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FTFP: FLASHBACK FRIDAY
09/09/16 — Heydon Hatcher
Yeehaw! I think it’s ripe time for a Flashback Friday, right?! We’ve come a looong way here at JBG... What’s that song? Baby, we’ve come a long way…? Anyhow, I was recently cleaning out my house and found this photo album made by a couple of my golden oldie staffers, Grit and Steven Mattern. They were some of the first volunteers (OGs) that helped me in the original backyard garden (along with Matt Pelkey, of course). The book is a medley of snapshots from everyday life on the farm in 2008, the first year that I began farming full-time. Took me right down memory lane, and really got me thinking about when we were really starting to get things rollin’ at Hergotz.
![blogimage4]()
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
I started farming in 2005, in the backyard of my family home on Holly Street real close to downtown Austin. It was just a hobby back then... I still had a full-time job working for the Department of Interior, managing the Bureau of Reclamation’s Water Conservation Program. We planted seeds in the Fall of 2004, and by the Spring of 2005, crops were ready. At the time, the Sustainable Food Center HQ was located just a block down from my house in a trailer (and only had three staff members!). Talk about convenient! An idea popped into my head one day and I immediately acted upon it. I moseyed on down the street, and asked them in person if I could sell my backyard produce at the SFC Downtown Farmers Market! They gave me a ‘heck yes,’ and so began my stint of vending at the farmers markets in town. Crazy, right? I was so excited to be included, I went home immediately and dusted off my old vintage tie-dyed and batik tablecloths that I used for selling grilled cheese from my VW when I was following the Grateful Dead around... Man, those were the days... but I digress. I sold about $100 worth of veggies at that first farmers market and was over the moon. I was bitten by the farmin’ bug, and boy, did I like it.
In 2006, we got whiff of an idea to start a CSA program. At this point, my hobby had totally usurped the backyard. My wife kept telling me that it was getting out of control, and with 4 crazy kiddos in tow, let’s just say it didn’t give them much space to run around and be a kid.
![photos courtesy of Grit and Steven]()
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
Thus, we bought the farm on Hergotz, real proximal to the airport, in the summer of 2006. We continued the journey in 2007, farming solely with volunteers… and then in 2008, I decided to take the jump, quit my job, and farm full-time. No longer having the income security of said job, and having to support the family exclusively via farming was a tad terrifying to be honest. It was a huge leap of faith, one of those make-or-break moments in life.
The first year ended up being awesome! We were doing so much at once: buying our new house off Craigslist (seriously) + our first tractor, and not to mention, the somewhat shocking transition of living in downtown Austin to living in the COUNTRY, or the Dog’s Head area of Austin, as people sometimes refer to it. We built composting sawdust toilets for the intern trailer, and reached out to our CSA community to donate furniture to furnish them. We built a barn and put in an irrigation system to get water to the crops. It was such a great year, and we learned so much. It’s amazing what a little drive, tenacity, and a handful of hard-workin’ folks can do. We didn’t sell to restaurants or go to the farmers markets that year, we only provided for our quickly growing CSA customer base, and holy moly, did we make it happen!
![photos courtesy of Grit and Steven]()
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
That same year, we also filmed a Friday Night Lights episode at the farm, hosted an Outstanding in the Field dinner where Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due cooked up a storm, and had a potluck dinner where folks chased the farmer. I wore a handmade luchador mask during the chase. It was pretty wild to say the least.
![photos courtesy of Grit and Steven]()
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
After reminiscing about the old times, thinking about how so much has changed, my marketing manager, Ada, pointed out that things really haven’t changed. Things are the same, but different. We’re still running around like chickens with our heads cut off, hosting the occasional photo shoot, planning dinners on the farm, and farm events. We’re even still busy trying to build greenhouses. And Jesse Griffiths is still doing his fabulous thing with Dai Due Supper Clubs... and Matt Pelkey is still here, minus some of the chops, making sure our CSA program is top notch. Here's to the future of this crazy ole farm! 'Til next time, folks.
![JBG crew today. Photo by Scott David Gordon.]()
JBG crew today. Photo by Scott David Gordon.
Speaking of dinners on the farm and farm events, mark your calendar! Black Star Co-op Happy Hour on Thursday, Sept. 15th from 6-8pm at at 7020 Easy Wind Dr. Ste. 100. Ample parking in the back. Are you a Black Star regular? Never been to Black Star? Either way, we promise this Burnet brew pub will be a worthy destination. Aside from cranking out some amazing beers + food, this co-op deserves all the cred for sourcing locally and taking care of their people. For all CSA Members, there will be an extended happy hour featuring $3/selected pints and $5 snacks featuring JBG produce, of course (menu TBA). Enter to win some special JBG treats including vintage JBG t-shirts or an add-on of a specialty crop to your next delivery.
Why are we doing this? Just a chance for CSA Members to gather, swap veggies stories, and meet some of the JBG crew... Ever wonder who are behind your weekly bounties? Meet the hands that plant, water, harvest, wash, sort and pack your CSA shares. Put a face to the names you e-mail and chat with over the phone. Say hello to your modern-day milk man, aka the delivery drivers who make bring you your veg. High five Brenton, whose outta control backyard garden set this whole thing in motion. You get the idea!
