Fresh From the Farm Blog

Friday, April 21, is the 187th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. On April 21. 1836, General Sam Houston, the commander of the ragtag “Texian” army defeated the much larger Mexican forces under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The two armies had marched east that rainy spring slogging through mud as Sam Houston managed to stay just ahead of Santa Anna, with Houston gathering additional men along the way to join his forces. The armies met at San Jacinto, east of the present city of Houston and in a surprise attack lasting minutes, the Texians...

Yesterday was a much-anticipated day here at Fredericksburg Farms. We announced the new department leads and supervisors. To celebrate, we had an all-company lunch featuring Ryan’s famous barbecued chicken for which he was starting the fire at 5:30 am this morning. Everyone contributed sides and desserts and it truly was a feast. There was potato salad, beans, two pasta salads, a big pot of greens, deviled eggs, corn pudding, potatoes “Juanita,” pickled onions, rolls, several varieties of breads, meatballs, several cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, banana pudding, and the ever-popular Fredericksburg favorite…German sweet rice. Now we all need to walk the 8/10...

The welcome sound of raindrops greeted us here in the Hill Country this morning. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed for a bit before we got the rain…a sprinkle at first then a few minutes of hard rain. Several of us stepped out on the porch and were rewarded with cool breezes and that wonderful smell that happens when rain hits the earth. When it subsided, I took note of the oak pollen tassels littering the sidewalk. Seeing that, I sincerely hope it will help out all of us allergy sufferers now that nature has given the air a good washing!

Smile at someone each day. Studies have shown that your blood pressure reading can go down if you are smiling. Just like other animals, humans look at one another’s facial expressions to determine how to react in differing situations. These days, when we are largely communicating through text, email, and online social media, we can’t see the face of the person to whom we are speaking, and we can’t tell the tone of their voice. Are they joking, angry, anxious, or deliriously happy? At Fredericksburg Farms most folks here can communicate face to face in person throughout the day. And...

The Texas weather is continuing to surprise us, going from fireplace weather to shirtsleeves weather in a few days. The trees are showing all shades of green on the hillsides as they put on new leaves, and interspersed with the green are the bright flashes of color from blooms of redbuds and peach trees. Here at Fredericksburg Farms we are busy converting old greenhouse space into additional warehouse and manufacturing facilities. Change brings new opportunity, much like Spring heralds a new season…and a time change. HAPPY SPRING, Y’ALL!