sept 14th, 10-3. Join us!
In the Farm Shop THIS WEEK Th, Fr 12-6 and Sa 10-2:
THE HARVEST:
Tomatoes (last wave!), Peppers - beautiful colors! Cucumber, Zucchini, Garlic, Onions, baby gold Potatoes, Eggplant, Kales, Fresh Herbs, Flowers bouquets - all our own! Corn and Peaches (big ones!), Pastore Orchard.
MORE JERSEY FRESH:
CHEESE. Fresh delivery! Mozz, Feta and Cheddar.
EGGS and MUSHROOMS.
MEATS. Whole Chickens, Ground Chicken and Turkey. Also a few Ribs and Chicken Sausages.
TOMATO SAUCE - our own! Another batch will be ready for our Arts and Crafts Festival next Sat.
FARM FRIENDS…
Friday with The Seed Brewery. Grab your fav 4 pack or try something new.
Hammerbacher Haus Party? Check out the EHC location this week for pre-party bake sales and to make a reservation for the Haus Party.
Much love and thanks to everyone for an amazing summer! After a little rest, we will be back at it for the Fall Season (Oct-Nov). See ya soon!
Fall Season
A Quick Update about our Fall Season
A quick follow up on our last email, regarding our September schedule...
we still have a full Fall schedule ahead of us!
We are just taking a break in-between the summer and fall seasons.
We will re-open the Farm Store in Oct-Thanksgiving.
MARKET CARD MEMBERS... you can use your market cards through the end of this year - lots of fall crops growing in the fields and new items coming in October.
On the Farm this weekend and in September
Labor Day & Sept News
Weekend Lineup - The Harvest and Our Farm Friends. September Schedule and Upcoming Events.
It's Labor Day weekend!
THE HARVEST
Our tomatoes will be gone soon! Come in for your end of summer bbq essentials - tomatoes (red “jerseys” and colorful cherry/grapes), corn, peaches, arugula, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, chives, rosemary), fresh cut flowers AND MORE.
UPICK CHERRY AND GRAPE TOMATOES! Roast some (or A LOT!) this weekend!
THE MORE
Ravioli - and our own farm grown Tomato Sauce!
Meats - whole birds, ground, ribs, sausages, burgers and dogs.
Cheese - mozz, ricotta, feta, cheddar - limited quantities.
Eggs.
Sheepsicles - back in stock - raspberry, vanilla and chocolate.
THE WEEKEND
Friday on the Farm -
The Seed Brewery selections:
First Root - pale ale
Fiore - Italian Pilsner
Records on Replay - ipa
Until the sunlight - Baltic porter
As simple as youth - Kellerpils
Oh sweet Saturday -
Hammerbacher back in the house.
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE:
Farm Shop. OPEN Th, Fr, Sa, Sept 5th-7th… last week for summer season!
Arts Festival. Sat Sept 14, 10am -3pm.
Live Music. Nobel Dust - Sat 9/28.
See ya on the farm!
Savor Summer - tomatoes, corn, peaches and more.
Oh yeah, we tomatoed! It was a great day; several vendors reported record breaking sales. “We did the best we ever did,” said Melanie G., Co-Owner of Fluffy Farms in Egg Harbor City. “As a small farm, NOFA-NJ has been a lifeline, enabling us to achieve viability beyond our wildest dreams.” Drawing a mixed crowd of farmers, gardeners, families, foodies, and existing Walkingbird Farm customers, FESTOMATO is designed to promote local farms and food systems while highlighting tomatoes during peak season. Mark your calendars for next year - we are looking forward to doing it again! Thank you NOFA-NJ for making us a partner of this annual event. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA NJ) has supported and advocated for organic farming and local food systems in the Garden State since 1985.
IN THE FARM STORE AND THE FIELDS…
THE VEG AND MORE: Go for the Gold - featuring our Fingerling Potatoes. No need to peel - makes great smashed potatoes or perfect roasted alongside a whole chicken from Piney Pastures Ranch. Grown on our Farm - Zucchini (green and yellow), Cucumbers (slicers and kirby’s), Peppers (bells, jalapenos and shishido), Eggplant (classic black, round Italian heirloom, long whites), Garlic, Cabbage, Spaghetti Squash, Fresh Herbs (Basil and More). AND TOMATOES - red beefsteaks, orange beefsteaks and mix cherry/grapes types. Grown by our Farm Friends - Cantaloupe; Peaches and Corn, Pastore Orchard.
