Hello friends,
It’s a strange time to be surrounded by so much new life and beauty – trees are budding, seeds are sprouting, anemones are blooming and tulips are getting taller.
Our greenhouse is packed with seedlings! It also happens to be snowing today, which is typical Spring here, too.
Meanwhile, anxiety and suffering overwhelms our world right now.
We are thinking of all who are sick, and whose loved ones are sick.
We are worried about the millions of people who do not have a safe home to quarantine in, including those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. The artists, bartenders, and wage workers across every industry who are losing income and won’t be able to pay their bills very, very soon. All of the restaurants, floral designers and small businesses that are faced with devastating choices right now, and might not make it through this.
We are so grateful to all of the health care workers who are putting themselves at risk and working nonstop to treat their patients.
And our hearts are with New York City, home to so many of our friends and customers.
We too are facing big concerns and uncertainties:
Our Wholesale accounts are tenuous at best, as our restaurant owner friends and clients are struggling to stay afloat with massive lost revenue and indefinite closures.
Our outlets for Spring flowers have evaporated, as the incredible floral designers we work with have 100% cancelled bookings and closures.
Additionally, we’ve lost $25K (about half of our total) in promised corporate sponsorships we were counting on for our Food Access Fund (as their businesses also face the economic impact of the pandemic).
Despite these losses, we are heartened to be able to support our community with the necessary and nourishing service of responsibly grown food.
In return, we are hopeful to stay viable as a business and stable employer through this crisis. But in order to do that, we really do need your help.
If you would like to read about food safety precautions, employee sick leave, procedure updates etc click here for answers to COVID-19 FAQs. We’ll keep this updated regularly, as the situation continues to evolve.
If you have extra funds and/or enthusiasm to share . . . or if you’re interested in enjoying high quality food this season, please do!
1. Become a CSA member right here (payment plans available)
With our full diet add-on options, you can eliminate most of your grocery shopping! Get low-contact, highest quality food for you and your loved ones . . . while supporting local farmers and crew members.
2. Can you chip in to fill the fundraising gap this season?
If you are able, please help us get food to our low-income neighbors and those who will be hit hardest by COVID-19. You can make a one-time contribution or sign up as a monthly sustainer on our new online fundraising platform right here.
3: Our single biggest factor in REGISTRATION is WORD OF MOUTH.
Think of a few people in your life who would be interested in weekly veggies, eggs, fruit, cheese and/or meat this season. Or folks who you know care about the intersections of climate change, food access, LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, local food and small farm viability. Send a few texts, make a phone call, forward a recent newsletter to a handful of friends, and post on social media about our CSA and Food Access Fund. Your shout outs and personal recommendations really do make a difference!
Thank you, thank you for reading, for sharing. We know there are so many individuals, businesses and industries in need right now, and that everyone is navigating a lot.
If nothing else, this crisis certainly reminds us just how connected we all are. We hope that on the other side, this translates to systemic change designed to better take care of each other.
Hang in there friends, we’ll weather this together.
Your farmers,
Maggie, D., Kyle, Mika, Amanda, Amara, Hannah, and Rica
p.s. We are brainstorming creative and restorative ways to connect online, to offset our usual face-to-face outreach in the Spring. Stay tuned for details about how to join our first ever “Meet the Farmer Mixer - Quarantine Style!” . . . coming soon.
