🌱 Celebrating Our Journey: From Family Farm to Co-op Success Story
đźšś Our Homestead Evolution: A Decade of Growth, Community, and Dreams
First of all, we’d like to thank you.
Your support has been instrumental in propelling us toward the remarkable successes and transformative changes we are currently witnessing. It brings us immense joy to share that our family farm and farmers’ market booth has flourished to such an extent that we find ourselves in the midst of significant business restructuring. We’re thrilled to share it with you today.
To make this lengthy blog post a little easier to read, we broke it down into three sections:
This post provides the reader a comprehensive look at it all. From the very beginning when the founders started it all, to the passing of our beloved “Kraut Guy,” and unveiling some dreams for the future.
Each of these blog posts was shared privately with our email subscribers first - and they often times receive some behind-the-scenes action that very few have access to. Check out some examples of our previous newsletters in our Email Campaign Archive and consider subscribing if you haven’t already!
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Now that you’ve had an opportunity to subscribe to the newsletter to stay current with everything that is going on here on the homestead - please get comfortable and grab a coffee. This is the big blog post.
Thank you for being a part of our story. We are grateful you are a part of it.
The Founders
While you can find a condensed version of our history on "The Founders" page of our website, we want to take this opportunity to dive deeper into the farm's story.
This blog post will provide a comprehensive “look back” into the complete evolution of our homestead.
Understanding our journey since the beginning will provide context about our current endeavors and shed some light on our dreams and aspirations as we “look ahead” to the future.
(Photo 08/07/2013)
Robert J. Kaiser, Jr. and Denise Kaiser purchased the land where York Meadow Farm is located in Medina, Ohio in 2005 with the intent of building their retirement home. At that time, part of the land was being conventionally farmed in grain, as it had been for decades.
After a couple of seasons of observing conventional farming, Bob and Denise wished to retain some farming related activities on the land, but not in the way it had been historically farmed.
Maurice Small
Thanks to Mom's role as a nurse in Cleveland, she had cultivated a connection with Maurice Small, who was involved with City Fresh, a non-profit organization partnering with the hospital to promote a healthier local food system.
Maurice's passion for sustainable agriculture, wellness, and community, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the local farmers' market landscape, became instrumental in assisting Bob and Denise in crafting a vision to transform the land into something beyond our wildest dreams.
Following consultations with Maurice, the decision was made to establish a small market garden for quick-turnover crops while also nurturing fruit trees and berry plants for a sustainable, long-term harvest.
With plans in motion, Bob and Denise wasted no time. They rallied the family together to plant the initial seeds and bring this vision to life. Their three children (Rob, Matt, and Kate) were notified of the plans to become market farmers and they got to work.
By this time, Bob and Denise had sold the home that the kids were raised in and had moved to Medina, living in a rental house and saving money to build the future dream home. Despite living out of state at this time, whenever the kids returned home, there was always work to be done at the future homestead. During the holidays in these early years, we would discuss a name for the property, and the name “York Meadow Farm” was voted on.
Periodically, the kids would fly home for significant projects. For example, when the first plants were put in the ground, the family, along with some assistance from Bob’s brother Tom and his wife Laurel, managed to get +100 blueberry plants of three different varieties planted in the ground one weekend in June 2010.
During this time, Rob was living in California and dating a very talented graphic designer, Alicia. Witnessing the excitement Rob shared with her about what his parents were doing, she crafted a logo for the new family business. At Christmas in 2010, she delivered the logos that you have come to know and love, and gifted Bob and Denise the very first market sign, one that is still in use to this very day.
Logo courtesy of Alicia Parrott , 2010
In the wake of a season filled with experimentation growing vegetables in the market garden in 2010, Bob and Denise found themselves armed with valuable insights as they geared up to bring their harvest to market for the first time the following year. As the winter months unfolded, Denise began exploring and making various all-natural bath and body products, while Bob embarked on a journey of bread baking, particularly with the creation of his own sourdough from scratch.
These diverse product lines were part of a plan that enabled them to diversify their offerings at the onset of the market season, before their garden crops were ripe for harvest. With increased confidence about being vendors at the local farmers’ market, they applied and were accepted as vendors, marking York Meadow Farm’s very first appearance at the Medina Farmers Market in 2011, held on Saturday mornings in the center of the Medina Public Square Historic District.