IN THE FREEZER AND FRIDGE: Ribs, Bacon (Pork and Beef), Chip Steak (THE BEST for cheesesteaks!), Beef Cubes - Sicklers Farm; Ground (Chicken and Turkey), Chicken Sausages (assorted varieties), Ravioli - Griggstown Farm, Whole Chickens - Piney Pastures Ranch; Eggs - Cycle Farms and Working Dog Farms; Joe’s Teas (assorted varieties).
UPICK: Cherry/Grape Tomatoes - mix them up - orange (sweet rounds and long ovals), reds and dark bronze with green stripes. Beautiful weather for picking, and get a better deal than the pre-picked pints! And Flowers too!
MARKET CARD HOLDERS - we have reached the halfway point of our farm season; this is a friendly reminder that Market Cards will expire Dec 31, 2024. Market Cards DO NOT carry over into the 2025 season; Market Cards are an annual membership. So please do visit the farm and stock up! Having trouble getting to the farm often? Share your account with a friend or family member - it’s easy! Just share your QR code with your farm friend, or we can look up the account at checkout. Market Cards can be used on nearly everything in our Farm Store (alcohol excluded) - vegetables, flowers, farm jars (pickles and more), meats, cheeses, baked goods.
Farm Shop Hours: Thu, Fri 12-6PM and Sat 10AM-2PM.
100% Local, 100% Jersey Fresh. Thank you for supporting family farms!
FESTOMATO!
Hey all! Special announcement this week:
HOURS THU 12-6, FRI CLOSED, SAT FESTOMATO! 12-5.
Farm Shop CLOSED FRI in preparation for this event. Farm Shop OPEN SAT during the festival.
FESTOMATO! Walkingbird Farm, SAT 12-5.
An annual event hosted by NOFA NJ to highlight and promote NJ’s favorite summer vegetable (or fruit?) and the amazing farms and farmers that grow them. Tomato tastings, farm tours, culinary demos, live music, local vendors.
Make it a double on Sat! Show your support for local agriculture this weekend…
Atlantic County 4H Fair. Fri AND Sat.
Tomato tastings, farmer knowledge, community partnerships, tasty bites and brews, live music and more!
4th of July Week
Closed on Thu, the 4th.
Open Fri 12-6 and Sat 10-2.
🫐 U-PICK Blueberries and Flowers.
🌸 Sip and Snip with us and The Seed Brewery on Friday! No frills kinda day - enjoy the fields and a farm flight. BYO snacks if you like, grab a hay bale in the shade and just be.
🥬 This Weeks Harvest… 100% grown on our farm!
Carrots, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Scallions, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Arugula, Rainbow Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi and Radish.
Enjoy your 4th, see you Friday!
Farm Store Opens This Week
Farm Store Open.
Members and non-members welcome, see below for details.
***NEW HOURS FOR 2024***...
opens later and closes later.
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 12PM - 6PM.
SATURDAY 10AM - 2PM.
THE HARVEST
Spinach, Arugula, Radish, Garlic Scapes, Kale.
U-Pick Strawberries, Raspberries and Blueberries.
Next week the harvest is heavier with more to choose from. Non-members welcome to purchase our crops, as available, changes daily. See store signage for details. We sell what we grow!
U-PICK BERRIES
Strawberries, Raspberries and Blueberries:
Berries, THU AND FRI - Members Only.
Berries, SAT - Open To The Public.
Follow us on social media for updates @walkingbirdfarm.
FROM OUR FARM FRIENDS
OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS:
MEATS - Sicklers Farm and Griggstown Farm.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, ground beef/turkey, sausages, bacon, pork roll.
CHEESE - Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy and Fulper Farms.
Blue, chevre, cheddar, gouda. Also Sheepsicles!
BAKED GOODS - Hammerbacher Kitchen - SATURDAY ONLY.
Breads, sweets, savories and more. Handmade, from scratch.
EGGS - Cycle Farm, WorkingDog Farm and locals.
