Our custom-built home Deane and I built with our own hands in 1990 in eastern Jefferson County, burned to the ground Halloween morning 2008, leaving only ashes of the sentimental items we had collected over 30 years and one our animals, Pepper. Although this was a shock, we know it could have been worse. Luckily, we had another property to go to, with a roof over our heads. But what was bad was that our income had dropped 90%. Deane was a licensed building contractor at the time, and myself, a real estate agent. What used to be a good combination in the same household became a bad combination income wise.
In November 2008, we began installing raised beds at our new residence and constructing our chicken coup and hog pens. We were determined we were going to eat, if nothing else. As the garden and the chickens grew, we began participating in local farmer's markets sponsored by FAMU's Small Farms Program.
One day at the market at Lake Ella, we met the lovely Dr. Jennifer Taylor, head of FAMU's Small Farms Program. Sometime later, Jennifer came to visit us at what we now affectionately refer to as our "Backyard Farm". Jennifer asked if we would mind holding a workshop on raised bed gardening utilizing organic methods. We were happy to oblige, and the rest as they say, is history. We now hold workshops at Backyard Farm on a regular basis. We do both internet and home consultations, garden planning, designs and layouts, assist farmers and ranchers switch from conventional methods to organic, conduct wild edible walks, construct elevated beds for people with physical limitations, give seminars and hold open forums, including monthly talks at New Leaf Market in Tallahassee. We sell our produce, free-range eggs, plants, and organic ocean minerals at local growers markets.
Something very good has come to us from something bad. There is nothing like going out to the garden and picking fresh, highly nutritious food for our next meal. Because of this, coupled with getting to meet so many wonderful people and talk to them about gardening, we truly feel blessed.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported our endeavors since we started our business. We encourage you to please support your local farmers. Our Philosophy and Practices Many years ago while visiting France, we asked a French stockbroker what he would advise us to invest in. His answer was, "a garden". At the time we looked at him as though he had two heads on his shoulders, but today we consider him to have been a prophet. Before we started our Backyard Farm, we noticed the prices of our food going up to previously unthinkable numbers, the food comes from thousands of miles away, not to mention all the chemicals and adulterations along the way. Today, we are firm supporters of communities thriving on locally grown produce, eggs, and so on. Sustainability is not just another buzzword. Chemicals are killing humans, the animals, the insects, and the environment everyday. We must return to cooperating with mother nature in order to return things to their natural balance and harmony.
Therefore, our pledge to you is that any product you purchase from us will always be as naturally grown as possible.
