FARMING IN A PANDEMIC
In many ways, it feels like we have been preparing for this from the beginning, right? Those early yearnings towards farming were built on a desire for self-sufficiency, for living simply and having everything we needed right outside our door. We have spent years trying, failing, trying again - learning skills and gathering knowledge to ready us for such a time as this.
We have acres of land to roam, bountiful food and gardens surrounding us, animals providing for us. We feel incredibly fortunate and blessed, rich in our health and stability.
And yet! Though our family is safe and not lacking in food, our farm business has been cut off at the knees. We chose 2020 (of course!) to be the year we ended our CSA, focusing solely on farmers market sales and restaurants. And while the market is still open, we are now operating with a “what will tomorrow bring”sort of anxiety. Every news cycle seems to have us rewriting our entire business plan, reevaluating our marketing strategy, pivoting and beginning again.
So, we return to the CSA model. We are so thankful for our loyal little community of customers and past farm members we were able to turn to, finding them ready and waiting for us.
We will still be at the market, beginning this weekend, for as long as the market can be open. There will be spinach, lettuce, arugula, and LOTS of Further’s chicken eggs! We will be encouraging pre-orders and online payments as much as possible.
We are staying open and flexible, knowing that everything might have to change again. And that is OK! We are going to make this work.
We are also wrestling a bit with a paradox, or conundrum, or difficulty of sorts: we are blessed to have plentiful resources in a time when resources are scarce (food!) and we want to share that with as many people as possible. Health is wealth and food is medicine, and we want everyone to have access to that. So how can we be generous and connect food with people who need it and can distribute it, while also remembering that our family needs to survive this financially as well?
So please come see us at the market (briefly, and from a distance)! Join our CSA and tell your neighbors about us. Help us connect our food with people who are hungry. Share your thoughts, your worries, your ideas with us. We are going to keep planting, going to continue expecting this to be our biggest growing season to date. Just like every year, we will bury our seeds in the soil in faith, in hope.
- Hannah.
BOXING DAY DATE.
Before I drove home today, Jesse and I had a little day-after-Christmas date using up some of our Christmas gifts. My parents gave me a gift card for yarn, so we stopped by Magpie Yarn in Lexington. Let me just say - as a somewhat beginning knitter, I am often intimidated by yarn stores, sometimes dealing with rude and somewhat snooty ladies who are not super helpful. Anybody else? Anyway, this was by far the NICEST yarn store I have ever been to. Plus, they only carry natural fibers. I bought a LOT of yarn, y'all.
We then used a gift from my Dad - a gift card to the always wonderful Alfalfas. It was so nice to be able to spend a little time just the two of us before heading home. Thanks Mom and Dad for the thoughtful presents!- Hannah.
SO LONG, LEX.
We are leaving Lexington today and heading to Louisville for the weekend. Louisville is one of our favorite cities, and we are excited to visit with friends (old and new!), eat lots of amazing food, hopefully trying some new places but probably ending up at our old faithfuls.But of course, before we left we had to visit Spalding's Bakery. It was literally the only thing on our list that was an absolute must. Spalding's was a tradition in my house growing up, and I happily shared it with Jesse once we were married. Although I don't eat much of them anymore, I would consider myself a donut connoisseur - and Spalding's donuts are the best donuts. Definitively. There is nothing like them.If you live even remotely anywhere near Kentucky, it is worth your time. Seriously! Spalding's isn't a hip coffee shop selling cronuts, it is a bakery that sells only regular glazed donuts since 1929. It is perfect. OBVIOUSLY not a part of a balanced nutritious breakfast, but a very occasional treat? Yes, please.
*We did NOT eat all dozen of these. We could have, but we didn't.*
THIS & THAT.
Some random photos from the past (vacation!) week in Lexington.
Yes, we brought our cat on vacation. Yes, she is super helpful when trying to finish a book.
ONE BIG THUMBS UP FOR YOU NORTH LIME! 
Finally purchased this gorgeous book by this amazing human.
If I had all the monies I would buy all the books in the children's section of Morris Book Shop.
The best, weirdest, and most wonderful store - SCOUT.
Wine + Market for lunch yesterday.
As usual, it didn't disappoint.
These are just a few of all the lovely places we have been this week. We are having SUCH a nice, relaxing vacation so far - thank you for all of your tips and suggestions!- Hannah.