In the documentary Polyfaces, Joel Salatin’s mother Lucille recounts her words early in their farming venture “If the Lord wants you to do this, He’ll bring customers to you. Let’s try it and see.” I could not agree more, and those words, even though not spoken directly to me, still apply and serve as a wonderful reminder during our own pursuit to produce quality food for our community. I attended the Polyface Intensive Discovery Seminar last year, and when I arrived at the farm early that morning, Ms. Lucille was checking in the attendees. After I signed in, she said “Oh, you are the Pope and you are from South Carolina. I need to speak with you.” I thought, oh boy I am in trouble now, I have done something wrong already. She pulled me to the side and explained that she was originally from North Carolina and her maiden name was Pope. We talked briefly and could not for sure determine if we were related, but what a small world! The Salatins don’t know it, but I claim them as family now.
It seems that almost every week, someone new stops by the farm store and is interested in what we are doing. Our growth has been slow but steady, and that’s the way I like it. I always ask new customers how they found out about us, and most times it was through social media, and other times they heard about us from a friend. However they get here, it is refreshing to meet new people who want local food that was raised properly. All the hard work, the crazy hours, the sweat and sometime tears, it’s all worth it when you hear those words from a happy customer: “Thank you for doing this.” I can’t tell you how much that means to a farmer. It reminds us that this is the right thing to do. “If The Lord wants you to do this, He’ll bring customers to you.” Thank you Ms. Lucille!
