October 16, 2022

On October 8 we held our last Dine on the Land of the season. It was our 100th dining event in total since opening on June 15, 2015. That same week, we ended our 18-week farm box subscription program, which coincides with our Thursday Night Hangs. Thursdays grew this season. Each night we welcomed an average of 75 guests for dinner. My fave!

I'm so incredibly amazed and grateful that God provided the energy and joy to complete the season. The hard work began on November 19, 2021 when we stepped out of our comfort zone to fund raise in an effort to secure 50% of the purchase price for our new place. Closing on February 28, we began an intense 148 day rehab while securing permits and licenses in time to open for 100 guests and ABC News on June 25th.

From June through October we pulled off two weeklong kids camp sessions, 12 Dine on the Land events, 18 -Thursdays, pitched the glamp tent 12 times and tucked-in 34 guests into our farm-stay cottage. We grew vegetables at both Locavore locations, raised 1,600 chickens on pasture and collaborated with three other family farms in order to serve over 6,400 plates of food at our table.

Behind the scenes of all this busy, we moved our newly expanded family of six into a new home in an effort to meld the two additional lives with ours, giving and taking on all ends in order to become one unit. The hard work of putting aside comforts and expectations in order to live in a new reality and embrace it with joy and peace is the true good work of the season. I'm proud of my family - all of them - for wanting to do the right thing, desire joy for another and earnestly pursue love, letting go of hurts and hardships. Love covers a multitude of offenses (1 Peter 4:8).

We are not done either. We have several fall and holiday experiences scheduled for October, November and December. We have several projects slated for fall and winter, which will last through spring. We are not done growing either. God willing we'll be stepping on to more land and into projects in other areas of the country in order to create a change in the culture of agriculture and restore the connection of people one to another.

Sharing the numbers and providing a glimpse that there is more to come is not in order to brag and show-off anything that we've accomplished on our own. Our intention of sharing is to provide evidence that our hope, trust and help is in a God we don't see, yet has proven to be very present in our lives and faithful to complete what he's called us to do.

We will share more soon. We always do! Our hope is to first share in-person with those who gather around our farm this fall and holiday season.

Until next week,

Mrs. Farmer Jones

My reading for the week: 1 Peter 4: 8-11 ~ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Favorite pictures of the season so far taken by guests:

Please share your favorites too. Send to me.

FIRESIDE FRIDAYS

We spend the fall and winter months, admiring the farm from our indoor lounge through its large windows, overlooking the pastures. With its west facing view, every sunset is captured like a framed living picture on the wall. While we love the extravagance of growing and preparing food for 100 guests, our Fireside Fridays are created for a more intimate experience with our guests.

Guests make their reservation, pre-paying for their three courses. Seating is at our long communal tables for parties of two up to 25 guests. Directly outside the lounge, guests will enjoy a fire on the patio with blankets and a s’mores basket. This truly is a unique experience and can be coupled with a stay-over in our glamp tent or cozy farm cottage! Book now! Space is extremely limited for this experience.

Dates: October 21, 28; November 11, and December 9, and 1

$99 per person includes three courses, live music, bonfire & s'mores.

FRIENDSGIVING 2022

The turkeys are on pasture - they don't know why! We do. Returning for its seventh year, Friendsgiving on the Farm. We celebrate the closing of the season with an abundant feast in our barn. Enjoy the farm’s twist on Thanksgiving Dinner and participate in a gathering of grateful hearts and rich friendships. Participate in the lighting of Locavore’s Christmas Tree! Reserve your group or individual seating?

CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM

Christmas on the Farm is an incredible experience. Guests come for our favorite holiday bites, ordering off our menu and gathering in the barn or around the firepit. Stroll Locavore’s Estate and enjoy all the lights and holiday decor. This experience is perfect to share with out-of-town guests in for the holidays! Admission required. Food and drink a la carte.

Next Week: Look for information on physical gift certificates, holiday shopping, booking our cottage in the off-season, and help us plan 2023 by taking a brief survey.