First Market

This appeared in the April 30, 2020 edition of The Fish Wrap

We had our first garden market of the year recently and it went great! We were planning to start in mid May, but with veggies ready, we decided to go for it! Covid-19 has added uncertainty to our plan for Farmers Markets, though we think they are essential! We are excited to start navigating the new normal with our community.

Since the pandemic began, we have been paying special attention to the supply chain of the food people eat. Most processed food starts on large conventional farms with a long path to your table and processing steps in other states or overseas. Any of these steps can break down during a global crisis, making local food even more important. The shortest supply chain is out your own back door to your garden. Next best is your local farmer.

Our customers seemed thrilled to see our garden, visit with the chickens and tell us what they are looking forward to from the farm! By visiting the farm, they can see how much loving care we put into the vegetables from the time they are tiny seeds. In this time of uncertainty, RLF customers gain a sense of control over their food supply. 

At our first market, we got to catch up with some customers from last year and to meet new friends. It’s a great pleasure to talk to the people who are going to eat the food that we grow. We put a lot of energy and love into the farm, but the rewards we get back are greater than the sum of those parts. Our customers can taste the energy we put into food and when they visit the farm, it increases that good vibration. We depend on each other and support each other. We’re all in this together!