Transforming Tradition: More Than a Farm Stand

This is part 1 in a series related to the planning, building, and launch of our farm stand.

"How do we build something set apart and memorable, yet humble and quaint?"

These questions are top of mind in all we do here on the farm as we build from the ground up. And now we're applying the same question to our farm stand coming this summer. We're distilling the question down to: how do we maintain tradition but go beyond and focus on hospitality in an honor-system farm stand?

A Destination Off the Beaten Path

Being down a road rarely travelled, we're tasked with creating something that makes our road worth travelling. We look forward to serving our neighbors fresh produce and eggs, but we want people to seek out that and much more. To do that, we have a focus on a few key areas when designing our farm stand:

• What we stock it with

• How we build it

• What we want people to experience when they visit

A Nearly One-Stop Shop

While we are limited by what a farm stand can provide due to what can be sold under Michigan Cottage Foods Law, we know that we're meant to provide more than garden greens and eggs, both of which we're excited to offer! We haven't completely settled on our stock, our Farm Stand page sheds some light, and we anticipate an ever-changing inventory that will allow guests to get their hands on a third of their essentials from the grocery store.

To summarize it as a goal: We'd love to have enough in the stand that you would be able to make a meal for your family completely from the farm. Combined with our herdshare, that becomes much more achievable!

We're limited by what we can grow and produce seasonally. Regardless, our stock will be held to the same standard as our own pantry: organic, non-GMO, and free of seed oils, soy, and anything artificial. And we have big plans to offer more than just food!

A Cozy Oasis

Me: "I just want to create a community space fully focused on great food and rural charm!"

ZONING ORDINANCE

It's amazing how far we've fallen from the Little House on the Prairie mentality of: if you build your homestead and prove self-sufficiency, then Uncle Sam is just happy you're doing the colonizing for him.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that building codes save lives, but we're not talking about building a foster home here. It's a glorified shed for farm goods to live in. Nonetheless, we need to navigate the complexities of what our zoning ordinance allows, special use permits, building codes, etc. A basic shed on a temporary foundation might be just fine. But what we desire is something set apart from a shed with eggs and tomatoes for sale inside.

A Farm Stand with Feeling

Our developing vision aims to make visitors feel that a trip to our farm stand is worthwhile. Here, you can buy fruit and pastries, enjoy them in the fresh country air, and take a leisurely stroll to unwind from busy life.

You can stop to smell the roses. Literally. Because we'll have a U-pick flower garden. And take a peek at the community bulletin board, where local events and puppy litters can be posted. Take a seat at the patio to enjoy the quiet of the woods as you munch on freeze-dried bananas and wild raspberries. Check out the seed library for a new crop to add to your garden. Or just swing on through and grab a loaf of sourdough and be on your way if that's all you have time for.

However you choose to use the Bonny Acres Farm stand, we aim to make it stand out enough in your memory that you simply can't stand not sharing it with friends.

All Gas, Some Brakes

We're pressing on in the planning phase and will share a target date soon for going live with the farm stand. The constraints we face are: time, money, and those dang zoning ordinances. Once we have a clear path for all three, we'll feel confident in saying when the stand will become a reality.

Until then, keep an eye on our website and Facebook, where we'll continue to share updates.

God Bless!

Cody