PTB

We found a turtle crossing the yard. It had just rained and though the ground was still practically dry, the world had softened just a tiny bit. The dogs barked and were curious but also not benign. Gingerly I picked it up and I could hear the air rush out of its shell as it closed quickly. We set it down on the edge, out of the dogs reach, and waited. Waited for the turtle to come out of its shell. I promised her that if we were patient and quiet it would happen. But it didn't. I had to go make dinner. And she, with her mind captivated by this curious creature, kept leaving the kitchen, then later the dinner table too, to check on the turtle. Always in the same place. Once, as I was finishing my salad, trying not to be frustrated with her inability to focus on dinner time, she came running in excitedly yelling about its head poking out. At bedtime she kept running to the window to see if she could see him from her room. This morning the turtle has finally gone, but a new day of discovery awaits.

Every time I catch up with someone recently, they ask how the flower farm is going, or they double check to see if I'm still at the downtown farmers market. And I always feel the need to explain fully, to go into too much detail, to give the back story. Because the truth is it's been a challenging transition, in some ways, but in other ways it's exactly where I'm meant to be. We're working out how to make a living from one farmers market so our family can thrive and do fun things on Saturdays like birthday parties or family events. But that requires sacrifice in other areas and a new cadence to our week. Learning to grow flowers for florists is new and exciting and I'm so lucky to get work with my dear friend and long time co-conspirator to learn how to bunch snaps and when to harvest lisianthus. It also means I'm hustling to sell meat boxes on this platform after bedtime and as the kid runs around barefoot in the yard begging for my attention while I'm trying to piece together a marketing strategy. All that to say, the flower farm is going great! You should buy a bouquet or even a month of bouquets! And no, I'm not at the downtown farmers market right now but you can find us in Winston on Saturdays or buy a meatbox or any of our meats online and come on out to farm to pickup! We're a human scale operation with humans just doing our best. Thanks for asking 💕

Alright alright alright. The 2026 meatboxes are a go!

What's a meatbox?
🎁the ptb farm meatbox is a box of our finest grassfed grassfinished beef and pasture- and woodland- raised pork. The large box is 20 lbs and the small box is 10lbs.

What's in the box?
🎁 the box is "farmer choice" meaning each month we will select a mix of cuts and ground, but always right at 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork.

Can I order just one or is this a subscription?
🎁 you do you! We have both options listed on our website.

When is pickup? And do you ship/deliver?
🎁 pickup is by appointment on our farm just north of Greensboro. We do not ship or deliver at this time.

How do I order?
🎁 head on over to ptbfarm.com to order via our website or bypass the cc fees and message us to pay in person with cash or check.

I want to order a meatbox, but I may want substitutions. What do I do?
🎁 in that case my friend, I recommend ordering à la cart from our website or shop with us Saturday mornings at the cobblestone market.

Got more questions? I (might!) have more answers! We look forward to filling your freezer each month!

Maybe ive been reading too many kids books, but I see a parable here: not every path is straight, some are winding and the bends in road might just teach us a thing or two. Also the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so why not bend à bit and enjoy the ride??

There's an indigo bunting pair out by the front pasture. I see them dip and dive and dance on the fence whenever I pass. À new red headed woodpecker has made the area around the shop his home, his bright colors flashing in the treetops whenever we are rustling around the shop looking for tools. And the speed at which the Carolina wrens will make their nests in the tractor wheel well or the glove box of the mule is astonishing. Oh, and we're starting to assemble the summer meat boxes. Turns out we're much better at animal husbandry and paying attention to the birds than we are taking pictures of meatboxes. But we'll keep it at, and try our hand at better photography. So if you're interested in a mixed box of pork and beef that changes monthly and supports ecological and regenerative agriculture on a family farm filled with birds, then be on the lookout.

I'm not amoooosued by this drought. Please send more rain.

The earth does not belong to us. We belong to earth.

On this earth day, I am remembering and rejoicing in my role as caretaker. Caretakers for the next generations, caretakers for the little creatures, caretakers for water and the air. We do not and cannot own, but instead we care for it all while we can, while we're here.

I honestly thought it wasn't going to happen this year. It was so hot all last week when the blackberries started blooming, i thought this was going to be a year without blackberry winter. But boy was I wrong! Every year when the blackberry starts to bloom, there's always a cold snap. Old timers call it blackberry winter. I'm glad that atleast we can still count on some things.

What are your rain superstitions? Me? I like to leave the truck windows down and the tractor parked out the open. I leave the laundry on the line and all my daughter's water colors out on the patio. I like to tempt the rain by turning on the irrigation especially when the sky seems to brewing a dark cloud or two. I like to plan a play date that's fully outdoors - or a picnic will do as well. I like to plan a work project that requires dry ground. And for good measure, I'll sometimes wash all the winter blankets and leave them to dry on the line.

Tell me your rain superstitions now that I've told you mine.