MISC MARKET NOTES

At some point in life we become more conscious of making and cherishing good memories. One of my best recent memories was laughing and crying till it hurt while my son shared YouTube videos with me.

So what’s that got to do with the Market?

Well, the videos were basically about us. He had found a channel that involved pretty much everything we’re about:

Sustainability
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Natural Healing
Organic and sustainable foods
Avoiding Toxins
Etc.

And . . . it was pure satire. So much straight faced satire that if you didn’t realize it was satire it could be really REALLY offensive.
So today I want to introduce you to ReallyVeryCrunchy. For me this channel was a refreshing opportunity to laugh at myself without compromising any principals. In fact I doubled down on learning to make sourdough after seeing it (see photo below if you don’t believe me – it came out of the oven last night.)

This video about selling GIRL SCOUT COOKIES is a great place to start.

My personal favorite is the VALENTINE’S DAY short video.

Grier Acres: Hi everyone Harry and Jeannie are overwhelmed as usual but HAPPY.  We purchased a 100% Kiko goat herd from a rancher in Albany Ga who was retiring.  1 buck and 13 does.  That brought our herd up to 23.  Our original plan was to only breed one of the does that was old enough and let the 12 doelings get to 1+ year of age.  All 13 arrived on our farm on September 16, 2023.  Goats have a gestation period of 150 days +- 5 days.  Well 150 days from September 16, 2023 is February 13, 2024.

February 12 we had twin doelings delivered, and February 13, we had a single buckling born.  Who’s the baby daddy?  Is he the buck that arrived with the does or is the baby daddy another buck that was still in Albany?  DNA tests will tell.  (yes with a 100% New Zealand Kiko registered herd, we get DNA tests.)  At any rate, the twin doelings, Speckles and Ames are both healthy and doing well.  They are smart and intuitive.  Blue, the buckling, is rock solid and growing at .55# per day.  He can keep up with his mother anywhere she goes.  We’re excited to have him on the farm regardless of who “da baby daddy is”.   (inset photos here)

Males are always so PRETTY and Blue is no exception.  Goats are doing extremely well and we are so relieved this particular kidding is over.  However, lots more kidding coming.  LOL.  
Garden:  We’ve been collecting natural fertilizer throughout the fall and winter.  What can’t be used in our own garden will be made available for sale.  Jeannie has plenty of poop from both chickens and goats.  The chicken poop is not hot as it’s been aged for quite a while.  Let us know if you need any poop for your compost.  Harry has told Jeannie the poop is not valuable to others.  So….if you want to help Jeannie prove Harry wrong ring us up.  Tell your friends.  Lol.  

Also if anyone needs mullen let us know.  We have several spots on the farm where it naturally grows.  

Jeannie’s nursing home resident chickens are laying (a little).  She has 10 hens and 3 have finally begun laying.  We aren’t holding out for the other seven, hence the term nursing home chickens.  Sigh….

Cold weather means wood for the fireplace.  Harry is earning his keep by keeping the fat lighter split to help start the fireplace.  If you are needing some fat lighter, we will be doing table sale bundles in Dothan when you pick up your weekly purchases.  Please feel free to forward anyone to the market who might benefit from this wonderful smelling starting wood.  

Avalon Farms:

So excited and a little anxious! I’ve never grown strawberries before. Silly me, didn’t realize they bear so early. They should be ready by the end of March. (Maybe sooner! I’m watching them closely.) They’ll be available in the market ASAP.

Thankfully these were planted back in October. (Before the leg issues.) It is nice to spread the farm labor out.

THIS & THAT

The state recently reported that our state grocery tax will NOT go down another 1% this year but will remain at the 1% reduction we received in 2023. This is because the reduction is tied to the state Education Trust Fund (EFT) which did not meet projected growth. For more information you may read THIS ARTICLE from 1819 News.

We look forward to seeing you next Friday at one of our pickup locations. Thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!