Alex Smith

Turning the Page: January 2021

For those of us who made it through 2020, it was a year like no other that we are happy to see go away. The shift into 2021 has not been smooth but we have faith that help is on the way and that things can only improve. Isn’t that what January is all about? Cleaning, organizing, preparing for what lays ahead.

At Snug Harbor Farm there is no slow time of year. It may look that way on the surface, but when the landscape goes dormant we continue to be full steam ahead! There are grounds that need designing and now is the perfect time to reach out to our team to collaborate on Spring 2021 landscape designs and services. There are events that need planning and production. There is buying required to start the new season. The animals need food and exercise and the plants require watering. There is no time off for a farmer.

We take the first two months of the year to cleanse the shop and give it a fresh look for the great Re-Awakening on March 1st., but that does not mean that the property is closed to the public! We are working hard making changes in the shop, and there are as many changes going on in all of our greenhouses. The major shift of the moment is to turn Greenhouse 2 into our oversized tropical and houseplant destination.

If you have never visited Snug Harbor Farm in the winter, then you are missing out on a real treat. Each greenhouse offers up its own unique experience. All of them contain a special collection of plants that have their own collective fragrance. The humidity, the light, and the smells are just what we need to escape the dry, frigid air outside. Come for a visit and take a little bit home to keep body and soul together while we wait for more to wake up in the spring.

Growing Hope

As we wind down 2020 and reflect on all that we have been through, we realize we need to make this holiday season all about the care and safety of others. Although the pandemic is making this out to be a Christmas like none experienced by any of us before, there is hope on the horizon and we have all learned critical skills to do our best to keep loved ones safe. It might be a slightly different holiday than we are used to, but there are also many gifts in this quiet solitude. We have seen so many new faces at Snug Harbor Farm seeking solace in the world of plants. The growing audience we are receiving is an encouraging sign of things to come in the year ahead and how many new gardeners are jumping into the earth. From our hearts, we are wishing all peace and comfort.

We would love to help dress your holiday table to help bring a festive spirit to your tabletops. Flowers have certainly brightened our mood over the course of the year and we are not letting up on including them in all things celebratory. We are taking orders through the 19th for specific requests and will have more on hand to work magic with for last minute shoppers. As with most things this year, we encourage you to get orders in early.

We are keeping our greenhouses open all winter for plant shopping and to enjoy the warm light and lovely fragrance. They will beopen to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM every day, winter weather permitting. The shop, itself, will be closed for

January and February in order to freshen it up and create some exciting new spaces. Look forward to news of full property reopening beginning of March. Otherwise, the property is fully closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.

But biggest news of all: we are putting all of our shop merchandise on sale for 50% off on Friday, December 18th (in store only)! Happy shopping for those who have put it off and to all the others who really need to treat yourself!

Making the Best of It

Entering the dark months leading into winter, we find ourselves drawn to pockets of light. Pots and containers have been brought in from the decks and patios. Most of the spring bulbs have been nestled into the ground while amaryllis and paperwhites prepare to adorn indoor spaces with their fragrance and dramatic profiles. All windows are open game for micro gardens stacked with houseplants to keep some green in our foreground.

We find comfort in the flicker of candlelight while planning feasts to come. They’ll be slightly different this year but we can still make them special. Beauty is a powerful panacea for the soul. We need it now more than ever.

Snug Harbor Farm is an inspiration to many. It is always our goal to share resources and tools to help you create beautiful atmospheres where you live. From recipes toplant material to textiles (not to mention plants and flowers), they all add up to a certain kind of cozy. This holiday season may be different but it can still be lovely. Let us help with a centerpiece or the perfect gift to brighten a loved one’s day. Be patient. Be kind. Wear a mask and wash your hands and we’ll all get through this.

Reaping the Rewards

Rolling into October, our calendar has become stacked with a myriad of projects and chores as we navigate a safe path through the virus. So many of you have taken up gardening and now is the time where we get to reap the ultimate benefit from all of our hard work. Yummy vegetables are plentiful and we are learning how to enjoy and extend the blooms of our flowers. On October 17th, we will be holding a workshop about how to create compositions with fresh flowers that hold their shape and color when dried. Space is limited to insure proper social distancing.

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, October 12th, we will have freshly harvested apples and locally made cheeses available in the barn, as well as special combinations of our favorite bulbs that can go in the ground before Thanksgiving and bring you lots of joy when they sprout in the upcoming spring .

Due to the popularity of our summertime Floral Subscription, we are starting a new four week round of seasonal floral subscriptions available for Friday pick ups starting October 16th. Grab one for yourself or give a great gift to some one who could use a smile on a stem or two!

BIG holidays are ahead of us, and we have had many questions about when our unique dressings will be available for you to deck your halls. Please know we are working on getting it all out as early as possible. It is our greatest wish to help make your homes extra cozy for the holidays. In the meantime, we have creepy, crawly Halloween coming in hot! We will have another one of our Instagram Live Artist Talk with the funny and fantastic Jonathan White of Odd Inq Pottery this coming Friday, October 9th at 4:30 PM EST.

Keep your creativity flowing through the fall. Work on making your nest as warm and cozy as can be. This will be a new and different way of gathering this season, but gather we must in a safe and socially distant manner. Beauty is a calming comfort in the months to come. Keep that in mind and be kind to your neighbors and fellow human beings. Be good to the Earth that provides us so much of all of the above.