Merry Christmas from Rock Wall Garden!
It has been an incredibly eventful year at Rock Wall Garden! Starting a business always comes with a plan, but life's twists and turns can lead us down unexpected paths. Initially, our focus was on the greenhouse at the Tripp Family Farm, where we sold garden starts in the spring and produce in the summer. This allowed our youngest son Derek to actively participate in the family business.
However, life had different plans for us. Our middle son, Jimmie, took on a role as a cow-hand and main farm worker, pulling us into the world of animal husbandry. Last winter, with a record-breaking 95 inches of snow, we found ourselves tending to newborn calves in zero-degree temperatures. Despite the challenges, spring eventually arrived, and we redirected our attention to growing three substantial gardens, keeping us busy throughout the summer.
Once the garden starts were sold or planted, we continued our experiment from the previous year - hosting hands-on family events in the greenhouse. From crafting gnome houses and making strawberry jam to creating flower pots and garden decorations out of papercrete, these events added a delightful twist to our routine. We even had the pleasure of hosting a cider-making event for Jimmie's old Post-High class and another for a local non-profit, Common Ground, which provides outdoor recreation opportunities for those with disabilities.
Change is the only constant, and when Jimmie was offered a welding job nearby, our focus shifted away from animals. The newfound time allowed us to explore other opportunities, and we received a boost from a neighborhood young man, Steven, who helped us sell produce around town. The farm hired Steven to help us with watering the greenhouse and garden there, but Steven wanted to do more. So we loaded up a wagon with melons, corn, and later pumpkins and decorative glass gem corn and Steven canvassed our little town of Richmond selling Rock Wall Garden produce!
As the produce and cider-making season concluded, we began brainstorming new hands-on activities for the farm, exploring the 100-year-old barn as a venue and investing in a laser cutter/engraver. Our efforts culminated in our first commercial hands-on kit - the Fairy Light Mason Jar Cabin! After numerous iterations and a successful test event with neighbors, we are excited to bring this product to a wider audience. As we wrap up 2023, we're gearing up for our next event - a Fairy Light Mason Jar Cabin experience for the general public. We plan to launch an Etsy store in the coming year, allowing people outside our local area to join in the fun. Our long-term vision is that this new venture becomes a collaborative effort with both Jimmie and Derek playing significant roles.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more Rock Wall Garden updates!
Merry Christmas from Bonnie and Brian!
