Gratitude in Localism

 Around this time of year we all (ourselves included) begin to look back and all around us and wonder about all of the many things to be thankful for.  And rightfully so!  In our lives we look at our full walk-in cooler, our garage full of winter squash, and many freezers full of the 2023 local harvest!  For farmers it is especially strong a feeling as we put many hours of planning, starting seeds, and hoeing, long before the harvest.  What we put into the process is trust and faith that if we put in the work like we have done so many times before there will be at least something to harvest at the end.  Thank God and for around 15 years in a row we have been able to go into the winter absolutely bursting at the seams with food and ready to SHARE!

Most of the vegetables and berries we grow at our farm, but the beef and pork are locally sourced.  The other produce that we source locally is a wonderful feeling for us.  We know that we can have access to many different food items than we grow or extra of what we do grow and need more of!  This is a tremendous relief to us and our personal commitment to only eat chemical free and fresh food.  Local food is the freshest food you can eat, and this helps us to feel our best!

Speaking of feeling our best, we are so thankful for our general good health!  Running a farm and cafe requires us to keep our immune systems running as well as we possibly can, for our own safety and for the safety of our guests.  We take this very seriously and we know that what we eat has the biggest impact on how we feel.  When we need to call in the reserves we have our teas, tinctures and ferments to help us fight the invaders.  We are so very thankful for our health and to know we have control over our own health!  We also have a team big enough to absorb the sickness in the ranks without shutting down the whole operation.

And of course, we are so very thankful for our workers!  Mark Ryan and Evan Pulaski live above the cafe and essentially run the cafe.  They have become brothers in the process and have both said they have no intentions of leaving in the near future.  Essentially, they can both do most tasks on the farm and at the cafe and have learned to do so in less than a year.  Super clutch right there and what a huge win for Fresh To Morrow!  Some of our other part time workers from the community have been super clutch for us, Rodney and Michelle to name a couple more.

Last but not least, we are thankful for you and for the rest of our customers!  Yes we need money to stay in business and continue to do God's good work, but what we seek most are friendships and getting to know our neighbors!  Regular customers that update us on their lives and who know about the happenings on the farm, this is the best part of what we do!  Thank you for being in our lives and for continuing to keep us in yours.  And remember, community is what YOU make of it!  YOU are the most important piece of your community puzzle.  Mother Earth News just used AI to create a picture of essentially a sustainable community.  Check it!

Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays to you and yours.

With love and gratitude,

Farmer Ryan