Oh HAIL!

Farmer’s face many challenges. Drought, killing early or late unexpected freezes, critters stealing or stomping the crops, floods, and pests and diseases. It seems that something is always trying to kill our crops. Sometimes, all in one season! 

But probably one of our biggest fears, and most destructive challenges, comes by way of a pretty pink blob on the radar map, usually in the middle of warm weather. 

That pink blob, signifies a four letter word that sends a shiver up the spine of all farmers...  

HAIL 

Well one early afternoon the first week of June as I was looking at the radar to monitor the rain, one of those pink blobs appeared on the radar screen - and it was heading straight for the farm. 

There’s not a thing you can do either. 

 

Once I was able to assess the size of the hail, I reported it to Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground, or mPING. It started out as pea size but very quickly grew heavy and larger. It ended up as half-inch, jagged ice balls falling from the sky, at a rapid rate, pushed sideways by a strong, blustery wind. This was not good. At. All. 

I worried that the old windowpanes on this farmhouse would break. It sure sounded like they would any minute. The cats inside the house must have thought the sky was falling with all of the racket. I'm sure the barn cats were sound asleep somewhere. They're bothered by little. 

 

Badger, our trusty Farm dog, had taken cover in the barn, according to his GPS tracking collar. 

 

The horses, whom I had intentionally kept up front that day to help with the tall grass that the sheep were slacking on eating, were surely under trees or in the barn also. The chickens, well, they're chickens. Eventually, I'm sure they took cover. 

 

It came down heavy and hard and I can only imagine it would have hurt to be out in the open. Especially, a chicken. 

Heavy rains followed the hail storm. This along with lightening and thunder was a storm stronger than we'd had in quite some time. No sign of a tornado, thankfully. But this was no joke. 

 

It was finally clear enough for me to venture outside. I pulled on my galoshes and headed out back to check the damage that I knew had surely been done. 

 

Checking everyone along the way, the animals all seemed none the worse for where, thankfully. Looking up at me from their grazing as if nothing had happened. Horses and sheep are so resilient. 

 

The driveway was littered with bits and pieces of the post oaks and small to medium branches were scattered everywhere. I hadn't seen this many branches down since a tornado ripped through here in 2008. 

 

 

I made my way through the gate towards the road to the gardens only to find it flooded. That’s not uncommon after a heavy rain. But it really hadn't rained all that long, so I was a little surprised. 

 

By the time I made my way around the back of the pond, which sounded like a mini waterfall, I worried that my neighbors homes to the south had flooded, too. I hate to sound like a broken record, but had we received the zoning change, our engineer had been working on a solution to the flooding problem. But that's all water under the bridge now, I guess. Or water in living rooms. 

 

As I rounded the corner to view the gardens, I could tell there was devastation. 

 

Our 3 foot tall tomatoes - were laying flat. 

  

 

As I got closer I could see that many had  broken over the twine that had been supporting them. 

 

 

The beautiful summer squash we had been enjoying a bountiful harvest from, looked like someone had beat them with a rake.

 

The cucumbers seemed to have hidden behind the metal trellis and survived along with the long beans. 

 

The broccoli and cabbage, was on its side. 

 

I hoped by morning some of them would stand back upright. But it looked bad. 

I walked down to check on the poly house, our high tunnel. Thankfully, no rips or holes. Pock marks all along the poly roof, but it seemed to be intact. 

 

All I could do was take a few photos, some video for posterity, and go back inside. 

 

The rows still flooded, more rain coming, it felt like defeat. 

 

I reported our fate to the world via socials. It had been an isolated pocket of hail, so thankfully, most of my colleagues would be spared. 

 

Over the next several days in between yet MORE rain, I'd trim dead branches, re-string rows of tomato plants, and harvest what I could. 

 

The squash plants were a total loss and pulled out right away so as not to attract pests to a damaged plant. (Summer squash emit a type of chemical that attracts pests, and other cucurbit type plants (melons) as well as tomatoes are also on their menu. My colleague and friend Beverly, of Texas Tested Seeds & Plants, does an excellent job here explaining this.) 

