Firefly Fields 2021: A Year in Review

A New Year is Here! But first, A Year in Review from Firefly Fields.

To have an idea of where we’re going, it helps to know where we are now in light of where we’ve come from this past year. While it seems almost impossible to think a year could be more action-packed for Firefly than 2021, my newfound wisdom revealed while turning 40 a few weeks ago makes me laugh at that idea… With my conscious saying, ‘You thought 2021 was loaded, you haven’t seen 2022 yet!’ And, with a RECORD order coming in just last night on January 1 that includes nearly 30 honey samplers and a special request to ship to England, my conscious is probably right. How fun and crazy to be in this moment?!

Around here, forget the ‘glass half full,’ we’re a glass that flows over type of people – farming requires that level optimism. Quickly you know your place in the universe, as your life is defined by a constant, steady flow of responses to whatever nature brings (e.g. drought, disease, hail, flooding, etc.). Choosing to face this day in and day out, while carrying a hopeful heart for the next year’s crop requires a certain level of mindset and insanity.  If we were a subspecies of human, we’d be called Rabid optimist optimist. Thus, narrowing the list of Highlights for 2021 was no easy task. Yet, I approach this review with gusto – honored to have this assignment!

With all the year’s ups and downs, 2021 has been a game changing year for us. Before I speak to any of the highlights, I send my family’s heart out to each and everyone of you as we know and feel the accumulated struggles of this pandemic. In all the ways, 2021 brought more weight and heaviness to everyday life that’s hard to deny or tuck away. I want to share how grateful we are that my father, Archie Jennings (aka ‘Archman’), is here with us today. Back in November, right in the middle of harvest, he caught a severe case of Covid. To be completely transparent, we were not sure he was going to make it to Thanksgiving. Thanks to the amazing support of life saving caregivers, family, and friends, he’s recovering now. We get to argue, laugh, and hug on him some more, but we know that has not been the case for so many.

As I write these highlights and walk into this New Year, everything shines in the light of the life and resources that we are so honored to care for – the plants, animals, land, and each other. With this in our heart, I share with you our family farm highlights.

Big Things for Firefly Fields in 2021

• Papa Archman survived Covid, and we’re lucky he’s here. A Farmer and Doer in His Own Words
• We marked our THIRD YEAR since launching the Firefly Fields website to sell directly from our farm to eaters (almost 43 years since the Jennings Family Farm was established), See our timeline and story.

• We partnered with Fermentation Educator, Norah Ylang, to grow awareness of organic soybeans and how to ferment soybeans into tempeh at home. Norah’s Tempeh Recipe was the MOST VIEWED RECIPE of the Year! Tempeh Recipe.
• Launched our ‘Farm Letters’ communication, monthly newsletter. SIGNUP HERE, if you want to be included.
• Mama Mattie’s story, The Women Behind the Farm Curtain took TOP SPOT for the MOST READ BLOG of the year – her story is inspirational. Read it.

• Sold our FIRST HONEY PRE-ORDERS after selling out of honey in 2020. We had no idea this would be so popular! ‘Thank you!’ to all who participated in this experiment. I hope to collect feedback from you soon!
• Expanded the number of beehives we care for on the farm and tripled honey production. We wrote a little recap, Sweet September Honey Harvest.
• Virginia worked with developers at Purdue University on an online Beekeeping 101 Course, and shot an Honey Tasting Video (YouTube). If you’re curious about how to taste honey, here’s a quick tutorial: How to Taste Honey: The Five S’s

• Ben and Virginia attended a full market season for the first time since the pandemic at Meridian Township and Texas Township Farmer’s Markets.
• The Queen Bee’s Stash, Mini Honey Sampler (6 oz) was our TOP SELLER this year. Link to product.
• Virginia turned 40, and almost accomplished her goal of becoming a more competent Sourdough Baker! Meet Virginia.
• Firefly recorded a RECORD YEAR in market and online sales that we hope to invest toward farm infrastructure in 2022.
• Interest in the direct line of food from our family farm to the eater is growing (see image below from website analytics)!!

Looking Ahead: Goals & Projects for 2022

Many of you closely following along, know that Virginia and Ben have been splitting time between the farm in Michigan and their full-time jobs in Indiana over the last five years. We do not want to count the number of miles or hours spent commuting from April through November. However, we are SO THRILLED to share that as of 2022, Ben and Virginia will be full-fledge Michiganders. For now, we will maintain our job commitments in Indiana working mostly remote, but able to give even more time, effort, and attention to the farm as we continue to grow and learn. Now that we have arrived, there’s so much potential and planning ahead!

Wishing you all the Brightest, Healthiest, and Happiest New Year Ahead!