Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, “The Truck Patch”. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
Now I'm Back! says farm member: Donate Today
|
Hi Reader! Enthusiastic excitement and gratitude! Farmer Reuben wants you to know that he is encouraged by the excitement for Willow Haven General Store. Overcoming obstacles will require overwhelming community support. We know that you have a strong desire to support a resilient local food economy and are seeking alternatives to conventional grocery options like Wal Mart, Aldi, and Whole Foods. But you might ask: Is it reasonable to expect that Willow Haven Farm will receive enough support to compete with existing food businesses in our area? Reuben conducted research into the food spending habits of households in Upper Macungie Township. The data revealed that the average household spends a substantial portion of their income on food annually. The Stats: The average Upper and Lower Macungie household spends between 9 and 11 percent of their income on food. Half of this money is spent eating out and half is spent buying food to prepare at home. The amount of money spent on eating out is $64 million . Another $64 million is spent on eating at home. Just in Upper and Lower Macungie townships. The Alternative: By redirecting even a modest percentage towards local, organic options, we can collectively make a profound difference. Would you spend 10% of your annual food budget to support local, organic food instead of shopping elsewhere? The Vision: If you share our vision for a healthier, more sustainable future, we invite you to join us as a farm member and local food investor. Your support, whether through donations or spreading the word avout the Willow Haven Farm General Store, will make a tangible impact. Together, let's create a thriving hub for local, organic food that reflects our shared values and commitment to a better tomorrow. Check out the Privileges & Perks that our Supportive Community "investors" receive.
As Always...We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and food on your table that supports that goal. We'll keep farming for you! Reuben and Tessa DeMaster P.S.Today is a great day to donate toward the cause of local organic food!
Thinking of unsubscribing? CSA members need to stay connected to our emails but you can limit them to just vital information about your membership by clicking here. |
Tessa DeMaster
Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, “The Truck Patch”. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.
Hi Reader, "I'm nervous about the flavor of kvass," confessed a friend. I totally understand her nerves! The flavor can be a bit different, but I described beet kvass as briny, earthy, and slightly fizzy with a touch of sweetness. If you've added any fermented foods to your diet, it's not that big of a leap to try kvass. Plus, what's not to love about a deep purple shot in your day? Get the Beet Kvass Recipe & More As I prepared my kvass today, I decide to enhance its already powerful...
Hi Reader, At a rainy event in New Tripoli, I met a man wearing a VegStock T-shirt who made a beeline for our organic farm food stand. Turns out, he’s a fellow foodie! VegStock is a BIG event that promotes plant-based eating, a growing trend these days. While I don’t believe in completely excluding animal products forever, I know that focusing on organic, plant-based meals can be a great way to heal the body. And guess what? You can reintroduce nutrient-dense animal products later, like Bone...
Hi Reader, What's the best travel food? Jerky, of course! Pioneers and American Indians used it and now its a manufactured convenience food with lots of plastic packaging and additives. I mentioned in our Farm Member Chat Group that I made Beef Jerky this week with our own ground beef. Calls for the recipe came quickly! Since we are traveling this weekend, I'm sharing the recipe and a list of our tried and true travel foods. Grass fed Ground Beef Jerky Recipe & More We Are Open at Willow...