 

The weeds of course grew inches overnight. So dragging the weed whacker out there on top of trimming and re-staking, etc., was in order. 

 

 

Then, a few days later, we got a whopping SIX inches+ of rain. I say plus, because the rain gauge over-flowed and my digital weather station has been on the fritz. (I need to put a new one on our wish list, but our signal repeaters only work with the one we have. And a new one is not in my limited budget right now.)

 

We'll hope the melons will re-bloom. The hail knocked off dozens of flowers and some small fruit, but the leaves had only minor damage and plants themselves looked ok. The tomatoes should recover, though our fruit will be late - and some of the tomatoes on the vine now are bruised.  

 

All of that rain needs to drain some more, so the roots can breathe, but I hope to be able to pull a decent summer crop out at some point for my CSA members. And I hope their continued support, loyalty and patience are matched by their ability to risk another season as our fall installment comes due July 1. We're on a skeleton CSA roster these days between me scaling down due to physical limitations, and the economy being tight, (not everyone can afford to share the risk with the farmer, because that's what CSA is.) The farmer doesn't get back their crops or all of those hours of back-breaking work that hail took out in less than 5 minutes. And the members may not get the harvest they hoped for. We live to plant again, and fight another day. 

 

I'm just not as young and strong as I was and most of the work is still done by hand. Yes, the place is still for sale. I'm working towards finding a group with like-minded goals that is mission-aligned to take over one day - so I can retire without the guilt and heartbreak of watching the place bull-dozed over and covered with concrete. Until then, a hard working volunteer has been coming as often as possible and helping coordinate other hands to help keep things growing. A temperamental rear hydraulic system on my John Deere gives me grief as I try to mow or disk, but it's still beats the walk behind tiller I can't start any more, or raking it all out manually like when I started this place back in 2008. It never occurred to me that one day I'd not be capable of doing some of this work. Not before I'd found someone to take over anyway. But I am still doing the best I can, and the food we do get, still tastes as good as ever. 

 

 

Meanwhile, I have say good-bye to one of my beautiful old oak trees. A victim to the constant heavy rains that softened the soil around the troubled root system, and part of the squirrels' above ground -highway system. 

 

Erosion over the years pushed soil up over parts of the surface roots and weakened things, and this last spring's heavy rains proved too much for the old leaning tree. I used to sit in a tree swing off one of those branches sometimes when I'd take a break. I love all of my trees. It'll be strange to look out there and see it missing. Thankfully, there are many others. 

 

The task of cutting it up started today. I'm grateful for the relationship built over the years with my local tree company. Aaron's has been here for me since 2008 - the last time I had major tree damage from that tornado I mentioned earlier. We've used the mulch they bring to mix with our horse barn stall waste for years. Makes the best compost! 

 

So, Life on the Farm goes on. It always seems to find a way.  

 

Do me a favor, next time you go to a farmer's market, or pick up a CSA share, or even buy produce from the supermarket, please remember that there are real people who grew that food for you. Many of them faced any one in a number of challenges to get it from their farm, to you. It's an honor to work the soil, but by golly, sometimes, it's just really hard. 

 

 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Farmer Marie 

 

 

Are we "there" yet?

 

 

As I sit here dreading the arrival of yet another Arctic front, I'm skimming through old photos and posts from past winters. We've had our share of freak snow storms, a few ice storms and some late frosts. But it seems these deep freezes that last days on end, are somewhat newer to the N. Texas climate. 

  

 

When we first started out, I ordered plugs for many of our crops. We didn't have a dedicated place in which to start seeds, and especially warm season crops, as they need a warm, sunny/well lit, place. I would "bump" those plugs up into bigger pots and let them root in well, before planting them out in the field - after the risk cold had passed us by. I couldn't risk planting them too early, because it takes another 4-6 weeks to grow out and get new ones if I lost them to a frost. 

