Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Right when the lock downs started, it was bad since all my restaurant clients were shut down. And everyone expected the farmers to just give the food away or spend money to distribute the food for free. Then after a while I picked up a bunch of new direct customers AND had a Box delivery service start buying produce from me and a Food Charity started buying from me as well (She didn't like how people seemed to expect the farmers to give the food away for free so she found some Grant money and started a non profit to buy from local farms and distribute the food to people in need.) So all in all, the farm is better off than we were this time last year.

That's good news in a tough year. Glad to hear thins are going well. Stay healthy.

That is an awesome, uplifting story, and it is very interesting what people expect from farmers sometimes! Especially considering all the uncertain things that farmers have to yield and adapt to on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.

And unfortunately, a lot of people these days don't have a clue of the work that goes into growing crops and everything else that goes along with it, especially for smaller farms. Some people still see the value though. Very glad to hear that!

Take care!

It's great to hear your farm is doing okay. Last year I was contracting and my contract finished a week before the first lockdown in March. I had some cracking contracts lined up but they all just evaporated. It was pretty terrifying. Luckily I was approached by a great retail company that owns the two biggest grocery chains in New Zealand. Got offered a job during lockdown and started the week lockdown ended. Was a big relief. Still working there and it is an amazing environment. Full of caring people talking about kindness every day. 20 years in the corporate world and I was pretty jaded about corporates in general. This place has changed my outlook, for the better, in a big way.

Hi Will, yes, the whole COVID pandemic has been handled really well here by the government. Was very smoothly done and people have been very supportive. I has been a real contrast compared to some other countries. I don't mean that in a critical way, just that it was very obvious which countries took a scientifically sound approach and were supported by their people who trusted their government to do the right thing.

Really hope the vaccine kicks in and brings those numbers down all the way for you guys up north.

I must say our Government here in the USA during the past year was what I would call critically BAD. I'm hoping things can start getting better here soon.

I also hope for a big turnaround TC. Lots of good people that deserve it.

Yeah, the USA has become a reality TV series. Either grab some popcorn and enjoy the entertainment, or run away fast! Or one could invest a lifetime of service working diligently for meaningful change, only to arrive at mediocrity, division and lack of accomplishment.

Sigh, head down here working to supply local food. Hoping to keep politics out of business as much as possible. The Past 4 years were pretty terrifying to us at how many people seem to want to live in the "YOUR FIRED" reality TV series.

Yes it was very bad.
I got a lot of grieve when I made masks in my business mandatory, No mask No service. Boycotts, flash mobs in the parking lot, shot window and so on.
March, April, May and June were very bad for business, even for a essential like mine, 30% loss.
Than we recovered, but the maskholes were still a problem. Had to call the cops at least twice a week.
But now we are on the way to normal. All my employees stayed healthy and we are all now vaccinated and Spring is around the corner.

Glad to hear it

Glad to hear you all are doing well, we are too. When Spring hit I felt like possibly it wouldn't, after one let down after another. But Spring has sprung here i northern New Mexico and it feels like time to do the same; spring forward! We're both now vaccinated, and will get a chance to see our granddaughter in a year!!!

Alive and well here. And now we start into Spring/Summer Clean up. Just too hot here in summer for much to do well.

Good to hear TC. Hope the summer isn't too hot.

Hi Martin, it is shaping up to be a Hot one so far. At least we got a little rain today, it has been dry as blazes so far this spring.