Bob and Denise found themselves in a prime position to fine-tune their market offerings, thanks to the thoughtful gesture of having their logo and market signage already created and generously gifted to them. Right from the start, collaboration and partnerships played a pivotal role in their journey. We will be eternally grateful for Alicia and her invaluable contribution, which proved instrumental in preparing Bob and Denise for their inaugural market season in 2011.
Meanwhile, Rob stepped into the role of remotely assisting with the social media aspect of York Meadow Farm in April 2011. Filled with pride for his parents and the meaningful work they were undertaking, he eagerly shared their journey, while creating an online community through Facebook. Many of the captivating photos featured in this blog post have been chronicled in our Facebook history.
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During this time, the kids were spread all across the country. Rob was living in California, Matt was living in Florida, and Kate was living in Texas. Everyone was pursuing their own careers and lives. However, a strong love for family and a growing interest in what Bob and Denise were doing led each of the kids to eventually move back home closer to family. Matt moved back to Ohio in August of 2011, and Kate moved back to Ohio in June of 2012. Rob returned in October 2013. It was a blessing to be together again.
Matt and Kate have since married and are now proud parents themselves, bringing their own distinct skills and talents to the homestead as they nurture and expand their families.
As for me, Rob, I’ve made York Meadow Farm my home and workplace, and I’m excited to share the story of our family and our homestead with you. My objective is to provide a clear picture of our family’s roots to where we stand today, and some of our dreams for the future. I’m here to give you an intimate glimpse into our journey and what we’re trying to do here with this land and with our lives, together, as a family.
Whether you’ve been with us for years, or you’re just discovering us, you’re part of our story.
On behalf of the family, we appreciate you and we thank you,
Rob
Since our humble beginnings with our initial market garden and the addition of blueberries back in 2010, one thing has remained constant: change. As you continue reading and take a stroll down memory lane with us, you’ll be able to reflect on the evolution that has unfolded over the past decade. From our very first appearance at the bustling Medina Farmers’ Market to the present day, we'll explore the remarkable journey that has shaped York Meadow Farm and learn about the potential of our future here.
In the seasons of 2012 and 2013, Bob and Denise forged ahead with their journey of growth and experimentation. Amidst the successes, there were also inevitable setbacks and failures. Yet, from each challenge emerged valuable lessons. Bob and Denise approached each crop failure as an opportunity for growth, making the necessary adjustments along the way. The kids were a big part of the growth and development of the homestead, helping with various tasks around the homestead and lending a hand at the farmers' market whenever possible. From the very beginning until today, it’s been a family affair.
When Rob moved back to Ohio in late 2013, he immersed himself into the homesteading, small farming, and permaculture communities to learn how to grow and develop the farm and homestead. Over the next few years, Rob assisted with various facets of the growth and development of the business. He began digitizing the market garden planning and working with organizations like Local Food Mondays and Medina Permaculture, hosting events to promote the business and the local food community.
In 2014, Rob learned about, applied for, and was accepted in the High Tunnel Initiative program through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and with help from our local community built a 30 x 96’ high tunnel in 2015.
In 2016, Rob continued following his interests wherever they led him as he explored the world of egg-laying ducks, microgreens, beekeeping, different market gardening techniques, and more... While he had a tremendous interest in all things homesteading, there was a little bit too much diversity taking place, and it wasn’t sustainable.
The 2016 year was also the year where all construction plans were finalized and ground was broken in June. The excavation for the cabin site began, and the construction of the barn began simultaneously. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the crews, Jim Capron and his team completed construction of the barn in less than a month. With the concrete poured in both the barn and on the porch, the crews seamlessly transitioned to the completion of the foundation of the cabin that was to be built.
It's worth noting that during the hustle and bustle of the barn construction and cabin planning, our market gardens continued to grow and thrive, and we participated in the farmers’ market as often as possible. The summer of 2016 also marked the beginning of Bob's experiments with fermented foods, sparked by an abundance of pickling cucumbers and dill harvested that season. As you'll soon discover, pickles were just the beginning of the fermented foods that were to be produced by York Meadow Farm.
Seizing the Moment: Building Dreams
With the conclusion of the 2016 market season and cabin construction temporarily on hold as we waited for delivery of the logs, we swiftly shifted our focus to the next project.