Once we built a little make shift "seed house", I used to begin starting my spring seeds as early as the last weekend of January. I used to plan around the annual TOFGA conference so I'd not be gone when they needed to be watered and monitored. 

 

But as our seasons seem to drag on and become more erratic, I've stopped daring ma Nature to be "normal" and have just adjusted the varieties of vegetables I plant instead. I don't rush to start seeds in January any more. I've never planted onion slips before February. 

In order to help compensate for later planting, I choose more heat tolerant tomatoes for my main crop. I don't get in a rush to start peppers, as they require pretty warm bottom heat - consistently - to get a good germination. And they yield  heavier in shorter days anyway, so we consider them more of a late summer crop. 

Plus, my seed/germination house is outside, and it was getting pretty expensive to keep the bed warm enough to germinate them. So we have learned to stop competing with the weather and just work with it. 

Once this latest blast blows out of here, I'll transplant the brassica seedlings in the high tunnel and drop a lightweight cloth over them - to help keep out the nibbling critters. The lettuce, beets, arugula and carrots are already planted, some doing better than others. We'll also direct sow some radishes. The turnips are growing outside and probably loving the cold snap, honestly. Depending on how the tender greens did, we may need to re-seed those and the kale. We did cover some of the still yielding fall crops - we'll find out in a few days if they made it. 

 

Fava beans, peas, more lettuce, more broccoli and fennel, dill, parsley and other cool weather loving crops will grow much easier than trying to force tropical crops like tomatoes to grow when it's barely above freezing and soil is cold. One thing members of Eden's CSA learn is to eat in season. 

I get it, some farmers are trying to beat the guy down the highway at market. And I've been known  to put in a "risk crop" just to see if we can get lucky and a few weeks of early maters for our spring shares before the lion's share in early summer. But when I worked retail, I often re-sold tomato starts to customers who jumped the gun and ended up losing everything they'd planted. 

Farmer Bev's seed company will have us testing several varieties this year as well. It's always a mystery! One year, she brought out boxes and boxes of seeds and let me dig through them! Boy, THAT was fun! 

I do love the heirlooms, and I still have some favorites I save seeds and plant from. But I also like to have a nice and healthy yield for my members. Using hybrids that are bred to sustain heat, defy disease and pests, and yield higher - help assure success. Farmer Bev's seed company, Texas Tested Seed & Plants, carries some of the most reliable varieties I grow. She specializes in varieties that tolerate the high heat and humidity of the South.  

So, while some days it feels like I should be doing something more - I go back to my list, check off a few INside things and wait for a warmer sunny day to get to those outside projects. I've learned not to rush any more. Maybe I'm slowing down, or maybe I'm just learning to savor moments and go with the flow. 

 

Weeks of days of long hours will be here soon enough and I'll be wishing for a break. So, this weekend, I think I'll pop some corn, bake some kale chips, make a hot cocoa and find a movie or two to watch in between tossing out more hay for the sheep and horses, and making sure no one has knocked over their water buckets. 

Bundle up if you have to go outside this weekend. They're promising a cold one! And let's hope winter's grip loosens in February, instead of tightens. We can always hope. Spring's gotta come eventually! 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Farmer Marie  

 

PS, if you'd like to join our CSA, we do have room for 2026! Sign up for our info email and watch for the enrollment letter!  

 

Looking Ahead

Dear Farm Friends,

Just thought I'd pop in and give you all an update on the farm. Even though it feels like it's been drama, drama, and more drama, over the past 2 years, lately, it's just been back to farming, and I like the pace of that much better. While I can't control what Nature throws at me, at least I know it's nothing personal. 

 

We're harvesting a nice fall crop every week right now for our CSA members who are making all sorts of delicious meals with it. Soon, we'll be picking a nice little taste of what is normally winter crops, in that this year, I planted some broccoli and cauliflower outside this fall and it's doing well. Normally, I reserve those sometimes finicky crops for the high tunnel, especially cauliflower, where I can control things a little better. But they're both about to be ready to harvest - missing Thanksgiving by about a week - as they're just not full size yet. But we did harvest some green beans, greens, summer squash and fresh herbs.

