WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS MEANS TO FAMILY FARMSTEAD DAIRY

We are very concerned about what lies ahead for our local communities and our nation. While here on our farm we feel blessed to have freezers and fields full of nutritional food, we are aware that a large part of our surrounding populous doesn’t have the same resources. The Covid-19 pandemic certainly has revealed the shortcomings of our commercialized food system and its distribution dilemma’s. The need for local farms working together to supply nutrient dense foods to our local communities is essential.

Our beliefs:

Our bodies are designed to flourish on natural, minimally processed, preservative free foods. Organic helps ensure this, but our daily farming practices are what make the difference. Cows and other ruminants are meant to eat grass, plants are meant to grow in living soil, and farmers should work in harmony with natural ecosystems. Food produced in this way will undoubtedly have a higher nutritional value. This food will provide the nourishment our bodies and immune systems need to function properly. Our foods need to be kept local. This will certainly alleviate distribution challenges, limit petroleum demands, and minimize the need for preservatives and stabilizers.

Our response:

Get creative and get people the food they need. We will begin to work with other local farms to set up “drive thru drop points”. Our goal is to set up drop point locations where the consumer would pre-order their foods and then meet at a specific location to pick it up. It will function as a drive-thru where you can hand us your order confirmation and we will give you your box of foods. We are hoping to offer milk, beef, eggs, and possibly more. We will be using gloves and masks to keep the environment as clean and sanitary as possible. Our hope is that by using this technique we can eliminate some of the middle-man costs and get the food to you cheaper as we are aware of the financial difficulties many will be facing. Our partnering farm and distributor Hidden Camp Farm is in the process of setting up an online graze-cart with local drop-points for weekly deliveries. The 607 CSA and Abba’s Acres Farm will also be taking online orders for local pick-ups. Find a drop point by you via the websites below.

Oneonta and Cobleskill: https://abbasacresfarm.com/

Cooperstown & Delaware County: https://www.the607csa.com/

Capital District: https://hiddencampfarm.grazecart.com/

On the Farmstead:

The CDC and FDA have noted that it is highly unlikely for the virus to be transmitted via food. That said, we are taking preventative measures to keep the processing plant exceptionally clean and sterile. One of the benefits of our operation is that we are a small business and we’re located in a very rural area. Our goal is to continue full production and to provide as much milk as possible to our community.

A good friend once told me “There’s always someone who has it worse off than you!” and how true. Whenever I find myself complaining, I remind myself of that saying. During these challenging times try to stay positive, perhaps ask yourself what you can do for your family, friends and community. Embrace the time with those around you, learn something new and stay faithful!

John 16:33 “in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Sincerely,

Tom McGrath

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p.s. social distancing is hard for kids and cows :)