June in the Garden

Managing your garden to maximize your harvest. Dealing with weeds, cover crops, succession sowing, and garden tools.

Did you know that nearly one-third of the world’s cropland is used to grow feed for livestock? The lamentable deforestation that we hear about so often is actually happening in order to create grazing land for cattle and soy fields for their food. In fact, only 7% of the world’s soy crops are for human consumption. Ask yourself: Why can we feed 26 billion farm animals, but we can’t feed 8 billion humans? At Sweet Farm, we’re committed to reducing this imbalance.

May in the Garden

Why do we choose to grow heirlooms?: flavor, nutrition, biodiversity, history.
The USDA changed growing zones - have you checked your new zone?
Garden starting - what to look for when buying starts for your garden.

EARTH DAY 2025 - Renewable Energy

April is always a special time at Sweet Farm, with our rescued animals excited for the return of lush grass, planting season hitting full swing, and the excitement that our garden will soon be churning out delicious veggies for all. But this April brings an extra buzz of excitement as this year’s Earth Day focus is “Our Power, Our Planet” — a call to harness renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all; a cause that’s deeply rooted in our mission to create a more compassionate and climate-friendly world.

April in the Garden

Spring is here and it is in full swing! We are still a few weeks away from our last frost, but there are so many things that can go in the ground now! Here in growing zone 6, we are already planting so much, and prepping our garden for all our warm-weather crops like tomatoes, corn, peppers, and annual flowers.

Read on to learn what else we are doing in the garden this month...

Spring is finally at our doorstep! And while the urge to fling open our windows and clean the whole house is strong, it's important that we stop and think about whether what we are using to clean is actually cleaning or making our homes dirtier. Scroll down to see some simple sustainability swaps!

March in the Garden

Here in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, the ground is just starting to thaw. We are seeing sunny days with melting snow, interspersed with colder days with some snowflakes floating around as if to remind us that the winter isn't completely behind us yet.

All purchases made in our store, whether online or on the farm, support our nonprofit work of saving animals, feeding our community, and educating the public about climate-friendly choices.

February in the Garden

February is here, and although winter may still have its grip on the land here in Upstate New York, it's the perfect time to start dreaming and planning for your garden. We know that this time of year can feel slow, but now is the moment to get ahead—organizing, sketching, and preparing for the beauty and bounty that will soon blossom.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and while it's a time to celebrate love, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to think about how we can show love for our planet. This year, let’s skip the roses and explore ways to make this February 14th not only special for our loved ones, but also kinder to the Earth.

Have you been wanting to start making sustainable swaps in your life but don't know where to start?

Have you been inspired by our Sustainability Newsletters??

Or have you just been wondering if there are products that eco-friendly and actually cute???

SWEET FARM HAS YOU COVERED!

You may have seen our announcement in November about taking in five turkeys from yet another sanctuary having to close its doors and re-home over 100 rescued animals. Well Sweet Farm actually agreed to take in five turkeys, six chickens, ten ducks, and four goats -- and now everyone is here and settled in!!  

January in the Garden

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you are probably pretty chilly right about now. Here in Upstate New York we are experiencing a particularly snowy and frigid winter already, with a few more months still to go! So you might be asking yourself why as gardeners we are so excited that it is January!!  The answer is: SEED SHOPPING!

Join us in welcoming Brenda to Sweet Farm! She arrived last week, after being rescued from life as a buggy horse by a friend of ours. Her owners could not afford her care and had stopped feeding her, so it was urgent that she get out of that situation immediately...but our friend did not have a home for her yet! So she will be staying at Sweet Farm for at least several months, until her own accommodation is ready for her.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to make resolutions that align with your values and contribute to a healthier planet. Living sustainably doesn’t always require dramatic changes, but small, thoughtful shifts in daily habits can make a big difference. Here are four simple, impactful resolutions to help you live more sustainably in 2025…

The holiday season is here, and it's a time to reflect on the past year, spread joy, and connect with loved ones. But it's also an opportunity to think about how we can make our celebrations more sustainable. With a few mindful choices, we can reduce waste, save energy, and help protect the planet—all while still enjoying the warmth and magic of the holidays. 

Here are some simple ways to make your holidays more eco-friendly this December:

As we approach the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can enjoy the traditions of Thanksgiving while being mindful of our environmental impact. This year, let’s consider forgoing the frenzy of Black Friday in favor of a more sustainable, intentional approach to the holidays. Here are some simple yet impactful ways you can make a difference this Thanksgiving season:

We welcomed 5 new turkey ladies: Fred, Larry, Jerry, Mako, and Butternut. These girls came from yet another sanctuary that is sadly having to close its doors and rehome over 100 animals. A few of these sweet girls had the ends of their toes and beaks severed when they were babies, as is standard practice on factory farms, but with love and care they are all thriving now. We can't wait to watch their personalities blossom in their new home with Callum, Brenda, and Bella.

November in the Garden

We are still harvesting the stray winter squash, pumpkin, and roses, and getting the last of the garlic into the ground. November is the best time to make notes on the current season before we rush headlong into the holiday season and forget everything we are so sure we will remember. It's a time to save seeds from this year's favorites, and to start thinking ahead. Read on for guidance on how to record this season so you can get a jump start on next year...

New faces alert!! We recently took in 25 retired breeding chickens, and 15 of them are hens in need of names! 

Will you help us name them? For a donation of $75, you can name one of our beautiful new hen friends, and you can even let us know if there is a specific breed of hen you would like to name! Your donation will help us get these girls set up for long and healthy lives with the rest of our main flock!