As many of you know my wife and I have known each other since we were kids. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last fall. We celebrated the birth of our first grandchild last spring. And as we reflect back on our wonderful life few things stand out as defining our lifestyle as clearly as our farm life.
Yes, I am still, after 34 years, a full time attorney blessed with a busy practice. But our connection with nature on our farm, our connection with the food we raise and eat and feed our family and friends has been a constant. So, more than two years ago now, Harriet and I began exploring a new path for our future.
We wanted to use our farm in a way that was more conducive to our philosophy. Sure, we'd raised tobacco, cattle, hay, corn, soybeans and other "cash crops" over the years, but those practices involved other farmers, tractors driving all around and the use of some chemicals and sprays that we didn't want but were told were necessary.
We always raised an organic garden for ourselves. Over the years we expanded it to include enough to preserve for the winter and to give away to family and friends.
Lately we began experimenting with curing hams, and sausage and bacon and doing things the "old fashioned way". Our food purchases at stores tended to be more and more "organic" produce, "organic" meat and artisan cheeses and other products from people who shared our way of thinking.
So we began looking at our farm as a place where we could have more control over what we raised and how we raised it. Two years ago we started our plans. Last year we traveled the nation looking for sources of non-GMO seeds, heirloom varieties of produce and studying methods of marketing them.
Since last fall we have been working our second full time jobs as farm planners with an eye toward launching a new venture this spring.
I will give great credit to James Comer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture as well as the Food Safety Branch of the Department of Health and Family Services. Their assistance has been invaluable and their dedication to "farm to table" wholesome food for the people of Kentucky deserving of praise.
So, with lots of resources and lots of study, thousands of miles of travel, hour upon hour of seminars and reading we have finally arrived at the point of making our announcement.
We are proud to be a brand new part of the entire community of farm to table producers, Farmer's Market owners, wholesome food vendors, "community supported agriculture" purveyors, roadside market operators and agri-tourism participants.
We welome the world to our little piece of heaven. Welcome to:
We invite you to visit our website: Steepleview Farm
We invite you to "like" us on our Facebook Page.
And of course we invite you to come and visit, shop at our market, or become one of our "Customized Customers".
Also we invite you to look for our brand "Steepleview Farm"
at your local Farmer's Markets as we join and travel and sell our wonderful production around the region.
We are happy to announce this new venture and look forward to serving you.
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