As we close out 2023 and welcome in a Fresh New Year it’s time to announce some big changes coming to this little business in 2024.

Every small business is inextricably linked to the lives of the business owner herself. Life changes, and lifestyle goals make their mark on business decisions without a doubt. This can be both positive and negative- but we can focus on the positive…because I that is how I am viewing all of these changes.

As I began drafting the business plan for Kat The Farmer back in 2020 my hope was to create a more independent livelihood that depended on my gifts, strengths and provided a service to the community at the same time. But I also had the life goal of making space for a child to come into the picture and enough autonomy to raise a baby from home while operating my own business seemed like the best option I could envision.

Over the past three seasons I have trialed a lot of ideas (products, schedules, methods of work, markets) in order to find what enables this business (and its owner) thrive. I’ve loved so much about this start-up phase of owning a business and seeing what works, but its also been a lot. My new challenge is to be a kinder boss to myself- to allow space for life to balance with work, and allow space for the farm to function at its most efficient (which means understanding you can’t be everything to everyone!).

Going into 2024 that vision is becoming a reality, soon we will have a baby girl come and make us into a family. The impact on the business will be the push to simplify and focus my efforts as much as possible while learning to parent at the same time. Here is a list of changes I am planning to make in the 2024 season.

Sales Outlets

Continuing: Every Saturday @ Blacksburg Farmers Market!

The market will be my main sales channel for all my goods- and husband and baby will be there to help and make it a family affair! I will tailor my crop plan to suit the needs of the market and the supportive community that shops there.

Pausing: On-Farm Pick Up, Pre-order Drop Sites in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Weekly Wholesale Delivery Route.

These things are going on pause because they add an extra day and a half of work to the week and require a delivery driver. After crunching the numbers we never hit the target volume to make this financially viable. Those who were purchasing products via these paused sales channels are encouraged to come to market and shop the full selection there. We will continue to offer Wholesale Salad Dressings to our retail partners!

Product Offerings

Continuing: Salad Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Herbs, Veggies! Salad Dressings, Pesto, Merchandise, Free Choice Memberships.

Pausing: Prepared Salad Kits, Salad Lunch Club Subscriptions, Make Your Own Salad Subscriptions, Microgreen Subscriptions, Reusable Container Exchange.

This was a hard choice! The salad kits have been my flagship project and I hope to bring them back as soon as I can, but dropping them for the moment will add some breathing room to the schedule. Dressings will continue to be available and are now being produced out of the Millstone Commercial Shared Use Kitchen in Blacskburg- a welcome addition!

Subscriptions are another thing that are hard to drop because my members are some of my favorite people and strongest supporters of the farm’s mission. I hope that most of you will continue to shop fresh ingredients at the market instead. This will save on management time and simplicity for the year of change ahead.

Job Openings

For the first three seasons of this business the farm and food company has operated with one [very] full time employee. But going into 2024 I have created some job openings that are part time and would enable the business to keep thriving. There are job openings posted for help in the kitchen (starting out with dressings, maybe adding in salad kits later) and the field (seeding, planting, growing, harvesting) and when we find the right fit it may enable us to expand and grow next year rather than contract- but for now we are building in as much flexibility as possible.

Those interested in doing a work-trade type position are encouraged to apply This would be a good option for those living close to the farm, and in need of a veggie connection. For 1-3 hours work on a Friday work traders help wash pack for market. The benefit to working that day is that everything is fresh and you can go home with a bounty in exchange for your work each week.

Conclusion

Thanks for allowing for grace and understanding as we move through a new, beautiful, and challenging phase of life. The unknown’s of the next year are exciting and scary all at once- but I feel confident that putting reasonable and simplified goals into place it will help with the adjustment. And with the support of our community we will be able to continue our work of being the best farmers, community members and parents we can be. Thanks for being a part of our story!