Black Valley Provender

Perfection.... I’ve strived since childhood. Oh. But this life full of living has taught me. To look past the outwardly unblemished. ... The morally pristine. To the battered. The almost broken. The beautifully flawed.... Still standing midst the deluge.... Life comes with storms. Inevitably. And who are we to hide from them..... Farmers know. There is no choice but bravery. Ever learning.... Transformed past the untouched, unaltered, unliving..... Perfected. Oh. Not the untarnished I once thought. No. I see their faces daily. Among the weathered. The windfall.... Embracing the storms.... Heads bowed perhaps. But with open souls............ And these are the ones I shall pick. #sunflowers #hurricanlaura #stormsshallcome #whatisperfectionanyway #flowergardens #flowergardensofinstagram #cottageflowers #cottagegarden #afterthestorm #stillstanding #livinglessons #whatdoyousee #opensoul #farminglife #iamcountryside #wethehomesteaders #modernfarming #purposefulliving

Oh but piglets! I think I shall never tire of first breaths. Of wiggly little bodies suddenly awash with living..... To sit spellbound as they come. One by one...... By one. Yesterday Constance delivered seven. Only to be followed by Bathsheba’s eleven..... This morning Coquette is laboring. Five more sows. Still five more! The Valley is gloriously alive my friends. If you need me.... I’ll be just here. Basking in birth. #fallfarrowing #farrowingsows #farrowingbarnadventures #kunekunepigs #kunekunesofinstagram #kunekunepiglets #kunekunepigfarmer #cottagefarm #openairpiggery #countryside #countryliving #wethehomesteaders #modernfarming #womaninagriculture #familyfarm #pasturedpork #pasturedpigs #pasturedpigsformeatandprofit #pigsonpasture #grazingpigs #mortgagelifters #heritagebreeds #pigletsforsale

These faces though. That greet me every morning...... The Black Valley Herd has been over a decade in the making. Generation after generation these trustworthy magnificently purposeful beasts have yielded to my vision. The most wondrous of moments exist when one looks up from the magical mundane monotony and realizes....... Perhaps those foundational expectations held have been surpassed. To be promptly replaced by even more lofty ones of course but..... Seven sows shall join Old Fashioned, Fable, Fairytale and their broods in the farrowing barn within weeks. The piggery is humming with purpose and preparation for the largest fall farrowing to date. Aged sows joining young and first time mothers to produce an inspiring collection of Black Valley Farm genetics. Our cottage farm has been a study in productivity, purpose, pleasure, and profitability. Necessity had been the nurturing mother of invention and creativity. And where others may resent her strictness we have learned to trust in the security of her motivation. Someday I shall tell my story in its entirety. But for now. If only to share the versatile inspiration that a small plot of earth, willing hands, and daily dedication can evoke. #wethehomesteaders #modernfarming #cottagefarming #homesteading #diversifiedagriculture #womanownedbusiness #farminglife #familyfarm #smallfarm #smallfarmlife #kunekunepigs #kunekunesofinstagram #pasturedpork #pigsonpasture #grazingpigs #heritagebreeds #forpleasureporkandprofit #farmingdreams #agriculture

I’m a looker. Are you too? Always trying on other lives for size.... Would that suit me? What she has..... ... Some are easy answers. Others.... If it only came with in ground pool.... Less messes maybe.... Shorter hours. Oh but for a cleaning lady.....Sunday’s off. Evenings out. Vacation! The daily though. That’s where I always circle round. Give me the cattle lowing.... frothing milk. Meadow streams and summer sunlight. I’ll take the midnight farrowing. The daily dirt of it. The sunburn and the windchill. The life and death.... The never ending chore lists.... The exhaustion. I’ll breath the scent of growing things.... The cups of tea. The un-scrubbed floors. Let nature be my master each and every day..... For it’s the work I love the most. I’ll sacrifice the rest. Even when it’s tempting.... I’ll choose the one I have. I’ll do what I do best. And you keep doing you..... #cottagefarming #chooseyourwork #whatilovemost #callmecrazy #thelifeilive #thedailygrind #growingfood #flocksandherds #thefamilycow #milkbyhand #summerpastures #jerseycowsofinstagram #womenwhofarm #wearethehomemakers #homesteadinglife #cottagfarmindustry

‘We have lived our lives by the assumption that what is good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and then learn what is good for it.’ -Wendell Berry ... #worldpeace #mutualgoodness #purposfulliving #learningourrule #findingplace #doingourpart #growingfoodathome #wearethehomesteaders #cottageindustry #reputableagriculture #gentlemanfarming #veteraninturn #soldierfarmer #foodsecurity #knowyourfarmerknowyourfood #localisbest

Note to self: ‘Chin up buttercup’ For when the days run long and the laundry’s piled....... Higher even than yesterday.... Each chore you’ve cleared replaced by two.... Dishes.... Porches wishing to be swept.... Green beans in need of picking.... yesterday Peppers to be pickled.....someday Accounts in need of balancing..... Stalls to clean..... Feed to order....and to fetch. Cobwebs begging dusting.... Windows could use washing. Children should be fed.....occasionally Errands to be run.......... Photos, emails, updates........... screaming ‘please appease me’.... There’s simply not hours for it all.... So deep breaths. Piglets. Barefoot in the pastures..... while the evening settles in. A glass of wine and rocking chairs.... Tomorrow is another day. And we shall meet it chin up. Prepared. All for having paused a moment.... #momentstaken #sayingpause #barefootinthepasture #pigletpals #eveningbreathing #endofday #choreswillwait #slowlyliving #fancifulfarming #pasturedpiggery #kunekunesofinstagram #chinupbuttercup #tomorrowisanotherday

