Life is not a straight path from birth to death. Along the way there are many twists and turns, divergent paths and retracing of steps. As is the case for many people these days, our journey has taken a new direction.
For over a decade, John and I have been raising sheep and goats for their fiber. In 2009 we decided to expand our operations into produce for market, but soon found ourselves trying to grow things we thought the public would want. In doing so, we weren't true to ourselves or our farm. Too many of those things didn't grow well here, they needed consistent rainfall, different soils, and more intensive management - not an easy task when we also have full time jobs. By not growing what we are familiar with, many times we had to waste food we didn't know how to prepare, and we never had enough of what we did like. That didn't sit too well with me. Add in the stresses of livestock management, and it just became too much to handle.
It was time to start working smarter and not harder! With that epiphany, our focus has changed and we officially closed the old farm business. Now we will be farming always with the our TABLE in mind. The only livestock we now manage are chickens and honeybees. The flocks free range which is much easier to manage and healthier for the birds. We selected heritage dual purpose chickens over commercial type layers and broilers. These breeds were developed with independent homesteads in mind and can forage for themselves through pasture or woodland instead of parking in front of a feeder.
To expand our foodie knowledge in new directions, we have been sharpening our skills through cooking classes at the University of Richmond, School of Continuing Education's Culinary Arts program. We have have learned to prepare a wide variety of familiar as well as new foods with, taste, nutrition and safety always in mind.
With this re-birth, we needed a new farm name -- Girandole Farm.
The antique's aficionados will recognize the Girandole as a type of candelabra. What better to describe our new focus than to name our farm after the illuminating object with many branhes that lights the buffet table?
This blog will not only contain information on Girandole Farm, but the things we are learning along the way, both for gardening and the gourmet, so here is ....
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nel settore del giardinaggio, cucina e essere felice! (To gardening, cooking and being happy!)