We're looking for a few new members for the winter and into 2026. 

We're prepping the tunnel for winter shares now and with Tim's BCS the rows should be in great shape this year. I've already dropped our stall waste from the horse barn in there and run the disk over it - now it just needs to be tilled under, get the irrigation run in the rows and planted! 

I've got cauliflower and broccoli transplants started in our little seed house, and radishes, spinach, fennel, cilantro, lettuce, greens and more will all go under cover for our winter season. 

Meanwhile, the seed catalogs are trickling in for spring planting! Now, I'll be honest with you, I really thought I'd be retired by now, but I'm feeling much better about the workload these days with Maleke and Tim here more regularly. Sharing the heavier work with stronger and younger folks is very helpful. I appreciate them both more than I'm sure they realize. Even though my plans to put in an agri-village for folks hasn't worked out, my mission to keep growing good, clean healthy food - with integrity, lives on. 

The other good news is the young lady working with me here at the farm is working diligently to devise a way to turn the farm into a non-profit operation. She's a real go-getter, I tell ya. Bee keeper, grower, volunteer, Veteran, with doing service for others at the center of her heart - she's aspiring to do even more!

Nothing would make me happier than to turn the reins over to her with this vision.

It'd mean the agricultural aspect of the place would live on, the non-profit(s) that owned it would have permanent homes w/o fear of being booted out of their borrowed places, ever again, the community that rallied around the farm and WANTS it to stay a farm, would continue to be served by it, the environment would be spared as it wouldn't end up a giant parking lot or warehouses, and I'm sure services would be expanded.  

 

While I’ve done what I can to support our local food bank and SNAP recipients, a non-profit would have access to grants and resources that I don’t, enabling it to reach further and help more people in need. It could also provide the whole community with a much-desired return of the farmer's market, and perhaps even a pick your own section, a market store, coffee shop, or eatery— just a few possibilities, while continuing and expanding the CSA, and host more farm events again. I honestly see the potential for a well-rounded public-private operation here one day.

My fingers are crossed that a group can pull together, with the philanthropic resources needed, and pull off an even better version of what I envisioned. 

  

Until then, we grow!  

So if you're interested in helping support this "little farm that could", and has since 2008, join our CSA today! You can join for yourself, or, sponsor a family that struggles to afford access to fresh, locally grown farm food. Either gift a share to someone you know, or we'll work with someone we know here locally.

 Enjoy your Thanksgiving - be grateful for the farmers and workers who made it all possible - and  

 Eat Your Food - Naturally! 

 

Farmer Marie 

What's New on the Farm?

 

Just thought I'd send out an update on farm life since it's all been about the disappointment of the City's dismal failure to do what the community asked and approve our re-zoning. 

Life does go on, as it has to. 

While our CSA enrollment is way down this year, likely due to all of the drama and uncertainty on top of a less than stellar summer growing season, is my guess, I'm still growing food. I've got a lovely younger farmer here helping me now, as well,  she is growing her own crops for her own uses, as she learns working with me. I've been teaching her to drive the tractor, use drip tapes for irrigation and succession planting. 

It's what I envisioned to a large degree going forward. Passing on the knowledge and experiences I have been fortunate enough to acquire over my lifetime. We have some pretty fun conversations - she seems to laugh a lot - maybe I should look into stand up and simply describe various life events? 

I guess you could say my journey has been anything but ordinary. I mean I started out like any normal kid, I guess. Then, I moved pretty far from home, which was the first out of ordinary thing I did. But I was not in love with winter weather and I was ready to move to a warmer place. 

Down here, I ended up finding the cutest little "house in the woods" of south east Dallas, where I spent many years and held many different jobs. Eventually, I ended up here where I am now, and farming, and of course that's what the majority of our chats are about. 

