Not the End!

This is the newsletter I've been dreading having to write, but I can't wait much longer!
The Farmers Markets will be here in 2 short weeks and I, mostly, won't be there.

Last year was a tough go of it, as it's been 4 years of 100-120 hr weeks from March - October. And winter isn't a free time to recover, that is when all the admin, website, social media, marketing, packaging prep, continuing education, business stuff, crop planning, and maybe some rest and fun happens. I've known for the last two years that I would need to find a way to have regular, trained help on the farm but didn't have the time or money to make it happen. Then the heat of last year pushed my body and mind over the edge and I burnt out. I was over everything, the markets, the weather, the chickens, the ducks, the crops, but especially the weekly grind of plant, harvest, wash, package, go to one market, go to another market, weed (maybe or crash instead), and repeat. 7 days a week, usually 16-18 hrs a day. 
I started farming and growing plants because of my love for them. Planting the little seeds, watching them grow, helping them to grow, and sharing them with everyone I could. Running the farm as a business (which it must be since I don't have any other source of income) and maintaining my relationship with the plants became untenable. It became transactional and it lost the magic of working with plants that I love. But I don't want to stop sharing that with all of you! 
So, this last winter I took a break from the marathon of packaging prep, crop planning, and business stuff and instead spent time imagining and dreaming how I would like the farm to look in 10 years, what role I want it to have in the community (both human and wild), and how to make that happen. 
To give myself the space and time to make it happen, I won't be at the Farmers Markets with a full booth and the full setup. I'll be growing with more wholesale and pre-orders in mind. For veg, I'll be focusing on salad mix and other greens. For flowers, I'll be delivering to florists and offering bulk flowers in buckets. 
I'll also be working during the week as a full-time seasonal botanist for the Forest Service out of Three Rivers, doing an excellent job of plant surveys and probably a not so excellent job of weed control (in my viewpoint, weeds are plants we don't understand the value of yet).
This means I'm not fully certain of my schedule yet, when I can deliver pre-orders etc, but this newsletter is the best place to find out!

I plan to be back!
This 'gap year' is to give me the space to dream, the time to learn how to make that dream happen, and the means to get it done. 

Happy Earth Day to all the mountains, fields, forests, oceans, rivers, and seas! And to all the plants and animals (human and non-human) that depend upon those mountains, fields, forests, oceans, rivers, and seas!

The first full batch of Salad Mix is almost ready to plant outside. Just gotta get it hardened off to the cold nights, bright sun, and hot days!

Before that Salad Mix can head out to harden off, all the perennials gotta get planted out to make room. The soil is almost ready, after a few days of sun and warmth this week, my clay-rich soil will be good to go!

The perennials that are already out there are quickly recovering from the cold of last week and greening back up. The Comfrey and Lupine will be some of the first flowers that the native Bumblebees will look for!

Nothin' to see here! just a bunch of wild hens enjoying their wild life where the wild things grow

Sometimes the hens get a little too wild and think they can come into the Dragon Dome where all the tender seedlings are growing big and healthy, but one look from me and they think otherwise!

The Ranunculus are soaked and planted. Once they sprout they get planted out into their beds! Again, I've got extra corms this year so look for some to be available in the online store next week

What's available this week?

• Veggies!
  • Microgreens
    • Mild Mix
    • Spicy Mix
  • Salad Mix

Where to find it all?

Find the Veggies & Flowers at the Amish Farm to Market Store in Libby!