Looking out the window of our family farm, you’ll see a sprawling garden, fruit trees, laying hens, pastured poultry, and a woods full of forage foods. To the trained eye, it’s not just a view, but calories and sustenance. Quite a change from the pavement and rows of crops that defined small-town life.
Growing up as the oldest of four girls in Allison, packaged food and soda were the norm for me. My parents worked hard, but opportunities and food options in our small town were limited. Despite their love and efforts, we struggled to make ends meet.
I specialized in both trouble-making and playing sports. While I dabbled in 4-H Club and worked at the local grocery store, I remained disconnected from the source of my food. I simply didn’t care much, as long as there was something to eat. I remember the uncertainty of school lunches, sometimes going without because our account wasn’t in good standing. (I still remember that loud, embarrassing, rejection sound when you scanned a lunch card without fund available!)
So how did that hungry girl become someone who now grows much of her own food for her family? It’s a journey, and I certainly didn’t do it alone.
Charles and I were friends in high school, but it was during our college years that we reconnected and began dating. Cooking together became more than just a hobby; it became a shared passion that transformed our lives—physically and mentally. Our interest in food sourcing intensified after our move to Indianapolis. With stable jobs, we finally found the peace of mind we needed, knowing exactly where our next meal would come from.
As we prepared for our upcoming wedding, we embarked on a health journey—exercising, meticulously monitoring our macros and micros, and cooking everything from scratch. It was during this time that we discovered the superior taste and nutritional richness of locally grown food (these things often go hand-in-hand). Inspired, we joined a local CSA, started our own garden, and delved into literature on regenerative and sustainable food and farming practices.
We had plenty of help from friends and family, too. Charles’ mom, Susan, was a botany expert and stoked our fires as we began gardening. She was our biggest fan and a wealth of knowledge. Charles’ sisters, gifted home chefs themselves, gave us a couple of cookbooks that really got into nailing down various kitchen techniques. But just when we thought we had it all figured out, we were slammed with a few really awful years.
Susan, Charles’ mother, lost her battle with cancer just 8 days before our wedding. The following year, our first child arrived suffered a brain injury during birth resulting in Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. A few years later, Charles was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and I suffered two small strokes after an accident.
This series of hardships could have broken us. It almost did. Instead, we decided to fight for our lives. When we returned to Iowa, we bought a small acreage and decided to apply everything we had learned. We grew many of our own vegetables, started a layer flock, pastured our own poultry, and began to heal. We got involved in the local food scene, sourcing high-quality everything that we didn’t grow ourselves. We re-devoted ourselves to nourishment through cooking and eating. In 2020, we decided it was time to begin sharing our bounty with our local community.
By supporting us, you’re enabling a mother to be present for her family’s important moments and respond to emergencies. You’re providing the flexibility to attend doctor’s appointments, trips to the library, and cherish moments with little ones. Ultimately, your support allows us to nourish and care for our family and yours with the highest quality food, fostering both physical and emotional well-being.
