As someone who has regularly handled the
food that others will eat for the past 13+ years, I didn't have to give it a lot of extra
thought about certain precautions that I'd need to take here at the
farm with the arrival of COVID-19. I probably wash my hands as much as a surgeon. And while I don't get sick very often, I've been known to call off a market or CSA distro if I am. I always want to promote a picture of health and wellness. It's only natural to me.
My main concern was making sure that
customers and any farm visitors were taking
precautions being around each other and the food that others might
take home.
So, here at Eden's, during our CSA pick
ups and during markets, you'll see some minor changes, or see some
things perhaps you never took note of before, but were always here
with your health and safety in mind. And if you see something you feel is not sanitary enough, please pull me aside and let's talk.
Market customers,
for instance, will see much of our produce already bagged up or
bundled and put into a container this year. You
will see more use of individual paper sacks to display things
like squash, cucumbers and melons, instead of just seeing a
bushel-basket full of items from which to pick through.
There's always been a sink with
soap and water – or a “wash station”, both inside the shop and
outside where we hold markets.
Visitors will be asked to stop
to use one or the other if they're going to be shopping and handling
common area items like gates or doors. Our market is usually set up
outside, so there are minimal common things to touch.
Additionally, there will be hand
sanitizer available on the market tables should someone forget and
need to scratch an itchy nose.
The restroom will be attended to more frequently and users will be asked to be tidy after themselves, as one always should be.
Should there be multiple people showing
up to shop all at once, we'll be limiting the number of people that
can be shopping to one family at a time to give everyone enough space to feel safe. There's plenty of room to
wander and admire or feed the chickens or take in other sights of the
farm while you wait. We have plenty of shade and are not located on
a hot, blacktop parking lot, so you should be comfortable.
Regular market and garden shop hours
are still in effect unless otherwise changed by local officials;
1st, 3rd and 5th
Saturday mornings from 9am – Noon.
4710 Pioneer Road,
Balch Springs 75180
Our CSA members will, in some
cases, have a share pre-packed and delivered. We're offering this
service to our “at-risk”, elderly or otherwise potentially
vulnerable members at no charge.
For a low cost, at home drops may be
available to other members, depending on location and schedule.
Market-style pick ups now include gloves for everyone who doesn't
have a pair of their own. We all want to keep each other as safe and
healthy as possible.
All in all, out on the farm is probably
one of the safest places to be, according to pretty much everything
I've read. Outside in the fresh air, with plenty of space to be
safely distanced from others, and the casual, uncrowded atmosphere of
Eden's market, is a natural antagonist to a virus that can jump from
person to person in a crowded store.
And perhaps more important than
anything else, please be sure to feed yourself and your loved ones
the healthiest, freshest and cleanest, Real Food, Grown with
Integrity that you can find.
We're right up the road, down on the
farm. I hope you'll come see us, soon. Thank you, and stay well!
Farmer Marie.