How I never intended to become a farmer. That all was unplanned. But, as I've said many times, it's been the most gratifying "job" I've held. And if my school of hard knocks lessons can help someone else, it's worth all of the messes, cuts and bruises, miscalculations and mistakes. 

Buying this land was just meant to be an investment during a time when I was preparing for my eventual retirement.  I never dreamed how attached to the place I'd end up becoming. Nor, that I'd end up living here. But here we are! It's made for some interesting chats. 

So this week while planting and watering and weeding, among other things, we've been talking about how cool it would be if a non-profit organization could take over the place and create a permanent base for several local food-oriented groups. That would mean selling to them, instead of some commercial developer sure not to take as much care about the trees, the land and the natural environment. 

I hear all of the time about different groups that have to pull up stakes and move their operations - over and over again. It's not only expensive, but it's disheartening to watch all of the work put into a place left behind. Community gardens, the infrastructure that can't be moved, and all of the work put into the soil of growing and livestock operations. It's not at all like packing up some office into boxes. 

So how much better would it be for each of say, two or three groups to come together with their missions and divvy up the place - under one parent organization that could act as a sort of property manager for them? They'd have a board made up of some new people, some folks from each of the existing boards and hire an independent director. They'd each pay into the parent organization to fund the (part time, so it's not a drain on the funds), director - maybe a retired and experienced person. 

That would free up the individual directors to run their organizations and not worry about collecting rent from any vendors, paying property taxes and utility bills, etc. They'd handle capital improvements, too. Perimeter fencing, the bones of the farm house restoration like plumbing, windows, exterior, insulation. 

One group could then could finish out the inside and turn the old house into a market store/coffee shop and use it also to hold classes, feature local artists, artisanal foods, etc. Another group that focuses on livestock husbandry could use the vast pasture for small livestock/chickens - and, it would create an opportunity to launch a mobile "processing" facility, too. Small farms need access to small processors. And there's plenty of room for portable office space!

Of course agri-tourism would be a big part of the income - seasonal long table dinners, field trips - both for kids and adults.   Cooking classes, growing classes, and so much more. I used to do much of this when I started out - but you know, it's hard when you're also the only one to plan and execute it all - ON TOP of doing all of the growing. 

So, my advice came with a warning not try to do it all on one's own. I've been a serial entrepreneur I guess you could say, so it never really crossed my mind to become a non-profit. But I can now, looking back, see the benefits of spreading the work out over many people who have a vested interest. 

I've had lots of folks volunteer over the years, that's for sure. But most of the planning and coordinating was on my shoulders. I sometimes wonder how much more good Eden's could have done with a board and team behind it. Now it is time to pass on the baton and I'd love it if it was to someone who dared to see. 

In the mean time, we've planted transplants of collards, cauliflower, broccoli, even a late crop of summer squash, peppers, eggplant and a cucumber plant we hope to get some goodies off of before a hard freeze. We've seeded bush beans, arugula, lettuce, and peas. And our other remote farmer has been working on getting the high tunnel in shape for our winter growing. He's a much more experienced grower and pretty much just does his own thing, but we're glad to have him around when he's here - he uses his BCS to till up land for us when we need it and has been gracious with letting us use some of his supplies. He's like the Batman of small farming - he's got all the cool toys! 

I just popped about 20 eggs into the incubator after discovering a nest that would never have survived the small night time critters that frequent the place. My back yard is a highway for skunk, opossum and raccoons - and this little white hen was RIGHT in their path.  So, I'll help her out and see if we can't hatch them for her inside where it's a lot safer. 

We've got more starts in the little "seed-house" that'll be ready to transplant in a few weeks. I've got some garlic to order from @Texas Tested Seeds, and I got my onion slips pricing in this week, too. 

And then it won't be long before it's time to start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and artichokes.  The growing cycle continues whether the City Council lets us build starter homes or not. And we have spaces available in our CSA so if you've been thinking about how to help support this little local farm - sponsoring a local family or buying a CSA membership for yourself is a great way to start! 

