Thank You!

Kaylee wanted to say thanks too.

As the season draws to a close, we wanted take a moment and thank everyone for helping make our second season a success. We are incredibly grateful for our regular customers who visited our farm stand nearly every week, as well as all of the new customers we gained this year. Not only are we thankful for your support, but we also enjoy chatting with you all whether it's about the latest recipe, tips for backyard gardening, or the Pittsburgh food and drink scene. We will miss these conversations over the winter, but keep keep in touch and we look forward to seeing you all next season.

There were plenty of highs and lows this year, with lots of experience gained and wisdom learned. The heavy rains in early spring led to a late start and the drought in July stumped our plans for winter squash, but the sunshine and mild temps in August and September kept us in tomatoes and peppers until the first frost in late October.

And we have big plans this upcoming year. We have applied for a $5,000 grant through Lundberg Family Farms to build a hoop house, which will allow us to extend our season. We find out in December so wish us luck! We will be doing a complete overhaul of our website, which we hope will become a great resource for recipes, farm news, and food system information. And on the home front, we will be finalizing our kitchen renovation, organizing our basement, and constructing a walk-in cooler. Oh and we'd like a little time to rest and rejuvenate too. We'll have time for all of this right? Especially with a increasingly mobile infant?

So thank you again for a great season. We look forward to an even better and bountiful 2012.

Veteran's Day 2011

Eighteen veterans commit suicide each day. We at Serenity Valley Farm strive to build a place where veterans can come and not only find employment but a new sense of purpose and camaraderie, one that builds, nurtures, and focuses on creative energy, instead of destructive energy.  Our overall mission in these early years is to establish systems, build infrastructure, and increase productivity to the point where we are able to reach out to returning veterans and offer them a place to come and heal.  We are incredibly grateful to our readers and customers who have supported us and our mission thus far.  Happy Veteran's Day.

Kristie and I the night I returned from my second tour in Iraq