Happy Winter Solstice and Merry Christmas from the Barstow’s! There is still plenty of winter ahead of us, but today marks the year’s most hours of darkness. And despite the dark and the rain today, it feels oh so cheery on the farm!
Bakers Shannon, Crystal, and Kim have been busy filling a record number of holiday orders at Barstow’s. While Thanksgiving pick ups tend to be the day before, December, riddled with holiday parties and office gatherings, keeps the bakers busy throughout the month. The orders have been unique and fun! We’ve whipped up eclairs, cream puffs, candy cane whoopie pies, peanut butter cupcakes, and cookies & cream cheesecake bars, for special orders – which means you can find the extras in the bakery case while supplies last!
For holiday parties we’ve sent countless platters, salads, and appetizers out the door. And we have orders for lasagna, meatballs, shepherds pie, roasted veggies, and some casseroles on the order board for Christmas Eve. Today is the last day to place your Christmas Eve orders without approval from the bakery. Don’t wait, call us right now 413-586-2142!
If you opt to do the baking and cooking yourself this holiday, consider purchasing potatoes, beef, eggs, butter, milk, and cheese, from Barstow’s. OR buy Cabot products for your Christmas meal from your local grocery store – it supports dairy farmers like us who steward the New England landscape, prioritize sustainability, and provide the best care to their herds.
Christmas is five days away, and unless you have Amazon Prime, it’s likely that any holiday shopping done from here on out will have to be in the old fashioned brick and mortar store gasp! Shopping nearby keeps dollars in our local economy, connects you with regional goodies, and sustains your local shopkeepers. Browse handmade local gifts at Barstow’s or give the gift of farm fresh – cheese, honey, jam, baked goods, beef, and maple products make great stocking stuffers! For the Barstow’s lover: mugs, totes, gift certificates, and we just got in a ton of new t-shirts and sweatshirts too.
We’ve reduced the prices on our wreaths and kissing balls – they make a great gift for the holiday hostess or to dress up your own home for Christmastime. And speaking of price changes, STOCK UP: Barstow’s Beef prices increase on January 1, 2019. With the minimum wage increase at the start of the year and other business costs, processing at family owned and operated, Adam’s Farm’s Slaughterhouse, is going up. Barstow’s and most other businesses will be increasing prices of their products for the same reasons, we thank you for your support and patience with this!
As the New Year approaches, we are reflecting on a great year at Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery! We celebrated our 10 Year Anniversary ALL year with the incredible, generous, supportive, people who make it all happen – YOU! We feel so blessed to be a part of a community that values local agriculture. Between the mini events on the 10th of each month, a record year for catering orders, and more foot traffic on the farm from tours, we feel more connected, more excited, and more grateful than ever for the decade ahead at Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery.
This optimism and enthusiasm for our business is as important as ever as dairy farmers across the country plunge further into crisis. Barstow’s Longview Farm, like thousands of others, are struggling immensely with low milk prices and the increased costs of doing business. Although there is more hope now for small family owned farms than there was just a few months ago. The Farm Bill was passed (finally!), the administration has ironed out a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, and the whole tariff mess is going away. In case you missed it, we wrote a blog post about the dairy crisis back in August. You can find it here along with why you should care and what you can do to help.
Hours at Barstow’s the next few weeks will be a little bit wonky. We are open 8am-4pm this weekend and from 6am-2pm on Christmas Eve. Barstow’s will be closed Christmas Day and December 26. New Year’s Eve, we’ll be open 6am-2pm and from January 1-6 Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery will be CLOSED, reopening January 7 regular hours – weekdays 6am-3pm and weekends 8am-3pm through the rest of the month. You can always find our hours updated on our website, Facebook, and under our Google business.
January, February, and March prove tough for farmstands like us. We choose to keep our store open year round for the financial security of our staff and family, and because we don’t think we could go too long without seeing our “regulars” regularly! Please take a moment to take this very short survey to help us better understand what our community wants from our store-front this winter.
With all the craziness that is Christmas, thanks for taking the time to read up on your neighborhood dairy farm! Believe it or not, with all the time we already spend together, we are looking forward to spending time with family this holiday season. Wishing you a safe, warm, and joyous Christmas with people you love and a very happy New Year!
With gratitude, Steve, David, Steven, Kelly, Shannon, and Denise Barstow