My family lost my grandpa and two great-grandpas, in a matter of months, a few years ago. Then, in 2017, my Nana (great-grandma) died suddenly. God knows his timing, but it’s never easy to understand.
My grandma has had a rough time with it, as we all have, but for her, the pain and loss are very different. Being alone, having lost her husband, both her dad’s and mom is an awful feeling.
I know she grieves, and I know she needs the rest of the family to support her, but it can be hard when we all have obligations and lives that keep us from our family.
This past weekend, Sweet Thistle Farms and Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery had a wonderful event where visitors were welcomed to pick their own bouquet of flowers, pumpkins and tour the dairy goat farm. I decided to invite my grandma along and make a day of it.
And I’m so glad I did.
Something so simple; a sea of pink, purple, yellow, orange, blue and white flowers, some kittens running through the garden rows chasing bugs, picture-perfect views of the California foothills and perfectly placed landscaping, friendly dairy goats waiting for pets, brown barns worthy of being in a magazine, and spending time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in California created this perfect memory for my grandma and I to share. A way for her to get her mind off any troubles and a way to bond.
Yet, that’s not the only amazing thing about it.
By attending this event, we promoted and supported local businesses owned and operated by real families with a passion for everything they do. From tending to flowers or caring for goats, these farmers are providing their communities with amazing products (really, you should try goat cheese it’s so tasty) and experiences we can’t get from shopping at Target (and that’s saying a lot from a woman who wouldn’t survive in a Target-less society).
Because we bought from these producers, we helped to fund one’s upcoming wedding- in a sense. You see, the people behind these brands aren’t robots. They are working to build a dream and that dream comes with a cost. When we paid for our flowers and pumpkins, or the Christmas wreath from a mom with a boutique booth, we provided them with the ability to pay for the things they need or want in their lives. One of them just so happens to be getting married in less than a month! We aren’t funding a pyramid-scheme, we are giving money to hard-working people who put in an insane amount of effort to provide these products.
When we buy local, we also help to educate those who don’t know how a small dairy goat farm operates, or how you should arrange a flower bouquet. We teach people that doing something outdoors is so much more wonderful than staying in and being on our cellphones (because let’s be honest, I don’t think some people know this). We give them a bit of hands-on work- although less burdensome than the actual work that goes into creating an experience such as this.
But you already knew this about buying local.
What you may not know, is that by doing this, I give my grandma- my supportive, amazing, loving grandmother- a day to spend time with me. A day out of her sometimes-lonely house, to discover a hidden treasure and experience something so delightful that we already have plans to come back in the spring. What you may not know is that you could be creating a beautiful memory for someone in your life that just needs some magic in their life.
So, you may think buying local is just that…buying local. But buying local and supporting local agricultural businesses means you are building a community and becoming a part of history. Buying local means you’re creating experiences and building relationships and it’s so worth it when you get to share something with someone you love.
We could all definitely use a little more love in our lives and in this world- so love your local farmers (or makers) and go to community events they offer. You’ll get an experience you can’t get anywhere else and you’ll remember it more than going to the mall. Just be sure to invite your grandmothers.
