Sunday, January 8, 2017

Starting Fresh!



Greetings from our snowy farm! The temperatures this morning were hovering near zero, and the ice and snow sparkled in the midday sun...we're off to a frosty start to a new year. Our chickens first hesitant steps out of the coop were fun to watch this week as they are a new flock which is just beginning to lay well.

Our 2017 farming year is coming up quickly! Our CSA sign-up has also begun, as plans are being drawn up for crops, and our livestock, and hopes of a wetter growing                                                                          season                                              are in everyone's                                                              prayers. 
  Our family's winter schedule,
Charity is learning to sew!
which 
allows hours of indoor study time, pleasure reading, and for the boys, time to play with Legos is a more restful time of the year. Charity's free time is now spent playing detective! (Last week it was a composer and playwright, the weeks proceeding this she was an inventor...she has an active imagination filled with countless possibilities!) Faith Anne is sewing a new dress with an eye on being ready for spring.


 Everyone loves to bake and cook, so we all enjoy taking turns weekly with meals. Occasionally our
customers at winter markets have delighted in their fresh doughnuts or jelly rolls! With only 2 markets a week with an occasional 3rd one we have MUCH more free time indoors perusing areas of interest!

We are excited about a new WINTER market in Oak Ridge sponsored by Grow Oak Ridge Farmer's Market. Each Saturday through February 25th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's held in the St. Mary's Church gymnasium at 323 Vermont Avenue. There is a growing community of people visiting, finding local foods in the middle of winter, while the children are learning something new
with each visit with the activities planned for them! Food trucks are there with their specialties, crafters are there with their unique wares...there are even
chefs demonstrating how to cook new recipes with what is available locally. It's a well rounded market with something for everyone. Come by and visit farmer Steve and his sons each week! 

Our farm needs your support this time of year. When
the snow flies is when your farmer is buying feed and seed to start plants in the greenhouse...he's still paying the farming bills, and supporting his family without the abundance of markets to sell at. We all learn and appreciate more that our Heavenly Father supplies our every need.

aWe're getting our website all set for you to purchase

your CSA shares for the season so we can plan for your needs. There are several payment plans available that will enable you to spread the purchase price out over the coming months. 





If the CSA idea with it's weekly pick-up doesn't seem to "fit" your lifestyle or you think a share of vegetables may be too much for you to handle, consider purchasing a CSA Farm Card. It's an alternative to our traditional CSA. With the prepaid card you can mix your purchases from our naturally raised vegetables, jams/jellies, breads and other baked goods, along with our eggs and pastured chicken and pork. This way you can pick which market you visit, or what you plan to purchase. These farm cards also make great gifts for parents, students, and friends for any occasion.  Both ways of supporting our farm in the winter make it possible for us to begin the growing season prepared.



We've all heard it numerous times by now, "Happy New Year!" As I've taken steps into the unknown of the new year, I find comfort in knowing my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is already there! He knows the plans He has for me, my family, and friends. And He knows exactly what to bring into my life to fashion me into His image, and won't put more on me than I can bear. This is comforting to me...and I pray it is to you.



2017 is a new story to be told...let's tell it together! Join our farm now. Visit our website to learn more about our farm today!



Abundant Blessings,
Val
The Farmer's Wife

 

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