Badger, our calendar dog, needs to get over his fear of loading up in the truck because he's due to go see the vet. And we have a couple of cats that are due for check ups as well. I wonder if my large animal vet who comes to treat the horses would do all of the animals at once? That would save a lot of anxiety on poor Badger. He wouldn't even climb up in the cab - for a piece of STEAK! 

He got to meet one of my friends the other day and was making silly faces when she was trying to take a selfie with him. He's like the Mrs. Kravitz of the farm you see - he's got to keep an eye on everything all of the time - so he wouldn't focus on the camera lens. hahaha But he's a keeper, just the same. 

So, that's just a little update on what's rattling around my head and been going on here at the farm.  I hope your getting your fall garden in, too. Growing your own is one way to help take the edge off the grocery bill and be assured of how your food is grown.  

 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Farmer Marie 

Fighting the Good Fight

Dear Friends of Eden's,

I sent out the following email to supporters on my Pioneer Grove mailing list, and to my CSA members last night. 

Dear Friends of Eden's,

 I want to thank each of you who stood beside me and supported the vision for Pioneer Grove. Your encouragement, contributions, and your belief in creating something lasting and good for our community means the world to me during this incredibly difficult situation.

 Despite the best efforts of a professional development team — including urban planners, engineers, architects, and marketing specialists — who presented an application for rezoning that met every requirement, as you know, the Balch Springs City Council voted against our request - at a meeting held without formally notifying us, the applicant.

 This was a project designed to bring much-needed City revenue, affordable single family starter housing, new small business opportunities, and preserve much of the green space and the farming tradition our neighbors have come to enjoy. Yet the Council, providing no tenable or legitimate justification, chose to block it.

 As the old saying goes: you really can’t fight City Hall - and win.

Many of you also know I pursued legal counsel after learning of the vote. My attorney, initially quite optimistic at our chances, (because the logic of the circumstances certainly spoke to our favor), in an effort to gain the best winning strategy, consulted with other lawyers more specialized in municipal and zoning law. The consensus was sobering: even though the Council clearly appeared to have acted in bad faith, never even formally notifying us of the last two meetings nor the outcome - It was suggested that the courts would be unlikely to intervene on our behalf.

 At best, a judge might be convinced to order a “do-over”. And that would likely only put us back before the same hostile council that sabotaged this project in the first place. Or, more likely, the case would be dragged out over several years - and many more thousands of dollars, with the City still likely to prevail. I cannot justify spending

other people's funds, in endless, costly battles against insincere bullies with political immunity, expecting a different outcome. I have, therefore directed my attorney to discontinue pursuing the case at this time.

 I’ll use the remaining funds to cover the cost of appealing the steeply rising property taxes recently levied on the farm. Commercially zoned property is not afforded the same exemptions and considerations as regular residential, and valuing old, aging barns at the unrealistic rates they have, is making the taxes ridiculous. This is an agricultural operation that doesn't even operate a commercial business out of those structures. So, the same attorney said he will work on getting the taxes adjusted more fairly. And thank you to those who have graciously instructed me to use your contributed funds "as needed". I assure you, they'll go to improve things while we're still here.

 Real Food, Grown with Integrity

While the property remains on the market for sale, the ground that has fed so many for nearly 20 years, can continue to do so until such time it sells and we are required to vacate. Not to create false hope, but once a hostile council majority is no longer in place, if the property has not received a viable offer, we could potentially look into the feasibility of re-applying - if my team is still up for it at that time.

 Working to extend the farming opportunity to other farmers was always part of the project's plan. To the extent that I can, I'll continue to work to make that happen. Farming skills transfer to wherever they're applied.

 So, as I am able, and for the foreseeable future, I will continue to grow food for Eden's CSA members, (yes, we can take on a few more members for the upcoming fall and winter season). Now with the help of other growers here regularly, this should be less strenuous on me physically. We do hope, also, to open Eden's farm stand in the future, making our farm's surplus produce available to our local community again.

