Hello,
Week 7. I will be honest folks. This was a hard week for us out on the farm. Not because of farm things, but because “life” happened to us. This week on Wednesday afternoon our pet cat Milo died. Milo came with us to the farm when we moved here. I adopted him the same year I “adopted” Farmer Tim. He was my buddy that walked with me through the big scary step of quitting my job for “the man” and coming out here to be a farmer. He sat on my lap every Sunday morning while I wrote this newsletter. He slept next to my bed every night. For those of you that have loved and lost fur-babies, you know how it can be. So, despite the fact that we all carried on and did the farming things this week, I dropped the ball on a few things, just because I had to.
As I walked through a bit of a valley this week and witnessed and felt the love and support folks around me offered, I was slightly overwhelmed by all of it. It made me realize how much our farm family, this little community that we have built around local food, has become so strong. When I shared with volunteers and employees what was happening on Wednesday, the level of support that I was flooded with was what got me through the day (well the week really). I realized just how many relationships we have built with folks over the years on this farm and around us. Employees and volunteers picked up the slack when I wasn’t as present as a leader this week. They gave me tons of grace when I dropped the ball. They called to check on me. The show went on with them steering the ship.
It was also a growing moment for me. A moment to let go and admit that I had to give myself the time and space I needed to deal with a life event. I could let go of the reins for a minute and the whole farm was not going to fall apart. I could not harvest something that needed it and things would be ok. As I age, I am getting better at stepping back and checking in with my values to make sure they are what steer my actions instead of other things that can distract or mislead us in life. I am finding perfection in imperfection when it is grounded in what I believe.
May you folks continue to find balance in your life. May you steer your actions by your core values. May you allow love in your life that is big enough that loss hurts. May you feel held by family and community during tough times. May you have beings (human or animal) that walk you through big transformation. May you live so you truly feel alive.
Thank you for being part of this community and helping this farm and this farmer continue to grow.
A Few Things:
- IN SUMMARY: Tough times make us grow and feel grateful for community. This week we lost our cat Milo.
- SHORT DATE MEAT SALE: We find ourselves long on some of the less common/popular cuts right now, especially in beef. We are having a SHORT DATE SALE this July. These are going to be 10 to 14 months old cuts.
- Crop Highlight: Cucumbers. This is less of a highlight and a bit more of an update. Our first crop of cucumbers has gotten hit hard by disease, so we will have some, but not as many as we hope. But I am hopeful that the lemon cukes that we trellised in the tunnel (another experiment this year) will make up for it. So, if you don’t get cukes this time around, know that we have more in the ground and are hopeful they will be a success.
LETS ORDER
Go to https://www.farmmatch.com/lotfotl
- HOW TO ORDER: (STORE OPENS AT NOON)
- Go to https://www.farmmatch.com/lotfotl
- Login
- IMPORTANT: Make sure that you have selected the correct location AND refreshed your browser page.
- Confirm that your credits have been issued to your account.
- Place your order following the order parameters:
~~Minimum total order of $40.
~~Maximum total order of $250.
~~Limit $200 on meat per week.
~~ Use all of your credits by the October 25th delivery.
- IMPORTANT: You must get a confirmation receipt email detailing your order. If you don’t, you did not complete your order correctly. Always review the email, to make sure the information is correct, especially the LOCATION.
- Thank you for understanding that we are not able to process late orders.
- Order on weeks that work for you, skip the ones that don’t.
- Final order of the season: When you use the last of your credits for the season, your credit card on file will be charged for any amount due. You will then have access to a limited menu for the remainder of the season.
HACKS AND ORDERING TRICKS:
- If the product selection is not display in organized groups, you are likely in the “Previously Ordered” section. Scroll down to all products and it will be easier to navigate. You can always X out these items each week to keep this section manageable.
- If products have a locked sign on them, you likely need to change your pick-up location. Click on the lock to see where this item is available.
- If you cannot see products, contact the farm.
- As a member with credits, when you place your order, FarmMatch will tell you it is going to charge your credit card, because that is what it is programmed to do, as most farms are not issuing credits at the beginning of the season like we are. They are just selling outright to their customers. The program will apply your credits first, making your total due $0. So, your card will get charged $0 each week, up until you have used up all your credits.
RECEIVING AND/OR PICKING UP YOUR ORDER:
- IN PERSON PICK-UP
- LOTFOTL – Watch your step as you enter the barn. This is a self-serve pick-up. Remember to check the cooler for your frozen items. Items are in the cubby shelf off to the right as you enter the building.
- HOME DELIVERY
- Remember drivers are instructed NOT to leave food if there is not a container.
- Watch for a text after delivery has occurred.
- If you don’t have food by 6pm, call or text us right away. Time is of the essence.
We are always happy to help. Contact us with questions. 920-318-3800. Texting will get you the fastest response.
With Gratitude,
Your Farmers