Grateful for every experience

Wow, this has been a very busy spring and summer, but I decided it is time to take some time out and write a little about our farming adventure so far and to let you all know that the Wiest Family still exists.

Our adventure started last fall when Ed came to us wondering if we knew anyone nearby that could rent some land to him for a farmers market produce business. As Ed told us more about what he wanted to do and how it would work, we began to catch his vision and enthusiasm. We had been praying for God to show us how we could better utilize the resources that we have to provide a larger income for our family and this seemed to be an answer to prayer. So, offering land, equipment, water, customer service, and labor, I joined Ed in this business partnership.

The planting began in February as you've seen earlier in the blog, when we, like Ed, had to build shelves for our living room windows to get the onions started and baby them with sun and water. The kids enjoyed watering and watching the little onions grow into trays of onion smelling grass. Truly, it was very delightful watching all our indoor crops grow and then really take off once they were moved to the greenhouse. Even the cold wet spring with all its challenges didn't dampen our spirits too much as we were finally able to plant and transplant into the soil of our 3 acre gardens. However, the weather did start taking its toll on us as it was the prime cause of the weed take over. As we were battling the weeds and sometimes feeling like we were catching up on it, the harvest and markets began, so in some areas, the weed battle was lost.

Going to market is the highlight of this whole experience for me. I really enjoy displaying our beautiful produce and serving all the wonderful people that come to our tables. Meeting and talking to the other vendors and all the customers at the Farmers Markets has been a great blessing to me and our family. I give a big thank you to all our customers and new friends for all your support and encouragement.

As with most new businesses, this has been more work than we anticipated and has become all consuming this summer. Even with Ed's expertise, we have not been able to keep up with all that needs to be done. My children, Matthew, Luke, Jonathan, Courtney, and Gabrielle, have had to put in many more hours of work each week than I ever wanted them to do, and Ed and I have as well. At this point, harvesting is in full force and we can hardly keep up with it all. Beans are the biggest time gulper. Luke told me the other day, as we were yet again picking beans, that he wished it would hail right over all the bean plants so we wouldn't have to pick anymore.

As the months have progressed, I have seen a wonderful work ethic developing in our children. I am so very proud of them. They have pushed through in cold, rain, bugs galore, heat, sunburn, and humidity to help everyday out in the gardens or pick up the slack around the house when Lyle and I can't. Even the youngest at seven years old has been a big help. They are also a huge help with the markets, helping with the loading and unloading, setting up and selling, giving change, and interacting delightfully with all our customers.

I have to give a great big Thank You to Ed's parents, Bill and Joanne, for all their help with weeding and harvesting. We are truly grateful. We have enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them out in the gardens or washing produce at the house. Thank you Des, for helping with the recipes and pictures, and of course the New Ulm Farmers Market.

I have gained an incredible wealth of information and experience throughout this journey and it has been a great character building adventure for our whole family.

May God Bless you all,
Valerie