My Abominable Snowman

While I was snug in our house, appreciative that the woodstove was able to maintain a 50-60 degree difference between the outside and inside temps, and I only had to run out once in a while with the kids to get more wood, my dear husband of course went out to milk and finish evening chores, so he could sleep a few hours before getting back up to do morning chores, prior to beginning his real day :-)

Lucky for us he’s crazy enough to have chosen this life, as I realize we probably use an abnormal amount of milk alone, for daily drinking and baking, or making other staples such as yogurt, cheese and butter. And what between the flour, meats, eggs, and produce, a doctor once looked oddly at me and said, “You do realize you eat like kings?”

And that was what ran thru my head as he came back into the mudroom in a rush, resembling an abominable snowman, with the most darling ice crystals formed in thick, intricate patterns along his eyebrows and eyelashes, as that little strip of his eyes was the only part of his person not completely covered and unrecognizable.

We disagree so seldom, yet I’m sure had I been able to see more of his face that he didn’t quite appreciate how wonderfully adorable he looked to me at that moment. How can your hot chocolate NOT taste better when you know what kind of work you, a loved one, or a neighborhood farmer put into producing it for you?

Ah the noble farming profession – that’s sometimes easy to question when it’s below zero with a vicious wind chill, and you must go out multiple times a day, whether to care for your livestock, repair damage to shelters and buildings, or protect with an extra layer of plastic the seedlings and young plants in your greenhouse that your customers are expectantly awaiting.

Keeping animals fed, watered, and as comfortable as possible, taking a heater to the milker so it doesn’t freeze up, gathering the eggs more often than normal so they don’t freeze and crack… there are weather disadvantages to farming all throughout the year, but a fun winter such as this may take the cake – and here we prayed for the ground to freeze so we could have a respite from the mud and haul manure! There are only so many layers one can dress in!! What a give and take ;-)

How many of our neighbors have committed themselves to the same? And how fortunate are we to be surrounded by folks with that crazy farming addiction who are wanting and willing to produce our food?

We all probably know people who, like my former middle and high school students in Huber and Dayton, had no idea the cellophane-wrapped ground hamburger packaged in the grocery store actually came from a bovine creature. And one particularly darling, unforgettable 8th grader, upon learning such an astounding fact, declared, “But that’s how I know I’m smarter than you, Mrs. Ruff! You’re a farmer – you’re no better than the hunters and gatherers. I know I can just go to Kroger!” At that moment I promised myself my own future children would never suffer from such a disconnect.

I think of one of our newer customers who came by the farm last week, and as he was leaving with his goods, stopped to thank us, that "During Christmas Day dinner I told my wife, ‘Can you believe Lee is probably doing chores right now?’ I never thought about my food before.” Or at our little sorghum-making demonstration on our farm, hearing one of our long-time CSA customers tell a group of ladies, “I know it’s great – it’s MY farm!”

Having a relationship with your customers is such a big part of the “fun”. Yes we’d do it for ourselves – but being able to share what we love and value with others, and having them understand and appreciate what goes into the food we offer them, makes this life so much sweeter.

That’s what I couldn’t help thinking when I helped my husband into our cozy house,
frozen stiff – and happy.

Benefit for Violet TOMORROW!

The list of auction items is incredible – check out the Facebook page @VioletBensman for more info!

Long-time Market supporter Katie Bensman was known to most of you as popular vendor Mother Suds Soap Company until last summer when she walked away from the business to focus on her and husband Matt’s growing family of three beautiful, spunky girls.

The family’s lives were forever changed last October when eldest daughter, 5 year old Violet, was diagnosed with High-Grade Astrocytoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

As you can read on the flyer posted on our Facebook page, and for those of you privileged to know this lovely family, Violet is a fighter with a vivacious spirit!

Their families have put together a Benefit Dance and Auction for Friday, February 1st, where all proceeds will go to help Violet and her family in their on-going journey with cancer.

Located at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Versailles, Ohio, the event schedule is as follows:

7:00pm – Doors Open

7:30pm – Opening Prayer for Violet

8:00pm – Live Music by the Demange Brothers

9:30pm – Live Auction begins (large items)

10:30pm – Silent Auction closes

11:00pm – Silent Auction winners announced

11:30pm – 50/50 cash drawing (need not be present to win)

With appetizers and a cash bar, the night’s Live Auction items include a 5 night trip to Myrtle Beach, 1/2 of a Beef, and much more.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, please contact Elly Puthoff (419)733-5501 or Connie Brunswick (937)623-3865.

