Sunny Side Farm in Tunas, Missouri

This week, we're kicking off our Co-op Farm Series to introduce you to some of the incredible farmers we work with across the country. First up: a family from Missouri who believe in keeping things simple - and that means real horse power and gas-fueled lanterns.

Everything Has its Season and Purpose

What if everything we've been told about "progress" is backward? With all the talk on tariffs and trade wars in the news lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to live well. Not the "more stuff, bigger house, fancier truck" kind of living that bombards us from every direction – but real, soul-satisfying living rooted in what we create rather than what we consume.

No one has taught me more about this than our Amish farming partners Mary and Emmanuel from Sunny Side Farm in Tunas, Missouri.

Back in 2014, Andrea and I hit our breaking point. We were processing all our chickens on-farm, barely seeing each other, and watching our family life disappear between endless chores. Our kids were growing up faster than spring weeds, and we were missing it. Some nights I'd come in after dark, covered in chicken feathers, too exhausted to even eat dinner. Andrea and I would just see each other on the highway and wave as we crossed paths making deliveries. That's no way to build a family – or a sustainable farm.

That crisis taught us a powerful lesson: no farmer is an island. We realized the future of farming isn't about doing everything yourself – it's about building communities where each farm contributes their strengths to create something none of us could build alone. That simple truth became the foundation of Grass Roots Cooperative.

That journey led me to a bone-chilling winter day in 2018, sitting in a house surrounded by horse-drawn buggies in Tunas, Missouri. I walked in to find about 20 Amish and Mennonite families huddled around a wood stove, waiting to hear about the Grass Roots farming protocols. What started as a quiet gathering gradually warmed up as they asked thoughtful questions about how we move chickens daily to fresh pasture, our feed standards, and how we handle processing.  As snow began to fall and I headed out, Mary - an energized, confident young woman - approached me with determination: 'We want to raise pastured chickens for Grass Roots." Those simple words launched a partnership that's become the backbone of our cooperative.

Eight years later, Mary and Emmanuel’s 75-acre slice of heaven sits within a thriving 600-acre Amish community. When you first arrive, what strikes you isn't what's missing – it's what's present: purpose, connection, and a palpable sense of peace.

Their home is a masterclass in intentional living. Every object serves a function. The handcrafted furniture isn't for show – it's built for generations of use. The wood-burning stove isn't a decorative accent – it's the heart of their home, providing warmth and a cooking surface that produces meals that make you question why we ever thought microwaves were progress.

The kitchen shelves proudly display jars of home-preserved garden bounty – tomatoes still vibrant red in January, green beans, pickles, and jams that capture summer's essence. Nothing goes to waste. Everything has its season and purpose.

Our farmers generously welcomed us into their home to give us a glimpse of how their methods and lifestyle influence their farming techniques and daily life.

Their children don't stare at screens; they work alongside their parents, learning skills that connect them directly to life's necessities. Their 11-year-old daughter works with draft horses with more confidence than most adults handle a car. These kids understand where food comes from because they help grow it every single day.

Emanuel's mechanical ingenuity shows that "simple" doesn't mean primitive. His horse-powered workshop produces innovations that solve real problems without creating new ones. His windmill water system distributes water across the farm without a single watt of electricity.

What strikes me most is how their approach to living mirrors exactly what we're trying to build with Grass Roots – resilient systems that don't depend on industrial inputs, deep connection to the land, and communities that support each other. Their "old-fashioned" methods have proven more future-proof than the fragile industrial system that surrounds them.

Throughout this year, I'll be introducing you to more remarkable farmers from our cooperative - sharing their unique stories, innovative practices, and the wisdom they bring to regenerative agriculture. Follow along to discover how these diverse approaches all contribute to a more resilient food system. Because when you choose Grass Roots, you're supporting not just better food, but better ways of living on this earth.

Your farmer (still learning what true wealth means),

Cody