01/06/2024
Folks,
As is usual for us at Brightview Greens, we are taking a summer pause. Locally produced fresh greens can be purchased from amazing producers like Greg Camphouse at Camphouse Farms who you can find at the ODAS Park Farmers Market each week.
This summer pause will be a different one for us. We will not be starting up the microgreen growing in the fall this year. After 4 years of growing, harvesting, and delivering greens to restaurants, customers, and the markets, we have decided to hang up our seed trays and "retire" from the microgreen business.
Along the way, you have blessed our family with your support. My kids have learned so much about operating a business. I think that they believe every family has a side business into which they invest 20-30 hours per week. It has been their normal to fill soil trays, soak seeds, plant, water, thin, remove hulls, harvest, package, label, recycle the soil, and deliver each week during their school year. Marketing, billing, ordering seeds and packaging, on-line communication, and customer service have become their spare time activities.
When they realized we often had a surplus of greens, they decided to start a booth at the market. At 12, 14 and 15 years old, they woke at 5:30am every Saturday to get to the market on time, set up their booth, to sell the products that they had planted, watered, and harvested.
The skills you have helped us to cultivate in our children will benefit them for years to come. For this we thank you dearly.
We have met so many unique folks, and been to so many beautiful homes. Chats from across the porch during the pandemic. Tours of your gardens. Art tours in your homes. Tree pruning demos. Dog petting sessions. So many great memories for all of us.
In closing, I'd like to extend an invitation to visit our farm on July 1 for Canada Day. We host a Canada Day party at the farm each year. The event includes hay rides, a pig roast, and live music. All funds collected go to the Orillia Youth Centre to support their programming. No need to RSVP. Bring friends, a chair, dishes to eat off of (we supply the roast pork), beverages, and your musical listening ears! The event is kid friendly (no pets though).
From all of us at Brightview Farm, thank you very much for being the most amazing customers.
Cheers to you all,
Jeramie, Lorelei, Jyllian, Jebediah and Eliza Jane