MUSHROOMS - Faith Flower Farm.
BEVERAGES - The Seed Brewery - FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
Also, non-alcoholic Joe's Teas.
JAMS - made with our strawberries!
More to come in throughout the season!
A Very Berry Saturday
Our Berries and Market Updates
U-PICK Raspberries are ready! Strawberries still out there - super sweet! Last week for them? Blueberries open next week? We will keep you posted! Our Market Store will be open Thursday, June 13th. We sell what we grow - Jersey Fresh!
U-PICK RASPBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES - OPEN THIS SATURDAY AT 10AM, UNTIL SOLD OUT.
RASPBERRIES
$10/pint CSA, $12/non-members. Pints will be limited, just coming in.
No pesticides, herbicide's or chemicals used. Know your farmer, know your raspberries. How to pick raspberries? They are extremely delicate! Please be careful with plants - take care not to knock off ripening berries. They should be a deep red and slip off the plant easily, if not, they are not quite ripe and will be tart. This is a very labor intensive and expensive crop to grow - we expect you to have a taste in the field, but please no snacking. Thank you for respecting our fields.
STRAWBERRIES
Heat has made them especially sweet! Don't be afraid to pick a few that may look overripe or bruised, flavor is excellent! Size does not affect the flavor, pick them all, might be the last pick of the season.
MARKET STORE - OPENS NEXT WEEK - THURSDAY 6/13, 10AM-5PM.
NEXT WEEK:
THE HARVEST AND MORE...
Crops available (tentative) - Arugula, Cabbage, Chard (rainbow), Garlic Scapes (makes the most amazing pesto!), Kale (green curly and tuscan types), Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Radish, Salad Turnips, Spinach. Maybe a few Flowers and Herbs come in too. ALL weather dependent - it's been a cold, wet spring and crops are just catching up. Many more crops in the next few weeks. We sell what we grow - Jersey Fresh!
U-Pick (tentative) - Raspberries, Blueberries and Strawberries?
From Our Farm Friends - meats, eggs, cheese and more... all the details to follow next week.
See you on the farm!
Berries and Market Updates
Berries Ripe and Ready for You!
U-Pick Strawberries OPEN Saturday.
June 1st, 10AM-2PM, or until sold out.
See you on the farm Saturday!
U-Pick Strawberries
Hi all! After some wonderful sunshine this week we are ready to reopen our u-pick strawberries. Today (Thursday) from 10am to 2pm or until sold out (or we get rained out)... again.
It's been a weird strawberry year. Great flavor, but not the consistent production we're used to... a cold, wet spring, very hot then very cold, the recovery time between picks is a bit more tricky to predict this year. There are lots of nice red berries out there right now, but with storms in the forecast we just want the fields picked ASAP. Sorry for short notice, but that is how quick they ripen on nice days!
What will the weekend look like? Will we be open? My advice, don't wait! Get your Memorial Day Weekend strawberries today. Please check our social media for the most up to date field conditions.
Price $5.50 per lb. Field Pass Fee will be applied while berries last (covers the berries you eat in the field while picking, the containers you take home, and the labor that goes into it without using weed control or insecticides). We work hard to grow strawberries and give our customers a good experience - we appreciate you!
Field Pass Fee:
Single picker, $3
Up to 3, $5
4 and more, $10
CSA Members - No Field Pass Fee
See you Thursday at 10am. If you miss this pick, there will be more!
Berries, Burgers and Beers
Strawberries will OPEN for U-Pick Friday evening 5-8 PM, or until sold out. Kicking off the season in style with our farm friends - Hammerbacher Kitchen on the grill with house-made buns and burgers, and The Seed Brewery selling crafty farm brews (Friday night ONLY). It might rain on Saturday, so get here Friday!
U-PICK STRAWBERRIES - HOW DOES IT WORK?
ALL CUSTOMERS MUST CHECK IN FIRST. We will assign locations with the best berries for you to pick. This helps ensure everyone has a good experience and the fields are picked evenly. Please do not enter the fields without checking in first.
CONTAINERS. While we appreciate your BYO container spirit (and we’ve seen all sorts!), please leave your containers at home, we will supply them. This is our policy moving forward. Thank you for your cooperation.
