Hello and happy Friday y’all

  Our hearts go out to everyone suffering from the impact of the hurricane.  We’ve heard from customers whose towns were heavily impacted and just learned that our dear friend’s mother lost her home and vehicle in Asheville.  She herself was not hit as hard as her mother, but also suffered from the storm and is still without power.  She did share though that despite the significant hardship and loss, that  “It’s been really beautiful seeing people come together around this.  It’s been really powerful.”  Telling stories of whole communities coming together in her little nearby mountain town to try and rescue stranded people and salvage beloved storefronts and businesses that were waist deep in water. She also acknowledged finding appreciation for the small moments of washing dishes and brushing her teeth by candlelight, which was a charming thought and a reminder to appreciate the small moments amidst the occasional chaos of life.  They are hoping to be able to reach her mom soon and to be able to take her into their home, but still can’t get to her.  If you’d like to support her business to help provide them the ability to assist her mom, you can peruse her high quality leather work at Wheelermunroe.com..  For those of you in the flower world, you’ll know her from Floret.  She developed and crafted all the flower farmer belts that Floret sold for years.  The first one she ever created was actually a gift for Mandy many moons ago. If you're visiting the Farm Store, you can also support her by purchasing some of her farm's delicious maple syrup.

  As for the rescue efforts, I guarantee you that the people helping each other were seamlessly crossing party lines to do so despite the intense partisanship of this moment.  That was our exact experience of being rural during the lockdown of 2020.  All neighbors of varying religious and political affiliations eagerly came to each other’s aid without question….really for about 2 years.  Mandy’s dad was high risk with lung cancer and a recent lobectomy, so we did not go to a grocery store for 2 years out of a desire to not expose him.  Our neighbors though, kept us in flats of eggs, bags of beef and pork, fresh milk and butter, and we provided them with lots of fruit and vegetables, tons of plants for their gardens, and popsicles for their kids.  It was the most intense experience in community I’ve ever been exposed to and it was truly a beautiful thing to be a part of.  We definitely got the better end of the deal and that was the point.  They knew we were desperately guarding Tony’s health and they were constantly there to help us do so.  Even when taking caution became divisive and downright incendiary to many, all we experienced was a strong sense of goodwill and human kindness.  Heartwarming is the only way to describe it.

Back to farm stuff.  If you love dahlias and live within driving distance, this is the weekend for you!  We went from a dearth to a deluge, so we are hosting a sale at the farm store today and tomorrow.  Buy 2 bundles, get one free!  That’s one for the kitchen, one for the bedroom, and one for a friend.  This is also close to the end of dahlia season as well, so make hay while the sun shines people.

  For shipping customers, we've got deals for you too.  And our Farmer's Mix dahlia boxes are only $59.99 for the week, so get 'em while the gettin's good.

  The new workshop is done, the days are getting shorter, the air is smelling sweet from the Tea Olive in the evenings, and migratory birds that I’m woefully incapable of identifying are showing up on twigs and branches.  The squirrels are going bananas stealing every pecan they can at a frenetic pace, the baby guineas are now adolescent and we let them get a small taste of freedom out of the coop yesterday eve, and we are watching Fritillaries hatch as we await the season’s migratory monarchs in our dahlia fields.  Anemone corms are being soaked, ranunculus corms have yet to arrive, pastel poppy seeds have germinated, and chrysanthemums are budding up.  Sunsets and sunrises are getting more colorful and we’re still hoping for cooler days to come quickly.

This week’s tidbit is another bit of goodwill crafted by the artists who mold the very earth we walk on into vessels for morning coffee and beautiful flowers.  It’s a donation sale by all the potters at Good Dirt in Athens this Saturday from 10-5.  All proceeds go to victims of the storm and all these potters are the salt of the earth.  They’ve been there for Mandy’s mom in every way possible and we’re grateful for all of their kindness and compassion.  They continue to impress by spreading all that good love further afield to those in need after the storm.  You can find details here and they have an option to donate for those that can’t make it in person, should you wish to contribute from a remote location.

  Just got a call from another neighbor running a relief program for hurricane victims in the Asheville area.  If you are coming to Comer this Saturday, please bring supplies over to Neat Pieces Antiques in Carlton (5 minutes down the road) from us.  Wendy Longwell will be there from 8-3 loading up a cargo van of supplies to bring to families and relief workers.  They need:  batteries, flashlights, diapers, formula, canned goods, peanut butter, bread, fruit, sandwich bags, water bottles (I guess the water towers are all down), gatorade, and anything else that can help families in need.  Please contribute what you can and enjoy the place while you are there.  Jimmy and Peggy Sue are also doing a 25% off store wide sale. And right across the street from Neat Pieces, the city of Carlton is hosting the 2nd annual Mile Long Yard Sale! We went to this last year and it did not disappoint!

  Thanks for lending your ear….or eyes…and maybe hearts.  I wish all of you a happy weekend…or at least a weekend with some choice moments of happiness.  Even if you have to pluck them from an awkward place, such as washing dishes by candlelight after a terrifying storm.

Be well,

Steve