We are OPEN with New Winners!!

It’s going to be another comfort food kind of week – Brrr!

Whether it’s a big pot of Beef and Noodles, soothing herbal tea, or an easy Chicken crock pot dinner, we’ve got you covered!

All those tender greens are just sleeping, awaiting a bit of warmer weather so we’re brave enough to harvest without damaging the plants – or our stress levels!! ;-)

Garlic, a Goodbye, and a Giveaway!

The same breads you loved at the Night Market in December, to compliment our Organic baker, 6635 StudeBaker, and fill a void left by Jeanne’s Kitchen when she retired last year!! Plus they have additional Garlic, Honey, and handcrafted soaps on the Market!!

Ok, so expecting her 2nd child in February may be a good reason for leaving us, but we sure hate to see her and her goodies go ;-)

Where are the Greens?!

I promise to send an email as soon as I know any Greens are available again!

By the weekend we may know what is possible to cut safely, but with a good Ohio winter upon us, a week out is too unpredictable for vendors to confidently make any quantity available!

Thanks for your patience and understanding of just how dependent many of us are with that most uncontrollable factor… Weather! What a fun, thrilling way to make a living!!! ;-)

Honey! Back on the Market!!

This week we introduce just the first of many products from our newest vendor, the Grumpy Goat Experiment in New Bremen!

The honey is just a taste of what this diverse, hard-working farm has to offer! With seasonal produce, wool and yarn from their sheep and goats, and the breads you loved at the last Night Market this past December, we love their enthusiasm in joining our ever-changing Market family!

It is SO exciting to be able to offer raw Honey back on the Market… Troy’s own beloved Pumpkin Patch, who always offer their incredible varietal honeys with us and the Miami County Farmer’s Market in the summer at Lowe’s, is just too popular as they’ve been sold out for so long!

Happy Shopping, and THANK YOU for your continued support of our all-local Market!

We're Open!!

Short and sweet tonight – hope everyone made it home safely!! Travel carefully everyone :-)

Benefit Dance and Auction for Violet Bensman

Long-time Market supporter Katie Bensman was known to most of you as popular vendor Mother Suds Soap Company until last summer when she walked away from the business to focus on her and husband Matt’s growing family of three beautiful, spunky girls.

The family’s lives were forever changed last October when eldest daughter, 5 year old Violet, was diagnosed with High-Grade Astrocytoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

As you can read on the flyer posted on our Facebook page, and for those of you privileged to know this lovely family, Violet is a fighter with a vivacious spirit!

Their families have put together a Benefit Dance and Auction for Friday, February 1st, where all proceeds will go to help Violet and her family in their on-going journey with cancer.

Located at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Versailles, Ohio, the event schedule is as follows:

7:00pm – Doors Open

7:30pm – Opening Prayer for Violet

8:00pm – Live Music by the Demange Brothers

9:30pm – Live Auction begins (large items)

10:30pm – Silent Auction closes

11:00pm – Silent Auction winners announced

11:30pm – 50/50 cash drawing (need not be present to win)

With appetizers and a cash bar, the night’s Live Auction items include a 5 night trip to Myrtle Beach, 1/2 of a Beef, and much more.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, please contact Elly Puthoff (419)733-5501 or Connie Brunswick (937)623-3865.

A good example of Hope

Pouring over seed catalogs while winter rages – now that’s thrilling! New varieties, ideas, and plenty of potential for a prosperous upcoming season!

Is there something you’d like to see on the Market? It’s planning time, and we want your input!

Send an email to miamicountylocallygrown@gmail.com, or Reply to this Weblog email, and let us know!

And don’t leave your items in your Shopping Cart – finish that one last step when you’re Checking Out! Make sure you submit that order! ;-)

We’re open til 8pm tonight!!

Get your Bagels and Pizza Crust while you can!

She’s currently 6 weeks from her due date, and expecting Baby #2!

Thankfully she packages the pizza crusts in convenient freezer bags, so they’re perfect to stocking up!!

And her bagels also work in the freezer as well, if you put them in a freezer bag first ;-)