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At some point a line was crossed

The events of last week have to do with a breakdown of civilization. The Boston Marathon bombing was cold, calculating and horrific. This is the worst of mankind and it was on display. The hearts of these young men were so hardened that they had become numb to the preciousness of life.

Those two men had choices, several choices, before they left those crock pot bombs in the middle of innocent crowds. Normal people, just like us, gathering to see their loved ones accomplish an amazing thing. And to have the dreams and lives of innocent people shattered by this hatred and act of cowardice was deploring.

Sadly, this type of cowardice is on display all over the world and all too frequently. But every man, woman and child, every lawmaker, car mechanic or housewife has choices too. But at some point, these young men crossed over the line of decency and moved from disrespect to anger to murder, cold and merciless murder, perpetrated on the innocent. Not that it would be any less heinous to go after individuals in the law enforcement ranks or in the armed services, but at least these individuals are trained to defend themselves.

These two young men, and many more in our society, have lost respect for human life and probably all life including their own. This is a huge issue for America and the world. Sadly, many people are no longer able or willing to have a civil discussion about anything.  And the basic tenant, that individuals have rights and their lives are important, is taking a back seat to our “opinions or world views” and thus making life less valuable or unnecessary.

As the events unfolded, I found myself grieving for the families and the community of Boston. This was such a senseless act, but when does evil ever make sense? And as the days progressed and the manhunt continued, I was grieving also for those young men. I wanted them to turn themselves in and for the carnage to stop. Yes, I wanted justice, but not revenge.

More killing is not the answer, but giving those two young men a chance to face their evil, experience the penalty for their actions, and be remorse for the senselessness of their actions.

As we know now, one has had to answer to Jesus immediately, and the other will have a chance to be healed physically, emotionally and spiritually. And the lives of those directly impacted by the blasts, the very lives of those innocent will also need a chance to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually.

There is no hope in hate, only in respect, but it is a respect that says an individual’s life is important. For this reason alone, acts of violence or murder are wrong. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, what country you live in or even what religion or belief system you follow. Your life is important because you are a human being created in the image of God.

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A Little History

I didn't grow up on a farm. I occasionally picked some snap beans for Grandma and then snapped them with her. But how did a city boy from south Everett, that ran cross country and played soccer around the clock, ever become a farmer? 

May I share with you a little Klesick Family Farm history? Joelle and I got married in 1989, when I was working for a startup biotech company. But in 1991, when our first son, Micah, was on the way, I got the nudge to make a little more money and found a job at Maryatt Industries as a Route Salesman delivering uniforms, rugs, mops, etc. to businesses in Seattle. This is where I learned the ins and outs of running a delivery business. A few years later, I transferred to the Portland, Oregon branch with the same responsibilities. 

One of my customers was a high-end produce store.  Eventually, we made the career move to leave a good paying job to go to work for minimum wage at the produce store. It was tight financially, but Joelle and I both new that if we waited much longer, it would be harder to make the switch. So with 2 kiddos and one on the way, we took the boldest step and stepped backwards financially to eventually move forward. I worked two jobs for three years to make ends meet. Those are still some of the sweetest years of our journey. But it was at the produce store where I learned the produce business and met my first organic farmers. It was here that my desire to be a farmer was kindled. 

We had no land to match our desire, but we did plant a garden—a whopping 32 sq. ft.!  Eventually, it was time to move back to Snohomish County. There, in 1997, I started a produce store in Mountlake Terrace at Manna Mills. They did the groceries and I did the produce. It was a great fit! So now Joelle and I are running our own produce business called The Organic Produce Shoppe. Not soon after, we moved to Machais and finally had a half acre to start farming. It was in Machais where we transitioned to home delivery full-time and farming part-time in 1999. A few years later, in 2003, we moved to our current farm in Stanwood. Now we farm 40 acres of vegetables, tree fruit, berries and grass-fed beef. 

