A New Chapter on the Front Porch

Well… this wasn’t exactly the plan.

I’ve been sitting here on the Front Porch this morning thinking about how strange life is.

A few years ago, Jordan and I just wanted to learn how to grow food.

That’s it.

We weren’t trying to start a business.

We weren’t trying to build a brand.

We certainly weren’t talking about opening a market.

We just wanted to see if we could grow something.

Then one herb turned into another.

One raised bed turned into several.

Then came the fruit trees.

Then the chickens.

Then Jordan discovered there are apparently 47,000 kinds of peppers that all absolutely had to come home with him.

(I’m still not convinced.)

Before long, our kitchen started looking less like a kitchen and more like a tiny farm stand.

There were eggs on the counter.

Tea cooling on the stove.

Fresh herbs drying anywhere I could find room.

Seasoning blends waiting for labels.

Plants asking to be repotted.

And every few days someone would ask…

“Can I buy some?”

At first we’d smile and hand them whatever they wanted.

Then someone else asked.

Then another.

And another.

One afternoon I looked around this little homestead and realized something.

Maybe the market wasn’t our idea at all.

Maybe you built it.

Every question.

Every conversation.

Every person who wanted a dozen eggs…

…or a tea blend…or one of Jordan’s plants…

helped shape what this little place has become.

So instead of making everyone ask…

we finally opened the gate.

The Market is officially open.

It’s still just us.

Still the same little homestead.

Still Jordan wandering around with peppers in his pockets.

Still me trying to find room for one more tray of seedlings.

The only difference is now, if something we grow, blend, harvest, or create can find a home with you…

there’s finally a place for it.

So welcome.

Come look around.

And if you happen to see Jordan…

check his pockets.

I can almost guarantee there’s a pepper in one of them.

As I sit here writing this, I can’t help but smile.

This little homestead has given us so much more than fresh food. It’s given us friendships, conversations, lessons we never expected to learn, and a community that has cheered us on every step of the way.

So thank you.

Thank you for reading our stories. Thank you for asking questions. Thank you for believing in what we’re building here at 1737.

We can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes all of us.

Until next time…

– Shawana