The Winter Drought of Cash Flow

When it's too cold to harvest, we keep our greens covered with some extra frost protection.

Many businesses die because of a lack of cash flow (not enough money coming in to pay the bills). Farms are especially susceptible to this because most of our income is from crops that are sold in the summer.  That is why many farms, including ours, offer CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture).  A CSA is a way to support your local farm by providing them with cash when they need it – in January, Feb and March when they have to pay for seeds and salaries to start their plants.  Then you can reap the rewards in the summer with incredible produce.  If you believe in what we are doing at Stone Coop Farm and want to support one of your local farmers, please become a member today. We offer shares that fit any size household:  Market Share, Spring Share, Summer Share, Fall Share.  Or you can Make a Difference, through a donation to  Stone Coop to support our community based certified organic farm.

So what does this have to do with the Abundance Cubed Program? Our first coaching session was on Tuesday with Noam Kostucki.  Each of us outlined where our business was currently along with struggles and challenges.  My biggest challenge is my fear that we will not have enough funds to pay for all our expenses each month. Noam asked me for worst case scenario - I said I could loose the farm. He asked what would you do then - I said I would teach people and farmers how to grow food. He then proposed that I focus on what I love to do (teach) rather than what I fear (not having enough money). What if I focus on addressing the financial concerns of the farm from a teaching viewpoint?  - Huh, that sounds kind of fun and a lot less stressful! 

He also challenged us to be fearlessly honest in our blogs.  I DREAD asking for money. I want people to think we have it all together and it's all smooth sailing. Financing a farm is a challenging, stressful, and exhausting problem that I worry about all the time. Thus my lead in to this blog - a call for cash!  I am going to use a tool I love, teaching, to address something I fear.

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 Here's my progress on some of my January A3 goals - topic BRANDING:

1. Clearly identify MY brand and translate that to the Stone Coop Farm (SCF) brand - First step was to read "You Are Your Brand!" by Noam Kosticki, Lee Kariuki and Ben Leates. The Johari's Window results were very insightful!  My top 5 adjectives as chosen by others:  knowledgeable, energetic, caring, friendly, and Intelligent.  My choices were almost the same.  Nice to know I am in sync with others. 
2. Have brainstorming sessions with staff and members about our brand, mission, tagline, and ideas for improved or new revenue sources - Simon Sinek (see his Ted Talk link below) says it is important to have customers and employees that believe what you believe.  My two sessions with my staff (Beth, Gina, and Nydia) reinforced what I believed about them.  They understand and affirm what I want to accomplish with Stone Coop Farm. ​
3. Notice something daily that inspires awe - Some of this week's awesome observations: Beth, Gina & Nydia inspire me, chickweed is abundant, snow and sleet can fall horizontally, our new 1 yr old Catahoula Leopard dog Lou Lou can run like the wind and our 8 yr old dog Roxy can keep up with her!

Recommended Viewing: Brene Brown on "The Anatomy of Trust" 
TED Talk by Simon Sinek on "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" 

If you look closely you may be able to find the cilantro that was supposed to be growing in this bed. The chickweed overwhelmed and conquered!

Did you know that Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) is often considered a farmer's bane because of its invasive nature.  It loves cold weather and our hoop houses are a perfect place for this weed to thrive. At Stone Coop Farm we try to work with nature and luckily for us common chickweed is an edible, delicious and highly nutritious wild green.  We use a lot of it in our salad mix. Other uses: a replacement for lettuce on tacos or sandwiches or add to smoothies.

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