Everyone has a journey, our family journey included training as a delivery driver for the home delivery portion of our business, training as a produce person, so I could understand how and what to buy for you and finally "on the job" training as a farmer. Today we work with an incredible team of packers, drivers and office folk to bring you, every week, the freshest and healthiest fruits and vegetables available.  And, ironically, after over 20 years of journeying, my path and desire to farm have intersected. 

Now, I also have the privilege of being your local farmer.

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Spring Farm Musings

8364_10151575311876145_1157698364_nOh my, was that two weeks before Easter incredible. Everything was warming up and drying out and the soil was getting to planting quality, but not perfect.  I spent all last weekend wishing I could get more peas planted (almost done), my strawberries planted (half done) and get some spuds in the ground (none done). This amount of rain will take 4 or 5 days to begin to dry out. Thankfully, it is still very early in the season and most of my crops will go “in” from the end of April through June. 

The frustrating thing about farming is you have to take what is given and make the best choice at that time. When the weather first “broke” a few weeks ago, I waited. Then it stayed nice and I was compelled, no…drawn, no…wooed, yes…“wooed” by the farm to come and begin the season. So, cautiously, I fired up the tractor and started working the ground. The ground was willing, but not ready to begin.  If our farm was a sandy soil it would have been perfect, but we are more of a clay loam. Clay loams are great for holding soil moisture into August, but not so great for “working” early.  Alas, rarely is anything perfect and the soil responded to produce an acceptable seedbed.

With the forecasted weather change coming, I planted.  I really wanted a few more days, but none were coming and now I know that none are coming for a while. The rub is that if it stays on a warming trend from mid-March through April, the farm will give up a lot of field moisture early that would normally carry us through dry summer months. It will also cause the grass to dry out sooner and affect our grazing rotations for the cattle. But, conversely, many crops love an early spring and if a farmer catches it right, you can have some amazing spinach, lettuce and pea crops.  

But I have learned to not trust March and only wade in; after all,the water is rarely warm in March.  So now I find myself wondering if my pea seeds will germinate, partially germinate or rot—time will tell. A little concerned about the strawberries and how they will fare. I am thankful that I didn’t plant my potatoes. But I am also happy that this past March’s nice warm weather won’t deplete my soil moisture for the cattle and late summer crops.

As a farmer, there is almost always a crop or season in which you can find a “silver lining.” You might have to look a little harder or change your attitude/ perspective, but every season has a blessing buried in it. And if you find yourself in such a season of instability or insecurity, take a deep breath, dig a little deeper and unbury that blessing –it will warm your heart and get you through that moment.
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Spring is here! Share the Good Contest

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Get ½ off, Give ½ off, Win a Juicer!

Are you ready to shed those bulky winter clothes? It is not unusual to let your attention to healthy eating lapse a bit in the winter. After all, aren’t those cozy — and bulky — woolen sweaters sometimes just a little too comfy? But spring is here, and it's time to get back out there and show the world what you're made of.

A strong support system is key when it comes to keeping healthy eating habits. Friends, family members, and neighbors are not only a pivotal part of your success, you can play a huge roll in their health as well! This season, we want to partner with you in the goal to Share the Good!

Here are the details: Refer your friends to our delivery service and get your next Box of Good 50% OFF. PLUS, you’ll be entered into our contest for the chance to win a Champion Commercial Juicer valued at $320!

How it works: 
    •    The contest takes place April 1-30, 2013.
    •    When we receive a referral from you, BOTH you and your referral will receive 50% OFF your next box of good when the person whom you refer to our service signs up for delivery, he/she must give your name as the person who referred him/her.
    •    Each time you refer a person, your name will be entered into the prize drawing once. The more people you refer, the more times your name will be entered into the drawing and the greater your chance of winning. 
    •    We will choose the winner through random selection on May 1, 2013. The winner will be notified immediately thereafter.

Now for the small print:
    •    You must be a current customer to win.
    •    Your referral person must actually sign up and place an order to qualify. New customers who create an account, but do not place an order within the April 1-30, 2013 time period do not qualify as a referral.
    •    For each person you refer, you will still receive one of our standard referral gifts as a thank you.

We are excited about making your referrals more rewarding! So spread the word—email, Facebook, tweet—and share the good!