Also, Save the Date: Saturday, October 22nd. JBG Member-Only Potluck. We hope all CSA members mark their calendar and plan to join us for this member-only Potluck on Saturday Evening. We'll set some long tables, turn on the twinkle lights, and all gather for a shared meal to celebrate fall's bounty and your commitment to the CSA model. What's a CSA without the Community? Stay tuned for more details on this intimate and spirited dinner on the farm.
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
I started farming in 2005, in the backyard of my family home on Holly Street real close to downtown Austin. It was just a hobby back then... I still had a full-time job working for the Department of Interior, managing the Bureau of Reclamation’s Water Conservation Program. We planted seeds in the Fall of 2004, and by the Spring of 2005, crops were ready. At the time, the Sustainable Food Center HQ was located just a block down from my house in a trailer (and only had three staff members!). Talk about convenient! An idea popped into my head one day and I immediately acted upon it. I moseyed on down the street, and asked them in person if I could sell my backyard produce at the SFC Downtown Farmers Market! They gave me a ‘heck yes,’ and so began my stint of vending at the farmers markets in town. Crazy, right? I was so excited to be included, I went home immediately and dusted off my old vintage tie-dyed and batik tablecloths that I used for selling grilled cheese from my VW when I was following the Grateful Dead around... Man, those were the days... but I digress. I sold about $100 worth of veggies at that first farmers market and was over the moon. I was bitten by the farmin’ bug, and boy, did I like it.
In 2006, we got whiff of an idea to start a CSA program. At this point, my hobby had totally usurped the backyard. My wife kept telling me that it was getting out of control, and with 4 crazy kiddos in tow, let’s just say it didn’t give them much space to run around and be a kid.
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
Thus, we bought the farm on Hergotz, real proximal to the airport, in the summer of 2006. We continued the journey in 2007, farming solely with volunteers… and then in 2008, I decided to take the jump, quit my job, and farm full-time. No longer having the income security of said job, and having to support the family exclusively via farming was a tad terrifying to be honest. It was a huge leap of faith, one of those make-or-break moments in life.
The first year ended up being awesome! We were doing so much at once: buying our new house off Craigslist (seriously) + our first tractor, and not to mention, the somewhat shocking transition of living in downtown Austin to living in the COUNTRY, or the Dog’s Head area of Austin, as people sometimes refer to it. We built composting sawdust toilets for the intern trailer, and reached out to our CSA community to donate furniture to furnish them. We built a barn and put in an irrigation system to get water to the crops. It was such a great year, and we learned so much. It’s amazing what a little drive, tenacity, and a handful of hard-workin’ folks can do. We didn’t sell to restaurants or go to the farmers markets that year, we only provided for our quickly growing CSA customer base, and holy moly, did we make it happen!
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
That same year, we also filmed a Friday Night Lights episode at the farm, hosted an Outstanding in the Field dinner where Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due cooked up a storm, and had a potluck dinner where folks chased the farmer. I wore a handmade luchador mask during the chase. It was pretty wild to say the least.
photos courtesy of Grit and Steven
After reminiscing about the old times, thinking about how so much has changed, my marketing manager, Ada, pointed out that things really haven’t changed. Things are the same, but different. We’re still running around like chickens with our heads cut off, hosting the occasional photo shoot, planning dinners on the farm, and farm events. We’re even still busy trying to build greenhouses. And Jesse Griffiths is still doing his fabulous thing with Dai Due Supper Clubs... and Matt Pelkey is still here, minus some of the chops, making sure our CSA program is top notch. Here's to the future of this crazy ole farm! 'Til next time, folks.
JBG crew today. Photo by Scott David Gordon.
Speaking of dinners on the farm and farm events, mark your calendar! Black Star Co-op Happy Hour on Thursday, Sept. 15th from 6-8pm at at 7020 Easy Wind Dr. Ste. 100. Ample parking in the back. Are you a Black Star regular? Never been to Black Star? Either way, we promise this Burnet brew pub will be a worthy destination. Aside from cranking out some amazing beers + food, this co-op deserves all the cred for sourcing locally and taking care of their people. For all CSA Members, there will be an extended happy hour featuring $3/selected pints and $5 snacks featuring JBG produce, of course (menu TBA). Enter to win some special JBG treats including vintage JBG t-shirts or an add-on of a specialty crop to your next delivery.
Why are we doing this? Just a chance for CSA Members to gather, swap veggies stories, and meet some of the JBG crew... Ever wonder who are behind your weekly bounties? Meet the hands that plant, water, harvest, wash, sort and pack your CSA shares. Put a face to the names you e-mail and chat with over the phone. Say hello to your modern-day milk man, aka the delivery drivers who make bring you your veg. High five Brenton, whose outta control backyard garden set this whole thing in motion. You get the idea!
Also, Save the Date: Saturday, October 22nd. JBG Member-Only Potluck. We hope all CSA members mark their calendar and plan to join us for this member-only Potluck on Saturday Evening. We'll set some long tables, turn on the twinkle lights, and all gather for a shared meal to celebrate fall's bounty and your commitment to the CSA model. What's a CSA without the Community? Stay tuned for more details on this intimate and spirited dinner on the farm.
