Valentine Flowers of a Different Variety:
Second Bloom Farm’s Marigold Oil and Rose Soap
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Rainy, one of Second Bloom Farm’s adorable Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, optimistically looks out over the horizon hoping for showers. |
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Multi-generational Second Bloom Farm in White Rock is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The 2018 Farmer All Star, Austin Wood, took time away from shoveling his six goat pens on a snowy January day to talk with me. “Goats don’t like snow. When I woke up, I saw that the snow was up to the udders on my Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats – they’re known for their short legs. I needed to go out and shovel to make them more comfortable.”
Austin’s mother Deb started the four-acre farm by acquiring Cecilia, a large Nubian goat with long floppy ears. Austin decided it would be more manageable to focus on a smaller breed, and the farm now has a 50-headcount on average – it fluctuates during kidding season.
Austin’s wife Natalie produces most of the soaps that they have sold at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market since 1992. Their classic, non-drying full goat cream-based soaps are their biggest sellers along with their essential oils and salves. Cowboy, Oatmeal and Honey, and Spanish Anise are three favorites. Many of the herbs used in the products are raised on their homestead.
They credit two technological advances with expanding their business: running credit cards on cell phones added 30% in sales and creating their online store ten years ago added 30% more market growth. Today they ship coast-to-coast with international customers in the U.K. and Canada. Austin feels what makes his farm stand out is their business model. “We’re a local business with a good product, using sustainable solar energy, and biodegradable packaging.”
Austin has a long history with the Market Pavilion, wielding a hammer during the interior construction phase. “We wanted a place where we could create economic growth, not only for the farmers directly, but also indirectly by creating jobs for professionals in marketing, management, and building maintenance that would support the farmers.” That fits with his vision: “A long time ago I learned how important it is to think big, while you’re small. I believe in creating a master plan for expansion in the long-term and avoiding a patchwork framework.”
Asked if his daughters enjoy drinking milk from your goats, Austin replied, “They won’t drink anything else; our farm’s goat milk is raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized! We drink a lot of lattes at home.”
Janice L. Mayer
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Classic Rose soap with added shikakai powder and yucca root powder may be used as a soap or as a shampoo. Products are sold at their booth, in the SFFM Gift Shop, and online. |
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Marigold Morning Oil, described as “a treatment for dark, tired skin around your eyes that brightens and restores with grapefruit and ylang ylang essential oils. This blend is created to uplift your spirit and mind.” |
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Celebrate National CSA Week:
February 20-26, 2022
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Why buy a CSA Share?
The concept is really simple. It’s a win-win for consumers and farmers.
You pay for your CSA “share” in advance, providing the farm with capital to kick start the growing season when there’s otherwise little income being generated. In return you receive a curated bag of farm fresh produce every week throughout the growing season.
What are the benefits of participating in a CSA?
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Abundance: You receive a surprise share each week of six to nine items, primarily comprised of fresh produce. Your bag will include what is in season and abundant in the fields.
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Adventure: Explore unfamiliar items and unusual varieties.
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Convenience: Curbside pick-up is available every Wednesday afternoon from 3-6pm during each CSA cycle. Just drive up to the Chile Line Lane side of the Railyard Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Pavilion for car-hop service.
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Inspiration: Shake things up and experiment with innovative recipes from SFFM’s e-newsletter.
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Pleasure: Enjoy your favorite produce items picked in prime time.
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Sustenance: Each share you receive supports two to three adults throughout the week with a healthy appetite for produce.
How does the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute support the Market’s CSA program?
Most importantly, through the Double Up Food Bucks program (DUFB) which creates an opportunity for SNAP participants (formerly Food Stamps) to double their draw on their EBT cards to purchase healthy produce. Eligible customers can pay for all or part of their CSA subscription using tokens from the Double Up Food Bucks program purchased at the Institute-staffed Information Booth during Market hours.
CSA Subscription for the Spring Cycle Open on February 21st!
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In their annual “10Best” selection USA Today’s expert panel nominated the Santa Fe Farmers' Market as a contender for “Best Farmers Market.”
We hope that you “vote” for local agriculture every day through your food choices. You can vote for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market to receive the USA Today designation here.
You may vote every day through February 28th. There is no need to sign-up - just click the link and vote for the SFFM! As the Mayor of Chicago once famously said, "Vote early - and vote often."
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Warm Yourself with Bhakti Chai
at Café Fresh this Winter
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Warming up with ‘India in a Cup’ as Founder Brook Eddy refers to her Bhakti Chai |
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Come in out of the cold on Saturdays and enjoy a fresh-pressed ginger chai prepared by Café Fresh Manager and chief barista, Ashlie Swensrud. “Blended with craft-brewed black tea brimming with antioxidants, fresh ginger packed with immune-boosting properties, and fiery spices to give you a jolt of clean energy, Bhakti Chai will warm you up from the inside out.”
In adding Bhakti Chai to the beverage offerings at Café Fresh, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market continues its commitment to organic ingredients sustainably sourced.
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Bhakti is Sanskrit for “devotion through social action.” “Rooted in sustainability and steeped in social change, award-winning Bhakti is a certified B Corporation, and only uses organic and fair trade ingredients in its products (B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency).”
In 2015, Bhakti Chai Founder Brook Eddy also created an online giving platform for positive social change named GITA, an acronym for Give, Inspire, and Take Action. The platform has supported many projects focused on women and girls globally. GITA translates to English from Sanskrit as “share your story.” Click here to read some of the platforms’ transformative stories.
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Marie Carter’s Sweet Dried Flower Valentine |
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About the Institute
The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute was founded in 2002 to raise funds for an affordable space where farmers could sell their goods year round. After the Farmers’ Market Pavilion opened in 2008, the Institute expanded its mission to include developing economic resources for farmers and growing access to healthy, locally grown food for northern New Mexicans.
We deeply appreciate your support for our efforts to connect families with local food, to provide economic services to our farmers, as well as an affordable space where farmers can sell their goods year round. Want to get to know the Institute better? We’d love to take you on a tour of the market and talk to you about the programs we provide. Just email janice@farmersmarketinstitute.org to get more information.
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The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s mission is to advocate for farmers, ranchers and other land-based producers; provide equitable access to fresh, local food; own and operate a year-round venue for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market; and manage programs to help sustain a profitable, locally-based agricultural community. |
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THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS! |
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These lead sponsors help ensure the sustainability of the northern New Mexico food system as well as nurture the agricultural community and the customers that make the Santa Fe Farmers' Market so successful.
Support the businesses that support your community!
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