FIELD PASS FEE - This will get you access to the fields, and containers for you to pick into and take home. Single Pass $3/per person, Family Pass $10 (up to 4 people). Additional persons $3 each. Why are we charging a field pass? Due to rising costs (like labor and materials) and other factors (like fruit that gets eaten in the field or discarded), we must require a field pass to help cover these costs.
CSA MEMBERS. Field Pass Fee is waived. Market Cards can be used to purchase U-Pick Strawberries.
U-PICK PRICE. $5.50/LB. U-Pick Only. Pre-picked quarts will not be available.
HOURS. *** Please check our social media BEFORE coming to the farm. Conditions change daily! *** If it’s raining, we close the fields; if we do not have enough berries due to heavy picking, we will close for a few days to let the fields ripen again.
Open to the Public. No appointment needed.
Are you Organic? Strawberries are pesticide and herbicide free - however we are not certified organic. Weeded by hand - labor of love!
See you Friday, 5/17 for Berries, Burgers and Beers! 5-8 PM, or until sold out.
CSA Updates and Farm Events
Last chance to sign up for a CSA membership!
Our CSA signups will officially close March 31, or until we are sold out - we have just a few memberships remaining for the 2024 season. Become a member now... get discounts on Pick Your Own berries (Strawberries and Blueberries), AND automatically get enrolled in our Loyalty Rewards program - earn points for free items or dollar discounts, every time your shop.
*** Please note, our Early bird discount promotion to get weekly veggie discounts expired March 1. Signups AFTER March 1 get the pick your own discount and Loyalty Rewards. ***
EVENTS - Barn Concert and Mothers Day Floral Workshops
Concert - Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light.
Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.
$25/person.
Celebrate Earth Day Weekend with LIVE music on the farm! Bring your own food and drink and enjoy a casual, open-air experience.
Mothers Day Floral Workshop:
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
$95/person.
Let's empower all the ladies this Mother's Day. Whether you are a mother, have one to celebrate, or honoring one you lost. Together we will show our love to create a gorgeous floral arrangement for that special Mama. This workshop will be held by our floral expert. She will provide you with all the instruction, skills and placement required to make the most exquisite centerpiece. Come join the fun-BYOB & Charcuterie!
GET TICKETS - MOTHERS DAY WORKSHOP
HAPPY SPRING!
CSA Signups Very Active!
We had an overwhelming response to our early bird special and want to thank you ALL for your up front investment in the farm. We are getting tight on space and expect to sell out our 2024 memberships soon.
Yes, our Early Bird Discount Deal has ended, BUT WAIT, there is more!
Become a CSA member today - we still have a fruitful deal for you:
Pick Your Own Discounts (on strawberries and blueberries).
Loyalty Rewards for visiting the farm regularly - earn points for free items or dollar discounts.
Member priority on limited crops - craving tomatoes? Members get first pick on all our crops.
Once our memberships are sold out, we will be open to the public. However you may not have access to everything in the weekly harvest.
Enjoy the benefits of being a member before signups are full! Thank you again for such amazing support!
Early Bird CSA Discount ends Friday March 1
Signup Now and Save ALL Season.
Hello farm friends - we’d love to see you on the farm this season. To help us start strong, consider becoming a member by joining our CSA today. Signup by Friday March 1 and take advantage of our Early Bird discounts!
CSA MEMBERSHIPS (aka the eMarket Card) - we use eGift Cards for tracking your account. This is a buy down membership.
eMARKET CARDS (e"GIFT CARDS") - can be used to purchase ALL items on our farm (including veggies, meat, cheese, baked goods, pick-your-own and more).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Discounts will be applied at checkout EVERY TIME you shop ALL SEASON! Discounts will be applied ONLY to crops grown exclusively at WBF (other farms' products we sell are not eligible for the discount). ***Signups after March 1st are not eligible for this promotion.***
THE MINI $350, includes 10% VEG DISCOUNT
THE BASIC $450, includes 15% VEG DISCOUNT
THE CORE $550, includes 20% VEG DISCOUNT
THE BULK $650, includes 25% VEG DISCOUNT
Thank you for choosing our farm, we look forward to seeing you again!
Walkingbird Farm