This world is not conclusion; A sequel stands beyond, Invisible, as music, But positive, as sound. It beckons and it baffles;... Philosophies don’t know, And though a riddle, at the last, Sagacity must go. To guess it puzzles scholars; To gain it, men have shown Contempt of generations, And crucifixion known. #emilydickenson #poetry #weekendsareforreading #favoritverse #naturepoets #englishpoets #cottagefarmscenes #cottagegardens #gardensheds #trumpetvine #rustedbits #cottageplanters

Things worth waiting for..... Breakfast. My herd is ever so patient. ... If you’ve been waiting too................ The farmer has finally updated the Provender’s on-line shop at: www.blackvalleyprovender.com No more waiting patiently for Friday pickups. Nevermind all that... Let the farmer bring your order straight to you doorstep. Or. schedule curbside at a time convenient to you. We’re ever so grateful for your support and patience as we grapple with the growing pains associated with opening a new retail food facility in the midst of a global pandemic.... impeccable timing right?!? The waiting is mutual my friends. As we navigate the fortitude of our own personal patience, each and every on-line order placed is the silver lining to our storm clouds. Just the finalizing of projections, nailing down the finished floor plan, compiling the estimations and quotations, securing the last few loose ends .... And our physical doors at 10 East Main will open to the most exiting chapter of our story yet! The chapter that includes YOU! Just a bit more patience my dears! Just a bit more. See you on-line for now..... #weboughtastore #mainstreetbutcher #blackvalleyprovender #localprovenderandprovisions #ordernow #onlineshop #blackvalleyproteins #kunekunepork #pasturedpoultry #grassfedlamb #angusbeef #buyfreshbuylocal #knowyourfarmerknowyourfood #cottageagriculture #womenwhofarm #familyfarms #smallfarming

He who works with his hands is a laborer.... He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman..... He who works with his hands and his head and his heart.... Is an artist. -st frances of assisi ... #everydayartists #theartofliving #theartofslowliving #cottagefarmblooms #hewhosows #farmfreshflowers #dailyblooms #sunflowers #zinnia #favoriteflowers #whatdoyougrow

This sow stands up for herself. Her beliefs. Her rights. Breakfast for instance..... She believes in her right for breakfast. ... Every single morning. No exceptions. I concur. #kunekunesows #sowsofinstagram #heritagesows #heritagehogs #kunekunepigs #kunekunesofinstagram #openairpiggery #cottagefarm #workingfromhome #ladypigkeeper

The hard days come. And sometimes stay awhile. Ours alone to weather. Personal and private..... They’re better shared in retrospect. Once the lessons to be learned are realized and recognized....stable footing gained again. ... Then the moral of the story can be shared. But while one waits.... Oh, that’s the hardest part of all. I always find relief somehow when the worst is just there. Facing you. Daring you. The work can then begin. I’ll share the moral with you all. Once I’ve learned of it myself. For now the works begun. And my days are full. Overflowing. Overwhelming. Hard days are daring me. And I’m determined to savor them. To find the moral that is hidden. Embrace the lesson to be learned. Honor life. Let go my grasp. And know the world is changing. I know I’m changing it. My daughters will not know my cages. And I will relay with kindness what I have learned through fear..... #hardestdays #lessonstobelearned #waitingfortheworldtochange #workingwomen #daughtersoftomorrow #womenwhofarm #womenwhothrive #raisingdaughterswithconfidence #womenwhochagetheworld #strongertogether #wontbackdown #wontsitstillandlookpretty #handtotheplow

I love the her lines.... Her soul.... The magic every time I turn the key and say good morning.... Yes. I talk to her........ And she speaks to me. The final dumpster is in place. The final week of demolition. The floor plan will be chalked into place....plans finalized and drawn.... There’s to be an open kitchen! The steps are pacing faster as we go. If you haven’t yet... and you’re as anxious as we are to see this project take shape and come to life.... Visit our new webpage: www.blackvalleyprovender.com And shop our weekly Provender Boxes. Just a glance of what’s to come. A taste of what’s to be! And each box ordered is one step closer to serving you in person. I can’t wait to introduce you. To this lovely little shop of mine. At 10 East Main. A hometown shop. With hometown goods. And wholesome food. A place for friends and family to gather. And savor. Cheers my dears! We shall see you ever so soon! p.s. the bakery box is my favorite this week! In case you needed help deciding... #mainstreetshop #hometownpride #butcherycafe #pantryandprovisions #blackeyprovender #locallygrown #smallfarmsupported #womanowned #weboughtastore #familybusiness #comingsoon #shopnow #provenderboxes #curbsidpickup

‘If you inherently long for something become it first. If you want gardens, become the gardener. If you want love, embody love. If you want mental stimulation... change the conversation. If you want peace, exude calmness. If you want to fill your world with artists, begin to paint. If you want to be valued, respect your own time. If you want to live ecstatically, find the ecstasy within yourself. This is how to draw it in day by day, inch by inch. Victoria Erickson #whattobecome #whatareyoubecoming #growingourselves #becomethegardener #buildinglife #womanwhodo #womanwhofarm #myfarmhousecottagestyle #conciousliving #intentionaldreaming