We‘d been living on a half-acre of land at Stories Beach where we raised chickens, turkeys, and rabbits. I was on medical leave from work, and I wanted a lifestyle that supported my health. And Garnet grew up on a buffalo farm—farming is in his blood. His knowledge comes in handy every day, from fencing to planting and harvesting.
Building a farm from scratch
The first thing we set up on the farm was the chicken shantytown: structures made of tin siding to keep the birds safe. We bought a pig, and Garnet built him a log house. The animals needed to be secure. Us—not so much. We lived in an 18-foot camper while we cleared the property. By the end of 2020, half of the land was clear, and Garnet had built a shop. In 2021, we bought a bandsaw mill and built a barn. We set up a self-serve farm stand and sold eggs and produce. In 2022, we purchased Angus-cross cows for meat.
Farm life is full of challenges—and every one we conquer feels like a win.
Quality from the ground up
The motto for Mucker’s Farm is “quality from the ground up.” Everything we produce starts with healthy, chemical-free soil. Healthy soil yields healthy plants and healthy livestock. For us, quality extends to the care we give our animals. We do all we can to provide them with a stress-free life.
We try to prepare for everything, but Mother Nature sometimes has different plans. In 2022, we were hit with snow and minus-ten-degree temperatures. Everything in the barn froze. I had to break through the ice in the cows’ water troughs several times a day. Farm life is full of challenges like this—and every one we conquer feels like a win.
Opening the farm store
In spring 2023, we built a small farm store, and we added cuts of ethically raised pork and beef to our inventory. We also sell products from local craftspeople: coffee, salves, wild-harvested medicinal products, woodwork, and more.
The support we have received has been overwhelming and humbling. It keeps us going.
Since we started selling meat, we’ve noticed that not everyone wants to dig through the freezer deciding what to buy. So, we made things simpler by creating ready-to-go meat boxes: packs of our best cuts of pork and beef: a breakfast box, various combo packs, and a barbecue pack. You order and pay online, then come pick them up. If there is something people want and we don’t have it, we work with other like-minded local producers to meet our customers’ needs.
Connecting with the community
Our in-person store is open three days a week, and it’s been wonderful to connect with people in the community and to meet visitors. The support we have received has been overwhelming and humbling. It keeps us going.
What’s next for Mucker’s Farm? We have teamed up with a friend to build a big barbeque, and soon we’ll build a gazebo and make space for live music. We look forward to serving quality food and bringing good music into the community that welcomed us in. If you find yourself in Sayward on a Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday, stop in at the Mucker’s Farm store and say hello.