 The Losses are Great

The Pioneer Grove project was about preserving green space, providing starter homes, supporting small businesses, and continuing the work of feeding and connecting our community to the land. I'm saddest for the countless future generations that may never know this place for its rich history and beauty.

 The project was not about a personal win for me, yet losing this fight is still hitting really hard — not just for me, as it would have provided me a secure retirement, but for the team who worked so diligently to bring my vision to fruition. All of you who shared this dream with me, please know we did our very best. Despite the false allegations of wrongdoing on my part by members of the Council, my team and I did things the right way — honestly, and with integrity — just like I grow the food here that has fed members of Balch Springs and the greater DFW area since 2008.

 We didn’t lose this because our application was flawed, or because of valid concerns about firetruck access — there is room — or hypothetical traffic jams. We have held public events here, including a certified farmers market, for over 10 years without any issues.

 Let's be clear, we lost because of politics, falsehoods and small-mindedness.

 That’s a bitter pill, but it doesn’t erase the value of what we tried to build or what we have done here for nearly 20 years. I've heard from many of you urging me to just do "what is best for me". While I appreciate the sentiment, that's hard to accept when I was trying so hard to do what could have served everyone, including me, but was kept from doing so for no good, valid reason. It just seems so senseless. I'm beyond frustrated - I'm furious.

 I will look for comfort in knowing that we stood on the right side of truth, honor, and possibilities - working to create a brighter more sustainable future for those who come after us.

 I hope those with the power of voting in this town will remember the actions of these "leaders" come election time. This was NOT the will of the majority of this community. We again thank former Mayor Dr. Carrie Gordon and sitting Councilman Vincent Gabriel for their positive support of the project. Thank you also to the Planning and Zoning Commissioners who, even though they may not have felt personally Pioneer Grove was their cup of tea, saw the vision and benefits for the greater good it would have brought.

 From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for believing in Pioneer Grove, in this farm and in me. Your strong support has reminded me that there are still people willing to fight for good things. And that matters to me more than I can express.

 With Gratitude,

Farmer Marie

Update on Fight for The Future of the Farm at Eden’s

Update on Fight for Pioneer Grove at Eden’s Garden CSA Farm

I have a bit of news to share. It’s been a minute, but there hasn’t been much to report—until now.

This week, the court granted us an extra 30 days, which our recently secured attorney—hired thanks to the generous support of folks like you who believe in our cause—will use to strengthen our case and ensure Pioneer Grove gets the fair consideration it deserves.

 This extension doesn’t mean the fight is over, not by a long shot, but it does mean we’re still in it—and that matters. I am no lawyer; all I did was secure a placeholder until I was able to find an attorney to take up our cause.

 

  

Your financial support has carried us this far, and we’re going to use every moment of this reprieve to push forward for a community vision that preserves green space and working farmland, creates starter homes real people can afford, and builds something future generations will be proud of.

On a hopeful note, I’m also meeting with a potential young farmer soon to explore ways to keep more of the land productive while we fight this battle—because no matter what, this land matters. Passing the torch to another generation of farmers, homeowners, and community members is what propelled this idea in the first place.

I still hope the City Council members that voted against it, come to realize that Pioneer Grove will benefit everyone in and around the city. This is not just for me to be able to retire - it’s a win for everyone around here. 

The obvious pettiness displayed by a few, needs to be put aside for the greater good. Regardless of what some Council members may think of me, working against the city’s interests because of a personal grudge is very short-sighted. 

I’m trying to do the right thing with this land, for this land - and the community that welcomed me and has supported this farm in many ways over the years. It would be nice to have a Council that recognizes that, instead of fights against me, for no good reason. 

If you’d like to help us maintain momentum, we don't know how long the fight will take, every bit of support matters and helps move the cause forward. Thank you for believing in this mission and standing with us when it counts the most.

Stay tuned—the next chapter in this fight is just beginning. In the meantime, fall is coming, and the farm will be busy as a bee with activity, planting the future cool-season harvest for our members. We hope to produce enough to set up a market-day stand—we shall see.

Marie
Eat Your Food—Naturally!