Over the years, so many people have asked how we got this far. How did it all start? How did it all come together? It’s a bit of a story, but I will do my best to put it all together for you as
I was raised on an Iowa farm from the day I took my first breath. My families little 10+ acre farm was filled with hay fields, cows, pigs, chickens, fruit trees and massive gardens. Our gardens easily filled a couple of acres of our land. It was an interactive life where we all worked together to raise and grow 90% plus of the food we ate. After dinner, we would all head out to the garden to pull weeds and harvest the goodness of the garden. Mom was a gifted canner and our food cellar was
Kellie, on the other hand, came from a life in the city. She was brought up in West Des Moines, on the far side of Des Moines from where I was raised. She was a bit of a valley girl (Valley High School) and never really learned anything about growing food or farming. Her family never had a garden that she can remember. Their food needs were met through the local stores, which abounded in her area of the city. Canned goods and sundries from HyVee Grocery store filled their pantry shelves.
Then came the day “when this lady met this fellow” and they started a new family life together. Their time together took them from Inner City Des Moines to a secluded Indiana farmhouse to Urban life again in Colorado Springs. Life was good. We bought a little Arts and Craft house just a few blocks from Downtown Colorado Springs. Our food was supplied by the local grocery store for the most part. We eventually started a VERY small garden in our tiny backyard. Not a lot. A tomato plant or two. A zucchini plant that overtook a large part of the garden. Not much.
But then IT happened!
Actually, several things happened. Our 10-year-old daughter Olivia was diagnosed with a multitude of food allergies. Kellie started dealing with bouts of depression and I found out I had high blood pressure, along with several other health issues. After doing the usual Google studies on each of these issues (and a multitude of doctor visits), we decided something had to change. We wanted a better life and one without medications, if possible.
So, the journey began. It was research, research, research! How were we gonna do this crazy thing? We studied online, took classes, read books. And then we just started doing it. We tore out that little, useless garden, bought a small greenhouse and installed it where that little garden used to sit. We tilled up that backyard and installed over 1,000 square feet of raised beds gardens. We bought our first flock of 5 Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens and built the coop that we still use many flocks later. As the years passed, we added more gardens, a beehive, added more chickens/flocks and most recently, ducks! Every year we continue to try new things, grow new things and grow in new ways.
Our goals have changed a lot along the way. Yes, we still grow food for our family, but now we do it to teach others. We have become an Instructional Backyard Farm. And that little girl who didn’t know a thing about growing food? She is now fast becoming a leading expert on backyard farming in our area. She teaches classes all summer long; in our backyard, through PPUG and other places she is asked to share her experiences. She tries crazy things in this little backyard oasis and grows an amazing amount of food in one of the tiniest yards in our area! She is in love with growing, raising and teaching. Kellie has learned so much, she has was surpassed this old farm boy in knowledge about growing food. It has been amazing to watch.
And what about those reasons we started doing all this? Well, Olivia is now in her 20’s and no longer shows markers for most of the food allergies she had. We consider her healed! Kellie’s bouts of depression have all but gone away due to a little Vitamin D and the blessing of a garden life filled with sunshine (and dirt…she loves that dirt). And me? That high blood pressure went away. The exercise of all this and eating 100% Organic food without pesticides has done all the work!
So there you go! Hope that puts a little bit of context to it all. There are so many other stories to share, but those will have to come in future posts. Life is great!