Soul Food Farm

Spring news and updates

Dear Farm Friends,

This newsletter is meant to catch you up on the last few months at the farm and encourage you to come for a visit. The olive orchard is pruned, mowed and looking quiet elegant. We have tables under the tree’s for picnics, long talks or for running away with a good book. The Farmstand is open for buisness and our baby chicks have grown up and will be laying eggs by June.

April and May have been filled with activity here at the farm. The killer marathon weeding the farm for our niece’s wedding, pruning the olive grove, planting the gardens, harvesting flowers,and welcoming visitors back to Soul Food Farm, there hasn’t been a quiet moment.

Running a farm feels like a daily race—balancing the essential tasks that keep things moving forward while planning for the future. Every Monday morning starts with seeding flowers so we can continue planting successions of cut flowers from spring through summer, and with a bit of luck, into early fall.

Midweek is usually spent in the gardens, tackling repairs, and handling general upkeep. Which basically means more weeding, mowing down grass, building protective cages around new tree’s or building new flower beds. Often, the day starts with just one or two items on the list, and by mid-morning, it has grown into a full-on sprint. It’s almost as if the endless list of chores writes itself.

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are all about the farmstand. From 9 to 5, it’s our top priority to keep it stocked with goods from Soul Food Farm and other small family farms. Officially named Soul Food Farm Reserve, the stand reflects our evolving mission—to do what we love while committing to a vision of supporting local farmers. Our goal is to help rebuild a vibrant, resilient local economy where farmers thrive and communities grow stronger.

When you shop at the farmstand, your dollars go directly toward supporting farmers and circulating money within the local community, unlike when you shop at a box store, where your money leaves town instantly.

We love filling the farmstand with organic produce , small-batch jams, honey, eggs, Acme Bread, olive oil and curated books on gardening, cooking, and farming. There’s so much more and each week we have new things to share.

And then there are the wonderful surprises, like when a local farmer pulls up with a truck full of produce or fruit and asks if I’d like to buy some for the farmstand. The answer is always YES.

Thank you for following along with Soul Food Farm and supporting us since our inception. We look forward to welcoming you back to the farmstand! Regular Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9 AM – 5 PM

Sundays will be reserved for workshops or private events booked at the farm.

If you enjoy reading our Substack, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work. We strive to offer valuable content and share good information.

You can also enjoy daily photos and musings on the Soul Food Farm Instagram page.

For our story, visit www.soulfoodfarm.com

See You Soon!

Alexis

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES:

A Collabortion between

Homestead Design Collective

, Morningsun Herb Farm and Soul Food Farm.

May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from garden design to selecting the best tea plants and enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.

• Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.

• Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.

• Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.