For year’s like this one, trying to find the right introduction is difficult. Just seeing the year ‘2020’ is likely to trigger a mix of emotions. However, life has a beautiful way of balancing out in the end. With a thoughtful eye and warm heart, one can always find the good to balance out the challenging times. So to celebrate the goodness from 2020, we wanted to list our top 22 highlights.
- All crops were planted and harvested in 2020. In 2019, this was not the case due to extreme weather. Read ‘A Look Back at 2019’
- Ben and Archman drove to West Virginia to pick-up the antique John Deere Harvester 58 (1958) from our Aunt & Uncle so we could harvest buckwheat (two highlights here – getting the equipment transported in one piece, and harvesting buckwheat).
- Getting the stone mill up and running again. The farm is milling flour for farmer’s markets again for the first time since 2012. Click here for story.
- With the ‘Covid Eater’s Market,’ Janette sold out on organic beef early in the year with people filling their freezers, so Virginia and Ben did the markets solo focusing on honey, beans, grain, and flour.
- We had record sales of all products at the farmer’s markets (despite having fewer markets).
- We SOLD OUT of honey for the first time ever. See honey pages.
- Our first PREORDERS for honey have started coming in for 2021.
- Groundwork has been laid for expanding our apiary to two locations across the farm.
- We had our first direct sale to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Perkins’ Good Earth Farms – providing Perkins’ customers with freshly milled grains and beans.
- We also had our first direct sale to a business that makes tempeh in the Philadelphia area.
- What is tempeh, anyway?! We took an online fermentation workshop from Handcrafted Ferments by Norah to learn a delicious new way to prepare our soybeans, and were introduced to an entire new food community!
- Cake Dealer, Stephanie Komondy partnered with us at the Hastings Farmer’s Market to make amazing bakes with our whole grains and honeys. Read more here about Stephanie and her special recipes.
- Doing collaborations with Stephanie, Norah, and others led to broader audience engagement in-person and online. MORE FRIENDS!
- We hit our goals for posting new recipes and stories to the blog. Our goal was 24 posts, we exceeded that goal with 35!
- Online activity was something we gave more focus to this year. We made many new updates to the website and added new products. Check out our new Home Page Slider!!
- Ben was able to negotiate better shipping deals for online sales, and our online sales exceeded the previous year.
- Virginia up’d the social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, and we met so many new friends online from all over the world.
- Our first LIVE Videos from the farm and kitchen were shared online. Even Archie and Mattie got into it providing kitchen tutorials on how to make buckwheat pancakes and pear pie. Find more videos on our YouTube Channel.
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[/vc_column][/vc_row]- Our signature honey jar with the honey bee label was featured in the American Bee Journal, May Issue. Link to story.
- We were invited to provide a featured article on the Pollinator Partnership’s Blog about Bee Friendly Farming. ‘Finding Flavor and Diversity While Staying Close to Home.’
- Virginia was invited to participate on the Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Friendly Farming Task Force to work on policy to support pollinator conservation.
- Somehow, despite all the crazy, people found time to have interest in what we’re doing on and around the farm. For that, we are SO GRATEFUL to each and all of our customers and friends!
So, as we look back on 2020 for Firefly Fields – it’s clear to see there was plenty to be thankful for. Ben and I are excited to keep building on what we accomplished this past year, and are confident that 2021 will be extra sweet! Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed New Year!
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