We got back from our family visit to Ontario in late July and jumped into a farmer's market at Wildrose the next weekend, the 9th of August! We had a busy last two weeks harvesting and selling on the weekend but it was totally worth it!
Our first market in August was a hit and we sold out of our snap peas and most of the carrots! We were dog tired but very happy after the day to sit and have a beer together at Wildrose and appreciate all the support we received from friends buying up our veggies.
We felt so supported that we figured we should have another one the following Sunday so we did it all again! Getting up early Sunday morning at the farm and picking everything as fresh as we could, washing it all and hitting the road to make it to the brewery before 1PM. Coffee. All the coffee was required. Big shout out to Dark Woods Coffee roastery that we picked up in Innisfail, they are doing some good stuff. (We totally picked up their beer too, of course).
We brought our last big haul of carrots this past weekend and had another successful market selling out of snap peas again, and moving lots of carrots and beets, as well as garlic, zucchini and potatoes.
Check out our display! We were very happy with how our display of veg turned out, and the weather was top notch to be spending the afternoon on the patio!
We have decided to take a break this weekend but hope to maybe squeeze one more market in before the end of the season as we have rattlesnake beans, pie pumpkins and winter squash ripening on the vine and we sure hope we can make one more market happen, fingers crossed on the weather cooperating.
This season, despite the difficulties everyone has been facing with Covid19, has been our most successful yet on the farm, both in selling veggies to the masses, but also in improving our gardens and the farm set up. It obviously had a lot to do with the fact that we have had the ability to spend more time up at the farm tending to the land, but also the heightened attention farmers have been receiving from people who are starting to care more about where their food is coming from. We have had people come to the patio just to see us and it was so lovely to see people excited to have the chance to not only support us, but get to eat fresh veggies from Alberta. We are so proud to do what we do, and love the attention it is getting this season.
Ben and I have talked about this topic a lot and we hope maybe things are trying to change for the better, in the way we look at consuming. We want to see our world go back to when we bought locally from the butcher who you knew, the baker who had the best breads, your cheese monger, your veggie farmer, your brewer, everything you needed came from a local seller or maker, where you supported your own, and in turn they supported you.
Attitudes and behaviour are changing slowly, that the idea of convenience has really lost it's romance the last few years. What are we giving up for convenience? Or saving a buck or two? You're losing other aspects of quality when you're trying to save time and money. Many people, including ourselves, have had the privilege to change that. We have had the extra time and cash to support local companies that have amazing product and passion, and it has been excellent to see them thriving.
We hope that as things change, smaller communities can start to support each other like they used to do and things can become more affordable for the masses, while turning around and supporting the individuals.
It's a tough cycle to break but you see some industries, like the brewery industries breaking the cycle of cheap and easy and its definitely something Ben and I can get behind! 🍻
The idea that small communities can thrive again is a romance I can get behind. So if you ever find yourself in need of consuming.. try a small business in your area, or a small town that could really use the support. It can really come back and benefit you in the long run, so it's a win win situation.
Where we spend our money tells a story, one that many would love to see rewritten.
Thanks for the read and support this season. It has been so rewarding working hard on our dreams of building a homestead, working on self sustainability and enjoying nature. I'll leave you with a picture of one of my amphibian friends in the garden. An affirming image that we are maybe doing something right with a pesticide free, natural garden. Sometimes the bugs make me swear, but you can't get mad at a salamander smile.
Cheers friends and farmers! Stay positive out there. It's almost pumpkin ale time.
Kait