The Farm is Moving to Golconda, IL!

I’m sure you’ve heard the news, we are setting off on our own farming adventure. We are excited to share, we have a summer moving date set and we are packing up the house right now. After a tumultuous week we have managed to get lots figured out and we are very excited for our new beginnings. We have a newer place lined up with 10 acres of land, just outside the Golconda city limits where we can continue to grow our dream farm. Our kids will be closer to their friends, we will be closer to many of our customers plus we get to remain in Pope county so the kids wont have to change schools. We will have plenty of land and time to bring our farm dreams to life!

We are gearing up to move our entire farm operation which gets more and more daunting the longer you think about it… We will be moving our dairy goats, sheep, dairy cattle, chickens, turkeys, ducks, cats, dogs, our bees, a goat barn, a chicken house, pasture fencing plus all our personal belongings and ourselves. 

We have rented land from farm friends so that we can still offer our summer CSA program during this transition. The seeds for our CSA crops are already growing and CSA memberships are filling up nicely. As you can imagine, It’s important for us to continue growing our CSA and selling our eggs and soap during the transition… because Nathan is no longer making a wage working for someone else…

*panic*

But honestly, there are so many things that Nathan hasn’t had the time or the land to make happen. He has dreams of specialty fall crops, berries, specialty greens, orchard fruits, honey and the list just goes on and on. He has the skills and knowledge, the connections, ambitions, direction and he’s about to have 10 acres to get ‘er done. So, while it’s a scare to have him not working for someone else it is also a pretty great opportunity!

Also, you probably don’t know that before becoming a mother I had a good hospitality career working special events at a number of prestigious event venues in Scottsdale AZ. I was also the catering manager for a luxurious private golf community before we left the west coast. I absolutely love bringing special events to life and didn’t realized how much I’d missed it.

The Farm to Fork Dinner work I’ve been doing has totally renewed my passion for special event work and has prompted me to get back in the catering business here in the area.  I’m now on staff at a number of specialty event venues plus I’m also available for hire if you need special event planning help. Yep, I’m going freelance with my event planning!

So there you have it, we have all sorts of things in the works currently. It’s true, we are no longer affiliated with Tanglefoot Ranch… but we have exciting things in the works for The Ryder Family Farm in Pope county! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and add yourself to our newsletter so we can keep you in the loop.

We are humbled by all the offers for help and support during this crazy unexpected transition of ours. Thank you to everyone that has reached out to us! When the time comes we will welcome your moving and fencing help but in the meantime help us prove to our bankers that we already have a solid customer base by buying some soap, eggs or perhaps a CSA share. We will see you at the Golconda Farmer’s Market Saturday!