Michael writes, " It was 2008. At 56 years old I had never grown
food nor worked with animals. After watching a 10-minute video clip, that all
changed. The video clip was about a family who grew their own food on 1/5 of an
acre in Pasadena. Their story, though inspiring, left me with a terrible feeling of disconnectedness. . . read more read more"
Back in 2012 we opened our farm to the public for a weekly, Thursday morning market. Sometimes upward of 100+ folks would walk through our farm gates and shop our organically grown vegetables, herbs & fruit and eggs. The old horse barn was converted into a French style farmers market. Most valued cooking and preparing home meals with farm grown, local vegetables and herbs. Some just needed to come to a little sanctuary, a desert oasis, sit under the shade, drink coffee and enjoy a pastry - a way to be inspired and dream.
Even today, we still have folks tell us how our farm/goats/gardens have inspired them to do something similar. Some tell say, "our children grew up at your farm."
Our farm larder was filled with the seasons harvest & beauty: organic vegetables, herbs, flowers and our sea salt caramels. It was pure joy to see baskets filled - knowing that the fruit of our labor would be a blessing to someones meal table.
Connecting to our community through the table, beautiful food and health has always been important to us.
Closing the farm to the public was a difficult, yet necessary decision. The interest (back then): how to grow food, prepare meals for your family, canning, goat keeping, chicken keeping was pretty huge. We held weekly classes on many topics that included those basic life skills.
We know that everything runs its seasons and sometimes it's hard to stop something that seems so good and healthy. . . but for us, as we look back we know that decision was a necessary one. We needed to regroup - make a shift for our family and follow our heart to serve the community in a different way.
What has unfolded is the beauty of our community connection through our farm's Wellness Apothecary, our farm grown skincare, Claire - our Sourdough Starter, Garden Tea and to a bigger table - with you and dinner at our farm.
We are grateful for the local culinary scene and feel honored to connect around our farm's tables with some of the valley’s award-winning chefs.
Our pivotal shift was to partner with local chefs for our farm dinners which created shifts in the Gathering Garden. We added a few new arbors, Michael along with a good friend built 8 beautiful tables, the wood fire pizza ovens took center stage and the outdoor kitchen became more functional.
It is the place where we gather with you, our AZ community for moonlight, multi-course, fine-dining experiences prepared on our wood-fire ovens by some of the valley's amazing local chefs
Our Apothecary will be open during all moonlight dinners and beauty & wellness gatherings. During those times, our bespoke skin care products and sea salt caramels, and Claire, our Sourdough Starter and Garden Tea is available for purchase.
Over 100 food & farm lovers joined us for a special fund raiser for Cancer. Five Food Network Chopped Champions along with Adam Allison made the evening so special with their special multi-course, fine-dining experience under the stars. Chef Adam gifted each guest seated at The Chef’s Table with a signed copy of Phoenix Cooks along with some special surprises.
Feel free to order online and pick up your skincare products or caramels in the Apothecary. Shipping is refunded.
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