The barn project took center stage, with plans to create an office space and a secondary living space inside the barn. This marked the beginning of the long-term vision for full-time residency, employment, and more on the homestead.
In the winter of 2016, and contributing to the holiday cheer, the long-awaited logs for the cabin finally arrived, kicking off construction just days after Christmas. With the first logs set on December 27th, we were fortunate to experience a mild winter, enabling Jim Capron and his crew to get all four walls constructed by New Years Eve! It was very impressive to witness the progress being made.
As the new year dawned in 2017, anticipation filled the air. By February, the cabin's roof installation was underway, followed by the framing of walls in March. Collaborating closely with construction teams, we navigated through inspections, ensuring compliance with codes. Yet, the true magic happened when Bob took control of the project, working with the family to transforming the cabin into a warm, inviting home.
From tongue and groove paneling to intricate tile work, every detail was meticulously crafted by our own hands. Together, as a family, we forged lasting bonds and acquired invaluable skills along the way, making the cabin's construction not just a project, but a cherished journey of growth and togetherness.
We began to realize that we weren’t simply building a cabin and a home. Through connections cultivated at the farmers’ market and other local small farms and homestead, we were building community. It was beautiful.
Hosting Workshops
Working with our local community, helping others learn and grow.
Throughout the 2017 season, we maintained our presence at the bustling Medina Farmers’ Market, albeit as part-time vendors. Often times, this meant Mom and Kate were at the market while Bob, Matt, and Rob dedicated themselves to the meticulous task of completing the interior of the log cabin.
By September of 2017, significant progress had been made on the cabin, allowing Mom and Dad to officially move in. As our own homestead flourished, we found ourselves in a position to extend a helping hand to our friends at Royal Fare Farm who were busy building their own homestead.
Together, we hosted a beef butchering workshop, a memorable event where Jeff Reusser invited Brandon Sheard (The Farmstead Meatsmith) to demonstrate the art of home butchering using one of his exquisite grass-fed and finished heritage breed Dexter bulls. It was an incredible hands-on learning experience.
The beef butchering workshop was a great and successful event, so much so, that Jeff and Shari from Royal Fare Farm asked us if we would be willing to host another event the following year. In October of 2018, we all welcomed Andy and Doug from Hand Hewn Farm (located in Fresno, Ohio) for another hands-on experience where we all learned more about the forgotten skills that have produced some of the finest foods in the world. We are grateful for these opportunities and hope to host more workshops in the future.
During the 2018 season, Rob also moved out the homestead with York Meadow Farm. He realized that juggling his own business and helping out with the family farm in the way he was doing so wasn't sustainable. So, he decided to put more hours into his day job, focusing on paying off the debt he'd accumulated while chasing various dreams over the past few years.
With his own business taking a backseat, Rob's role at the family farm shifted. While he still pitched in with farmers’ markets setup and teardown, most Saturdays were spent working full time with his employer. This change allowed him to craft a slow but deliberate plan to eventually work full-time with the family business.
Though it was tough, Rob knew it was the right move for the long haul. To ensure a smooth transition, he leased the high tunnel and surrounding gardens to a tenant farmer and spread the word about the opportunity. Once a tenant farmer was found, Rob transferred ownership of the high tunnel to York Meadow Farm, who now oversees the lease agreement with the current tenant farmer.
Tenant farmers had entered into the operational model of the farm enterprise at York Meadow Farm. Over the years, there have been several people who have been involved in working the land, growing their own crops and business, while we continue to grow and develop other businesses here on the homestead.
All during this time, Dad continued his experiments with fermented foods – and they were growing in popularity. It was during the 2018 season where he was first given the nickname “The Kraut Guy.” People began talking about the incredible hand-made, small-batch sauerkraut that he was making…and would routinely refer inquirers over to “The Kraut Guy” so they could experience it for themselves.
2018 was the year where we first began participating in off-season markets and began experimenting with retail sales. We made our first appearance at the Medina Candlelight Walk in November of 2018. The long hours during The Candlelight Walk event was a family affair. Kate was integral in the success experienced during this event as she spearheaded the decorations and artistic design for the booth.
