Ok, for those of you who know me well, you know I’m somewhat averse to publicity and attention. Just having this blog is a venture into the public sphere that I was somewhat leery of at first. When I started it, I only allowed permissioned people to have access, but I got over myself soon enough to realize that the sheer volume of information on the Internet would ensure privacy. Only people who knew and cared about me would ever really end up looking at my blog because I would have given them the link. And anyone else who stumbled on it in the course of web searches are likely kindred spirits anyway ;P
But then the documentary filming started, I handed out lots of business cards over the course of the season, gave interviews to various people writing books and articles about food and agriculture, and started selling produce. Publicity is something that the farm needs, and is also good for sustainable agriculture. The more people become aware of the various issues surrounding food production, the more educated they will become about the true cost of food and hopefully make more thoughtful food purchasing choices.
And now, Black Sheep Farm is one of the featured farms in the 2010 New Farmer calendar produced by Everdale’s Farmers Growing Farmers (FGF) program. I work part-time for the program, which included designing and producing the calendar. So I got to exercise some creativity 🙂 If you’re interested in buying a copy to support Everdale and FGF…and also to have a 2010 calendar which features new farmers who’ve taken the FGF program, including Black Sheep Farm!…go to: www.everdale.org/node/292
The calendar is 5.5″ x 8.5″ and costs $12. It’s a great gift for anyone on your list who cares about food and farming 🙂
I have also ventured into the world of Facebook. Not really directly, but rather through my sister who is setting up some sort of Black Sheep Farm fan page for me. The link to that is now in the sidebar of this blog. Apparently I need 100 people to become Black Sheep Farm fans to be able to get ‘Black Sheep Farm’ as the Facebook URL…or something like that. Clearly, I don’t get what’s involved, but my sister has kindly taken on the task of managing the Facebook stuff.
Oh, and good news on the farm Internet front – I’m off dial up! The Bell 3G stick works at the farm! So hopefully I’ll be better about writing blog posts and uploading pictures since my internet access speed is faster than 28.8 kbps 😀
Hi Brenda, I just found your page! I was so fascinated after your sister told me last year at Christmas that you were starting a farm! Congratulations!!! Your blog is wonderful. Thank you!!!! We actually just got married on a farm here in CA.. up in Paso Robles. Its also an organic farm built on biodynamic principles. http://www.windrosefarm.org. We buy from them at the Wednesday Santa Monica farmer's market. I'm so happy for you! It is so good to see that you are living out what you want to do.
Worker protest at New Communities eventually garnered some assistance from the United Farm Workers Union in nearby Florida in the person of one of its most formidable organizers, black State Director, the late Mack Lyons.