greenliving
Yes
You Can!
What do you get when you
cross two acres of land,
a strong work ethic
and a healthy amount
of self-reliance?
An alternative market
gardening business called Mini Blessings Farm. By Tess rosemond
F
or more than 35 years Earl and approximately half of the Ruggles’ total who truly wants to learn how to be self-
Linda Ruggles have enjoyed pro- household income. Both Earl and Linda reliant. “It blesses me to teach others
viding for their family by growing agree that they could fully support and and to see them learning to provide for
and preserving food from their personal sustain themselves with their small themselves.”
garden. In early 2008, a friend asked revenue-generating farm. Each Saturday Some of the Mini Blessings farm
the Ruggles if they would consider morning, during their selling season, offerings include fresh herbs, lettuce,
selling some of their produce at the the couple loads their truck full of onions, rhubarb, tomatoes, green
newly formed Botetourt County Farmers produce and baked goods to sell at the beans, potatoes, squash and whatever
Market. Once a hobby, their gardening local farmers market. They return home else is in season. In the kitchen Linda
quickly made the jump to Mini Bless- with nearly everything sold. bakes many varieties of bread from
ings Farm, a profitable and sustainable “People don’t need a lot of land freshly milled grains. She also makes
full-time business. to grow an abundance of produce,” apple butter, chow chow, pickled beets,
A typical day on a farm begins Linda says joyfully. “Our two acres is a lemon curd and many other canned
before sunrise and does not end until the good example. We don’t just plant our goods. Crafts include everything from
work is finished. At 5 a.m. it’s rise and garden once a year; we keep on plant- window treatments and handmade
shine for Earl, who is off to his regular ing and growing vegetables throughout purses to handcrafted tables and many
job as a car-man at Norfolk Southern their season.” Continuous planting, other wood items.
Railway where he works until 3 p.m. canning, baking and sewing produces “We all need to take a step back
Linda happily remains at the home-based a bounty of produce and goods which and do things the way our grandparents
Mini Blessings Farm canning, baking, the Ruggles sell at the Botetourt Farmers did without waste,” declares Linda.
sewing and cultivating until Earl rejoins Market from early April until mid to late “We need to learn how to support
her. The two work the rest of the day side December. ourselves again, so we no longer have
by side, doing what they love, cultivating Linda firmly believes that everyone to rely on distant farms and foreign
their garden together. “Even though we is capable of this type of self-reliance. countries for our food.” Slowing down,
are very busy, our love of the farm and “Yes you can!” has become her answer taking a step back to move forward, and
working together keeps us connected,” to anyone who thinks they are not listening to the voice from within that
says Linda “We talk about our lives, capable of doing what she and Earl do says, “Yes I can!” is what the Ruggles’
share news about our grown daughter, for themselves. “If it’s packaged and Mini Blessings Farm is all about.
solve problems and share our concerns sold in the grocery stores, we can learn
with each other while we work.” how to do it for ourselves,” encourages For more information about Mini Bless-
Now in their second year the Linda. More than verbal encourage- ings Farm call 540-992-4579 or email
revenue from the farm comprises ment, Linda is willing to mentor anyone countrycrafters@gmail.com.
22
Southwestern Virginia
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