In December of 2018, we first experienced retail sales when DeSimone’s Country Market began carrying the fermented foods made by The Kraut Guy. The business continued to grow, and during the winter of 2018 and 2019, Rob worked on developing the website to promote the business as it gained traction and the website at www.yorkmeadowfarm.com was officially launched in early 2019.
The website served as a great mechanism to help grow the business, as did all of the appearances at the off-season markets we attended. Due to the popularity of Mom and Dad’s products, and the new fermented food lineup, we were invited to attend an indoor winter market at Twiisted Restaurant in Medina. While Dad was still baking bread during the 2019 season, it soon became clear that there was more demand for the various fermented foods that he was making which consisted of 5 different types of sauerkraut and a Latin American ferment called Curtido – a personal favorite of The Kraut Guy.
In the latter part of 2019, we revisited The Candlelight Walk on the Square in Medina, achieving record-breaking sales for all our products. This event, like many others, was a true family affair. Throughout the long yet rewarding weekend, the booth was skillfully managed by a dynamic team composed of Bob, Denise, Rob, and Kate working together at different times during the long days.
The events in early 2020 were what they were, and that facilitated some additional change in how many vendors conducted business during that year. We were blessed to participate in a partnership with Yellow House Cheese as they began selling products online. Moreover, we were honored to be invited to participate in a NEW farmers’ market, established by the Farmers’ Market of Medina County and held at the Medina VFW Post 5137. By this time, “The Kraut Guy” had made a name for himself.
Rob had been working with and learning Bob’s recipes during the past few years and was watching the interest in the product grow. The decision had been made to scale up operations and grow the business. It was time to build a commercial kitchen inside the barn. Bob’s younger son, Matt, began planning the construction of the kitchen space, while Rob reached out to other large-scale fermented food producers to inquire about touring their facilities to see what was necessary to scale up The Kraut Guy’s operation.
Work on the commercial kitchen commenced in July of 2020, a tour of a large-scale fermented food operation took place in September of 2020, and in November of 2020, we launched an email campaign to accompany our website which launched the year prior. Growth and development continued and the commercial kitchen was inspected and licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for operation in Early 2021. Production of the fermented foods became much easier and scalable.
Our presence at the Farmers’ Market of Medina County continued during the 2021 year, and we began to increase sales through various small retail locations. Demand for the product grew. Experimentation with various fermented foods continued as we tried to home in on what customers preferred and why. It was clear there was a reason why “The Kraut Guy” had obtained the name he had obtained. People had grown to love the various types of sauerkraut he made, with pickles being a close second.
Rob had been assisting as much as possible while pinching pennies and saving money, and by May of 2022 – he found himself in a position where it was “now or never.” There’s always a lot of fear involved in venturing out into uncharted territory, but Dad was struggling to keep up with the demand for the products and during the 2022 season, we were able to quadruple production from the previous year. In September of the 2022, we launched our online store and have shipped products to dozens of states and we continue to grow our online marketplace.
2023 was a pivotal year here on the homestead. We began the year with our first appearance at the Indoor Winter Farmers Market at Boyert’s Farm & Greenhouse. This was a memorable market season for us, because our first market of the 2023 year happened to be the biggest retail sales at a market event EVER in York Meadow Farm history. We closed out the Winter Market Season on March 11 of that year. Less than three weeks later, we received news that Dad had been diagnosed with cancer.
The family rallied strong and began taking care of The Kraut Guy as he battled lung cancer. While news of the beloved Kraut Guy’s cancer diagnosis spread rather quickly amongst our wonderful local community, we decided to share the news publicly in a blog post and on social media on May 16…and just four short days later, Dad passed away on his 77th birthday, surrounded by the family he so deeply loved – taking his last breath as we sang him happy birthday together as a family.
May his memory be eternal.
The outpouring of support from our beloved community was overwhelming, and we were graciously welcomed back into the market season with an invitation to a “Rock The Dock” event at Keller Market & Café Bistro, followed by a return to the Medina Farmers’ Market on the Square just one week afterwards. Later on that month in June, we again achieved record setting sales at the farmers’ market.
Dad’s passing was bittersweet, but the legacy continues with Rob taking over the fermented food operation and beginning the rebranding process that was discussed with The Kraut Guy in 2022. During the month of July, the fermented foods were released and rebranded under the “Natural Ferments” product line; the same month, our fermented products became a staple in a new retailer – Krieger’s Health Foods Market in Cuyahoga Falls.
