The colors are vibrant, the leaves are falling, and it’s my favorite time of the year! I picked up seven bushels of apples yesterday for baking, selling, and making apple butter/jam. It’s so nice to know the time to slow down is coming up, and those of us who have seasonal businesses will get to recharge our batteries soon. (well, maybe not until after Christmas)
Business has been incredible this year! Last year was my best in 6 seasons, and this year my sales are more than 3 times last year’s sales! The hard part is that I’m limited in working out of my home kitchen to how much I can sell, so I’ve got to start thinking about whether or not I find a retail space – either build one on my property if I can get it approved, or find a space to rent – which isn’t something I really want to do. In the meantime, I’m doing research to figure out how to operate for next year.
I’ll be open the remaining weekends in October, provided the sales are there to justify being open. After that, I’ll be preparing to make Thanksgiving dessert/breakfast time easier for my customers by having a 4 day open house right before Thanksgiving, featuring pre-baked goods (cakes, pies, coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls, bread, rolls, etc.) and take and bake goods (pies, maybe cinnamon rolls). I’ll have my order form updated and published here and at my farm stand this weekend.
I’m reflecting on how I started and the farm and heirloom vegetables were the focus, and how I’ve gravitated towards baking as a way to get money coming in earlier in the season. What an interesting metamorphosis it’s been. Without someone else to help in the garden, I’ve been limited to tomatoes, flowers, and a few other veggies. When Facebook memories pop up during the summer, I’m reminded about how much my Mom did in the garden and what wonderful harvests we had. Hopefully she’ll be able to make it out next summer for a few weeks and her gardening juju will bring another decent harvest of variety! (don’t worry, Mother, I won’t expect you to manage the garden)
The chickens are laying very few eggs and have switched over to freeloader mode. We have about 45 chickens (we’re actually not sure how many we have now), and yesterday I only got 8 eggs. SO, eggs at the farm stand will be sporadic at best. If you need eggs, please text me and get on the egg list so that I can get you some eggs. (248-342-6200)
It’s staying dark longer in the morning, getting dark earlier, and soon the white stuff will be falling. I’m looking for work and trying to figure out what all I can do to prepare for next season (sewing lavender sachets, throw quilts, etc.). Hoping to be able to get back into sewing this winter, it’s a hobby I love and haven’t had time to do for a while.
My ramblings are over; so many things swirling around in my melon about how to keep my customers coming in the off season, looking for new recipes to mix things up, and grateful for this past season and all the new, local customers! Have a great week everyone!! Andria
Red Gate Farm 