FARM HAPPENINGS
Since 2019, Anna and I have been able to get away from the farm for a week in early October to celebrate her birthday. For a few years, we would go and visit other farmers around the country that we know of with interesting operations we wanted to check out. For the last couple of years we have been going to interesting places, like the rugged Teton mountains of Wyoming or red rock country of Sedona, Arizona. This year we are heading east to the coast of Maine, to hike and explore Acadia National Park. And we might grab a lobster dinner or two while we are out there.
Since 2019, Anna and I have been able to get away from the farm for a week in early October to celebrate her birthday. For a few years, we would go and visit other farmers around the country that we know of with interesting operations we wanted to check out. For the last couple of years we have been going to interesting places, like the rugged Teton mountains of Wyoming or red rock country of Sedona, Arizona. This year we are heading east to the coast of Maine, to hike and explore Acadia National Park. And we might grab a lobster dinner or two while we are out there.
We are only able to get away for that week because we have a great team back home that can take care of the farm, the animals, and of course our store customers in our absence. We probably don't appreciate their hard work and dedication enough! We tried to get everyone together back in May by luring them in with promise of food and BBQ, and were able to get this group picture above. As you can tell, Fabi and Sol were a little overdressed for the occasion, heading to their senior prom that evening. Both are off to college this fall in Iowa. At any one time we have about 15 employees to help keep the farm and store running smoothly.
FARM STORE UPDATE
We won't process any more chickens until mid-October, but we did get 300 cut into parts this past week, so Saturday around noon I should have those parts down into the Dundee store. This will include boneless/skinless breasts, bone-in thighs, wings, legs, and ground chicken.
Fresh local and organic produce in the store this week includes broccoli, pears, black plums, apples, red peppers, green/purple beans, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, cauliflower, and Butternut squash.
New items in the store include fermented garlic sauce from Pure Indian Foods, a restock of the Shilajit, and new liquid shilajit drops in honey for those who do not like the taste. Also a sleep CBD from Windy City Organics. And we have microgreens back in the store from Kaliedo Microgreens of nearby Kildeer. They are organically grown and currently available in a larger 3.5 oz package, with smaller sizes to come.
RESERVE SPACE FOR FALL FEST & FARM TOURS
Our annual fall festival is coming up in a few weeks, on Saturday, October 12th. Come join us for a a fun day at the farm, with hay rides, the taco truck, and farm tours running from 12 noon to 4 PM. Limited tickets available, reserve your space now. $30 for adults, $20 for kids 5 - 12, $15 for little tykes that don't eat much.
And every Saturday through Thanksgiving we will be running our guided hay wagon farm tour, visiting all the animals up close in their pasture settings. Buy your tickets online or in the farm store.
Have a great weekend. You probably won't hear from me next week while I am on vacation but look forward to seeing many of you at the Fall Fest the following week.
Cliff, Anna, and the Farm Team