Each new year offers a fresh start and opportunities for new beginnings – a time to look to the future with a renewed sense of optimism. As we move forward into 2022, we have taken some time to look back and reflect on the past few years. We have experienced daily challenges relating to COVID-19, labour, Mother Nature, and health issues. Finding a balance has been difficult as stress, burnout, and exhaustion have begun to take their toll. At the same time, we have been truly blessed with community support and overall good growing conditions. This past year we successfully experimented with growing new crops and implementing regenerative agriculture practices. We invested in a greenhouse and used technology to enhance our retail operation and provide educational opportunities for local youth.
As we move into our 135th year of farming in Ontario, our family is eager to continue to grow with you and for you. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to live, work, and play in Dufferin County. Our passion for growing healthy produce, improving the environment, providing agriculture education, and supporting our community continues to drive us.
Throughout 2022 we plan to venture into new opportunities and modify some aspects of our operation. We have realized that we need to ensure we take care of ourselves and our family and focus on the practices that bring us the most joy and success. We are working toward a more balanced lifestyle as we carve out quality time for our family.
Lennox Farm will open up our on-farm market for self-serve sales in March. Although our farm market will look a little different, we will continue to offer fresh, local produce as well as eggs and a selection of homemade preserves and other local products. We will be running a monthly “Give Back” campaign at the market. Each month we will select one local organization that we will fundraise for and promote at the market and through social media channels. Proceeds from monthly sales will then be donated to the organization. We are asking the community for your support by nominating a deserving organization. We are looking for nominations of organizations within Dufferin County who “Give Back” to the community. Nominations can be made by completing a nomination form (https://forms.gle/BSLuinMLZD3wueh38) by February 25, 2022.
Our online store will open once again in early March. This year we will be offering bi-weekly farm pick-up options as well as shipping of customized homemade preserve boxes and other goodies. Looking forward, we are eager to provide agriculture education opportunities and monthly events on the farm. We are currently in the planning stages and will share details as soon as they are solidified. We are excited to see what this year has in store for us and encourage you to join us on our journey.
Wishing you a truly happy and healthy 2022!
The French Family