During August, we were actively stocking our Natural Ferments products in three different retail locations: Keller Market & Café Bistro and Richardson Farms in Medina, along with Krieger’s Health Foods Market in Cuyahoga Falls. We also began the process of developing a new logo to accompany the Natural Ferments name. Old recipes, new look. While it is bittersweet that he did not directly experience the beginning of the transformation, we are confident it is what The Kraut Guy had envisioned. His legacy lives on.
The market season continued, and we attended several additional events such as the Whispering Acres Art for the Animals fundraiser at Das Weinhaus, Oktoberfest in October at Goldhorn Brewery, and returning to the Medina Candlelight Walk in November for the first time since 2019. These were all wonderful events, giving us the opportunity to connect with new customers and cultivate deeper relationships within our local community and the greater Northeast Ohio area.
The holidays allowed for some wonderful time shared with friends, family, and our community. The holidays also gave us the opportunity to firm up some other ideas that we had been considering over the years. Since Dad’s passing, we’ve come together as a family to support, encourage, and love one another – just one of many blessings that happens when a loved one’s soul separates from the body.
One of these ideas is operating as a co-op. Over the last +10 years, York Meadow Farm has gone from a humble booth at a farmers’ market, to what has effectively become a farmer-owned co-op. There are now three separate businesses operating off of the land which has become known as York Meadow Farm, and during recent family meetings, we are all in agreement that this is only the beginning.
You may be asking…
What is a Co-op?
Co-ops are producer- and user-owned businesses that are controlled by -- and operate for the benefit of -- their members, rather than outside investors. The co-op business model is highly flexible and can address a wide variety of needs. Farmer-owned co-ops help producer-members market and process their crops and livestock, and secure needed production supplies and services.
The rebranding of our fermented foods line to “Natural Ferments” has since been taken to an entirely different level. Natural Ferments is operating as a business independent of York Meadow Farm, but in partnership with York Meadow Farm – much like our current Tenant Farmer. We are operating as a co-op in the truest sense of the word and we love dreaming of the opportunities it presents for everyone.
The Natural Ferments logo has been finalized and the business transition is almost complete. The readers of this newsletter are the first to see and experience the new look accompanying Dad’s recipes.
We are proud to introduce you to the new look of Natural Ferments…
It is bittersweet to write and reflect on the changes with the passing of Bob (aka “The Kraut Guy”) last year, for he was not able to witness some of these transitions come to fruition – but we feel comfortable sharing these developments with you, because this was often the topic of discussions had over family meals together or after a long day of work in the kitchen or after a farmers’ market.
We were always wondering:
“What’s next?”
This is a great question. We have come so far from where we began. We did not start this journey intending to do the things we are currently doing. We are following the path outlined for us as we do our best to do the next right thing – living honest, open-minded and willing lives. We know not what the future has in store for us – but are confident that the next ten years are going to be far more exciting than the last ten years.
York Meadow Farm can support people who wish to homestead, but do not have the resources to do so on their own. We began doing so years ago when we first took on a tenant farmer, and we are hopeful we can expand with other people or young couples interested in participating in what we have to offer. We are interested in growing and developing our land in a number of different ways, including, but not limited to agritourism.
Agritourism
Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.
We're also considering exploring the possibility of becoming hosts within the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) community. Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Over the years, we've had the pleasure of meeting several "WWOOFers," and we're eager to explore the potential opportunities within this community further.
Additionally, we see potential in developing AirBnB and/or Hipcamp sites on our land. There's a growing interest among individuals living the full-time nomadic lifestyle in RVs or vans, seeking to deepen their connection with homesteading. Similarly, there are those on "The Royal Path," desiring to connect with like-minded individuals, build community, and embrace a simpler, ascetic lifestyle akin to the ancient Desert Fathers.
Furthermore, we're continually discovering unforeseen opportunities within our lives and on our land, which will endure for generations. Recognizing this, Dad and Mom established "The Kaiser Preservation Trust," ensuring the legacy of York Meadow Farm while providing opportunities for others to create their own legacies. We're grateful for your involvement in this journey. Thank you for being a part of it all.
We love sharing our farm and homestead with you, and thank you for being part of the story.
Here’s to a bright future together.
The York Meadow Farm Co-op
