From the voice of Brie Pointer:
We are starting this season slowly.
I keep calling it a ‘no-pressure year’. At first, I was trying to convince Mike and myself that I meant it for our vegetable production. I thought it would take some of the pressure off of him to do ALL the things (spoiler: it didn't work; in fact, it made him feel more pressure). This led to bigger conversations about capacity, about restarting, about what we want to make the farm and how we want it, not only to look, but to feel. It got us dreaming all over again and really diving into what sustainability long-term means to us. So I've since realized 'no pressure year' was meant for all of us, together. And it circles us back to our why.
When we first thought about starting a farm, our focus was on building something we could share with friends, family, community, but especially with our kids. We wanted a space where our kids could chase butterflies, study bees, run wild through the field, forage food, and just be themselves. We wanted to connect them with Mother Nature and our food system in a very direct and intentional way while building and feeding a community that holds those values too.
Throughout the seasons, we were met with so many incredible ups and so many devastating downs. In moments, it felt like a tsunami, and we were keeping our heads just above water. We tried to be as transparent as we could along the way, but when hit with the loss of not one parent, but two in less than two years while farming, running a design business, starting a farmers market, taking care of our kiddos, and finding time to eat in between was a lot (and that's only the cliff notes version). We had to take a pause. A moment to breathe, reflect. Regenerate the soil. Regenerate our souls.
We took 3 seasons to heal. We took 3 seasons to work with the soil, to regain our momentum, to find our footing, to reassess, reevaluate, to reflect.
And we are back.
We are back to ourselves. We are slowly figuring out the farm, reconnecting with the land, putting it all back together.
Our rest seasons gave us so much. We want to be here. We do want to grow food for our community. We want to create an impact. We want to do this with love and gratitude in our hearts. We want to eat, grow, and find joy in the farm. We want to connect with community, friends, family, our kiddos, and ourselves.
We are ready. We have been farming for the last 8 years, and yet, we're just getting started. A reminder that everyone's timeline is different and that some seeds have to be dormant in order to sprout; in order to flourish; in order to fruit.
I want to send a huge thank you to our community, to our neighbours, our friends, our family. Thank you for being here; for showing up, and for giving us time, space, and support throughout some of the most tumultuous times of my (our) lives.
A special shout-out to Daniel and Dennis Baer from Sunset Glen Farms (Home of Vibrant Farms):
Thank you for sitting with us through some of life's biggest droughts. Thank you for trusting us and giving us seasons to heal. I can't explain what that grace has meant to us, but I can assure you we'll show you in the food we grow and the community we'll continue to build. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Sending you all of our love.
Now let's get to growing!
Until next time,
xo Brie.
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