But totally worn out.
Sales of flour at the mill are skyrocketing- at least 15 times more than usual. For every one order two weeks ago I now have fifteen . And yes – we were in no way prepared for hundreds of orders a day. People are so afraid that their panic buying has extended to organic flours. Or maybe there is no flour in the supermarkets- I have not been near a store in weeks.
We have piles of wheat of course so there is no need to panic – I can send flour out endlessly for years – we grow it after all maybe people are afraid that deliveries will cease. I am working seven days a week twelve hours a day and still not keeping up. I have re- configured my systems and brought in two college girls to keep up with demand and I am not keeping up. But we are getting a lot of flour out onto the UPS truck every day.
I try to tell people that my supply chain is the field down the road / there is no need to panic about our flour. But every day more and more orders roll in. 
So this is why I am so quiet on the airwaves – I am a bit worn out.
Today I came home early so I could sit on the couch and send you a letter.
It is now that I realize the great safety in growing our own food. We have meat from our fields, eggs from our chickens, we grow wheat in the fields and already John has greens in the glasshouse. I sell all the duck eggs cheap to a restaurant who is making take-out pasta.
The pig food vegetables have dried up. No restaurant veges anymore. But they have plenty of sprouts and I am not fattening any hogs at the moment. Just the five pets. Sheila and Poppy. Tima and Tane. And Wai Wai.
The cows are good. Mr Flowers is Ok. The chickens are not laying too many yet but John collects 33 duck eggs a day – lucky I found a market!
I am going to work another half day tomorrow and get everything ready for another week of orders. The irony is I have no time to bake!
Well, I hope you are doing ok. There is so much to unpack but we are all too weary. Stay home and stay safe. Things have changed now, there us no point in complaining about it. I cannot get to my children and that makes me feel very anxious. But I need to get strong about creating a new normal within the parameters of our health crisis. Soldier on.
Love to you all!!
Tell me how you are doing. We all want to know how you are doing in all this.
Love love
Celi
If we take every challenge one thing at a time it is better. As a whole this is very frightening. But one thing at a time we will get through it.
The Kitchen's Garden 
63 responses to “I am here”
Good to hear from you-we are fine here in our little neighborhood. Keeping distance,but also helping each other. Have not seen a flour shortage in the stores…..but then I’ve not been there for abit! Take care- do not wear your self out please! xoxoxo
Thank you for your update. The farm looks so beautiful and you are certainly well spaced from others there. This virus is so very frightening and challenging. People are appreciating teachers, healthcare and emergency workers more every day.
I have read on our local Facebook forum that many people cannot find flours or yeast here in CT. I hope your new helpers can relieve some of the strain of keeping up with your orders.
Stay safe and well.
I just pulled some bread from the oven. We’re saying extra “gratefuls” as the kids call it when someone starts the family in a chain of saying what we’re grateful for. It’s heartening and saddening to hear their gratefuls shift.
When they were once mostly grateful for “broccoli and cheese and pictures” or “painting and time with friends” they have a nuanced gratitude beyond their young years. Gratitude for fresh fruit, as we’d run out for awhile (something they’d never lived through.) Gratitude for memories of visiting friends. Gratitude for having a warm safe house where we can stay away from the virus.
I’ve built another garden. The fourth, or maybe fifth if you count the little one by the porch. I’ve had friends reach out about what to grow and how to grow it.
We were making plans to buy land and transition this “monster garden” life in the city to one on a farm of our own. Now we’re trying to find a new plan as the economy quakes a bit.
I had a mentor tell me long ago that people don’t fear change, they fear uncertainty. It’s no wonder there is so much fear in the world right now.
Hi Celi, I am sorry you are being worked so hard but you are right. This is our new normal and the only thing to do is to carry on. Be strong dear Celi.
Doing good. Yes there are worries, but there is faith and hope also. I’m working from home as much as possible. And to answer your question: There is no flour in our stores here. I have some from Christmas and then I have almost all my corn flour in the freezer. Take care P
Just checking in. Glad to read all of the above folks; we are all still here with you, thinking of you and hoping this trouble passes. This too shall, they say.
There are many shortages here in the city where I live. Chicken, bread, flour, milk, eggs, potatoes, toilet paper, etc.
Please understand that while some of it is panic, most of it is not. We live in a Nation where most families don’t have more than two days food in their house. Suddenly every single person in the USA is being asked to stay indoors for two weeks and must buy enough to do so. Every trip out is a risk, especially if you or a loved one you must see is at risk, so our national habit of buying only enough for a few days becomes a problem because we suddenly need a 2-4 week supply in a matter of days. And you know more at risk people than you think you do.
As I am sure you know, our modern food systems are delicate and inflexible. When everything must come from somewhere far away and shipping slows down and consumption picks up this is the result, not of panic, but of needing more than our system can handle.
Stay safe, Celi. I’m glad you have the security of growing your own food. It’s crazy to see how people are panic-buying all over the world and in most cases, the shortages are caused by that.
I hope you get some time to rest. Take care.
Thank you for the vid of the Ducks, it’s so lovely to listen to their contented chuckling while they eat. With all the birds(Sparrows?) twittering away in the background it almost sounds like you have ducklings already! Glad they’ve brought in some help, but with you being so run off your feet, perhaps one more would be even better? How wonderful that The Mill is thriving, even if it is under such extenuating circumstances. Do take care of yourself though Celi, it’s a bad time for one’s body to be exhausted, as I’m sure you know. Thankfully you’ve had such a great diet to back you up all along. We are muddling through, trying to prepare for whatever may come. Such good advise: one step, one day at a time. Thank you. Take care. Much love to all.
Dear Celi,
lockdown in NZ, and such calm in the township of Whitianga when we went in to collect a prescription… both chemists had tables across their doors and there were long queues of people along the pavements as everyone was keeping six feet away from each other.. it felt calm and sensible and caring …few people in the supermarket, no loaded trolleys just people getting a few last minute things like us… no pasta left, and no chocolate – funny !!!
Keep well , love from NZ
Glad that everyone is weathering this together, in isolation. Don’t overdo! Hopefully a new and better normal will result.
Beautiful calming images from the farmy– thank you, Celi, for taking the time. It means a lot to us, your friends from a distance, to hear from you and to feel part of a community like this. You are providing a table for the farmless.
I am late to the lounge of comments but there is something very encouraging about your post. I am sorry that the long hours will take their toll on you but am so thankful to know that the mill is doing well in a time like this and that you even had to hire help. Also your contributions at the mill months ago set them up for such a crazy time as this. Like an angel you appeared. I have a small business with 3 other employees in a state that has shut down. It is so hard right now. I don’t even know what the other side is going to look like. I am thankful that places like the mill are doing so well. It is encouraging.
What a bright spot this blog is, in the midst of so much that is not currently very bright.
In Vermont, I’ve long bemoaned why more public places aren’t sown as gardens, but my guess is that, this year, victory gardens will flourish again. I, for one, am looking forward to that.
Thank you for writing.
Hey thre Brett! A blast from the past!! How is Vermont this mornng!
Looking like stick season here. Raw and chilly. 🙂
I know that season !!!
A distinctive season.
Alas no bread here either. I tried to make a loaf from some old flour < no good. And now there is none to be found anywhere.