Wonder what makes us women farmers tick?

Did you notice we were in the paper again last week?

First in the Port of Port Townsend quarterly Port Report, and now in the Spring edition of the Port Townsend Food Co-op’s Around The Table.

They say everything comes in 3s…I wonder what’s next? 🤔 LOL.

Anyway, I’m not pointing out the Co-op article just because I’m in it (actually, I had to get over that part to send this to you).

The Co-op’s publication celebrates The International Year Of The Woman Farmer, and features short interviews with over a dozen local farmers. 👩‍🌾 If you’re like me, you love living in the midst of such a thriving farm community so we can give such truly nourishing food to our families.

Many of these women farmers I know personally, and I found their words inspiring. So I know you’ll enjoy gleaning a bit of insight into what makes us local women farmers tick.

Click here to read the articles online .

As I read, I noticed overarching themes flowing through each woman’s words that rang firmly with my own truth.

Each in our own way, we:

⭐ Are called to feed people, as an act of love and service.

⭐ Care for the land, all the way in, soul deep.

⭐ Cherish our community of customers and farmers.

⭐ Share encouragement with, and take inspiration from, one another.

👉 And for many of us, figure out how to do all that with kiddos (and husbands) while still being kind to ourselves.

A constant balancing act ⚖️ that every mom knows all too well.

I especially connected with Karen Williams’ words about running Red Dog Farm with a child in tow.

“There are of course tons of advantages of childhood on a farm, but there are also a lot of chores and practicing patience while mom does ‘just one more task’.”

Our three little Farmhands can sure relate to that. 🙋‍♀️ A common refrain these days from Farmhand Grace (4) is, “Mom, you are taking forever!”

Honestly, I’m a bit chagrined to admit that it took me years to realize I’m a working mom. I’m home all day, right? 🤦‍♀️

For years I tried to be a full-time farmer and business owner, and also expected myself to be a full-time mom who cooked every meal with food from our own garden, cleaned the bathroom and folded laundry ...

Ummm. A little acceptance of reality, please?! Once I realized what I was doing to myself, it took off so much pressure.

Perhaps you can you relate?

Anyway, it’s one of the many reasons it’s so lovely to have farmer friends struggling with the same things. Because, even 10+ years in, sometimes I slide back into thinking I can do it “all”  –  whatever that means – and I need the reality check from a friend.

As a home gardener, I was also relieved to hear Karen’s advice about growing carrots🥕.

It’s not you – carrots are hard! Whew, I’m not a gardening flunky.

Thank you, Karen, for giving me permission to keep happily buying carrots in bags at the farm stand. ✨ I’ll stick to raising beef, pork and eggs. 🐄 🐖 🐓

Kidding aside, I truly am grateful to work in a community full of so many amazing farmers, women and men alike (most notably, of course, my farmer-husband).

And guess what?

We’re all here raising good food because of customers like you!

Your support and encouragement, day in and day out, keep us going and thriving.

Like this wonderful email I received on Friday from Weezie, a long-time customer.

“Alas, I can’t send you a photo of my lovely presentation of your recipe with gorgeous ribs and onions nicely set off by steamed broccoli and a slice of Chimacum Grainery bread. We lit into it so fast and barely spoke except for yums of happiness. Thank you and Martin for the ribs and the recipe.”

Instead, she included this lovely “bone portrait” that speaks volumes.

Thank you, Weezie! There’s no better compliment than an empty plate 🍽️.

💞And no better way to nourish your farmer than enjoying the food we love growing for you.

To create your own bare-bones art, you’ll want to pick up a package or two of beef short ribs. 

You can find the delicious recipe that inspired Weezie’s art - Herb Braised Short Ribs – by clicking here.

It’s a true farmhouse recipe, which means just a few minutes of prep time and then hands-off cook time so you can waltz back out the door and enjoy the absolutely lovely weather that’s finally come our way.

I think it’s actually Spring! 🌷🐝⛅

Yours truly,

Charlotte Frederickson