Happy Thanksgiving.
- mortimerfarmsaz
- Nov 28, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 30
Connecting your family to your food.
Hi, friends!
*Hidden in this email you will find directions to enter a giveaway! A chance to win two free tickets to Santa Photos at the farm*
In this email you will enjoy a behind the scenes look into what we have been up to the last couple weeks at Mortimer Farms.
Black Friday discount on Photo with Santa tickets! Pick your time slot and use promo code: "blackfriday". This ticket grants you access to the Farm Park, magical Christmas Walk, Animal Encounter, a visit with Santa and photos with Santa! Book your tickets here: Photos with Santa
Plus, join us tomorrow night for the last Friday Night Barn Dance of the year. Barn Dances will start back up again in March!
As we reflect on this Thanksgiving season, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. being farmers and ranchers is more than just a job, it's a calling. Being farmers and ranchers is more than just a job- it's a calling. We are deeply thankful to care for the land, nurture crops, be care givers of animals, grow food for our community, and be a part of this land's beautiful story.
We couldn't do any of this without the support of our incredible team, the blessings and miracles of God, and each one of you- our amazing customers. your kindness, encouragement, and presence keeps us going and remind us of the importance of community and collection.
This season, we celebrate the love of family, the joy of friendship, and the countless blessings that fill our lives. Thank you for being a part of our journey and allowing us to do what we love most- grow food and create memories that last a lifetime.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. You are cherished today and every day!
Christmas trees have arrived, and we couldn't be more excited to share the magic of freshly cut Christmas trees with you! Each tree in our lot was lovingly grown on a family farm, nurtured with care, and harvested at the perfect moment to bring the spirit of the season into your home.
There's something truly special about a fresh tree- the crisp scent of pine, the rich green needles, and the timeless tradition of finding the perfect one. It's a little piece of nature's beauty that transforms your space and becomes the centerpiece of holiday memories.
Join us and make this cherished tradition a part of your holiday season. From our family to yours, we can't wait to help you find your tree and spread the joy of the season!
Santa Letters! Send a letter to Santa by December 18th and Santa will mail a letter back to you. Santa letters can be sent to 12907 E St. Rt 169, Dewey, AZ 86327. A beautiful family tradition!
This is one of my favorite poems:
And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker”
— so God made a Farmer.
God said, “I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper, then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board”
— so God made a Farmer.
“I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild; somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies, then tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon — and mean it”
— so God made a Farmer.
God said, “I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt, and watch it die, then dry his eyes and say, ‘Maybe next year.’ I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps; who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, and then pain’n from tractor back, put in another seventy-two hours”
— so God made a Farmer.
God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds, and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place
-- so God made a Farmer.
God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark."
It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners; somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church; somebody who would bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh, and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says that he wants to spend his life "doing what dad does"
-- so God made a Farmer.
I look out at this view and the beautiful fall colors and think, wow, there's so much work ahead to prepare for spring planting. There is no time for rest as a farmer and rancher. The land, the animals and the crops need us!
A few years ago, we planted a second blackberry field with care and innovation. Using biodegradable black mulch, we prevented weeds, kept roots warm, and ensured optimal growth. This year, the vines have grown big enough to allow us to remove the mulch cover and attach them to the trellis system, which supports their development and boosts yields.
We also replaced the irrigation system designed for young vines with one tailored for mature plants. This upgraded drip line delivers water slowly and directly to each plant, promoting deep root hydration, conserving water, and setting the stage for a delicious and abundant blackberry harvest next season!
Sheep show us the incredible harmony that exists between agriculture and nature. Sheep are vital partners in maintaining and improving the health of the land. We rely on their natural grazing habits to manage weeds, fertilize soil, compost left over crops at the end of the season, and protect against erosion. As they graze, sheep not only keep vegetation in balance but also enrich the soil with nutrients, promote healthy root systems, and prepare fields for the next planting season.
Farming is a dying profession, yet it remains essential for the survival of all. Mortimer Farms is the last farm of its kind in our area, and every day we fight against the odds, working 12-16 hour days to protect this land and the food it provides.
Today, we're stepping in as pollinators! During the winter months, when the greenhouse walls are closed, there aren't enough natural pollinators to do the job. So, we take on the task ourselves by gently touching each bloom with a cotton ball, mimicking the process of pollination.
Honoring all who served. On Veterans Day, we paused to recognize the courage, commitment, and sacrifices of those who have served in our nation's armed forces. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and selflessness, which allows us to enjoy our freedoms and way of life. To all veterans and their families, thank you for your service and your sacrifices. Happy Veterans Day.
It's lambing season. Today a group of guests witnessed an ewe giving birth. What a special experience!
***to enter to win 2 free tickets to visit Santa, please post a review about your last visit to the farm. Then go to our Instagram stories and answer yes to the poll that we just posted to signify that you are entering the drawing.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring about the story of your food. Thank you for supporting our family, our team, our farm, and Arizona agriculture!
Mortimer Farms, a real working farm, open seven days a week.
Connecting your Family to your food!
The Heart of Mortimer Farms
We believe in being stewards of this planet and its resources. We believe in practicing smart and sustainable farming techniques. We believe that community and connection are at the heart of a good life. We believe in extending kindness, thoughtfulness, and hospitality to all we meet. We believe in embracing change and improving daily. We believe that experiences are far more valuable than things and that spending quality time together is the very best way to spend our time. We believe in discovering beauty, marveling in it, and savoring every moment.
We believe in preserving and honoring the importance of agriculture. We believe that as we share our story, we are also sharing the story of Arizona and American agriculture. We believe food is the thing that connects us all. We believe it’s time for the pendulum to swing back to the basics of slow food, shopping local, scratch cooking, gathering together, and buying directly from the farmer. We believe in “connecting your family to your food”.
This is the heart behind Mortimer Farms and the principles that drive us in all that we do.
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