The Impact of Farmer's Markets

I want to take a moment and thank all of those who have come out to the Saluda & Columbus Markets. It has been an encouraging time of seeing others who are like minded and motivated to impact our food resilience. By putting in the effort to plant seeds, or hatch or birth and to nurture the young'uns until we harvest them, we provide the ability for people to buy locally which decreases our dependance on all things BIG, reduce the impact and pollution of long transportations and are silently building our local food infrastructure. Some may not realize the impact this has until convenient one-stop shop's prices rise or the infrastructure that we've become accustomed to fails.

I celebrate and encourage those that are vendors at these markets as well as the customers that visit these markets to first search out local sources. You won't find anything that is as freshly harvested, which could translate to nutrient dense, than what you can find locally. After all, as mentioned, it hasn't had to travel up to 2000 miles or more.

We've seen such an interest that we just ordered more (very hard to find) chickens to raise on pasture. We thought there may be an increase in what members want from us and we are happy to try and accomodate. Eggs being at the top of the list, we are still expecting to be able to offer more eggs mid June as our hens are nearing the stage when they can produce. I am thankful to have gotten this idea pre- bird flu. As we are members of APPPA (American Pastured Poultrt Producers Association), I've seen where many are experiencing difficulty in obtaining chickens. We have some stock of organically fed, pasture raised chickens available but they are moving fast! (Thank you!)

I will be putting out a blog this week to explain some of the ways that we are trying to be more sustainable in the area of "farm raised and sustained) poultry. You may like what you hear and it may surprise you what we've all become accustomed to consuming. Until then...

Thank you to all of our new members that see the vision, the "why" of what we do and how we have chosen to go about it (through private membership) in efforts to protect our freedoms to choose what we consume.

I would encourage those that may be interested in hearing another farmer's story to read this blog by Joel Salatin. https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/5/15/2025/why-we-need-food-emancipation-proclamation

Blessings,

Your local aspiring stewards,

Gordon & Elizabeth