Look closely at the present

American poet and philosopher Audre Lorde coaxed, “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” 

So many of us say we want community; a sound network of creators and allies who support each other’s unique gifts, enabling each person to live in integrity with their highest values.

But what are we doing right now to ensure this version of our future comes to be?

If you build it, make sure you’re using the best tools

In 2025, we realized something was missing from our cottage goods business, then known as Communitowhee (“community” + our favorite bird, the “towhee”). We were relying on our products – our all-natural jams, spices and Crop Popsicles, in addition to Nicole’s original photography and hand-made greeting cards – to speak on our behalf; to say in their eye-popping bursts of flavors and images what we weren’t saying out loud. That is: 

This is what it tastes like deep down in your warm and satisfied belly to eat food made with organic ingredients, enriched with fruit grown on our own micro-orchard and veggies from our DIY-built greenhouse.

This is what it feels like in your warm and satisfied soul to infuse energy back into the lifeblood of local economies, to shake hands with those who tend the food that nurtures you and your family; and by your patronage, nurture them back.

This is what it looks like to support the creative expression and physical labor of local photographers, painters, farmers, craftspeople, bakers, chandlers, carvers, and beyond. 

This is what it sounds like to hear what inspired each piece of art or decision to become a farmer, all amidst the giggles of children racing to lap up the sweet Crop Popsicle juice before it melts onto their hands and cheeks.

This is the endless sensory bazaar of community. Nourish it and it will return in kind. 

But we failed to check in to see if that message was being conveyed. 

And we failed to check in to see if we were being as true to that message as we intended. 

So, we decided to do a personal audit to determine if our actions aligned with our words. What we discovered set us on the path to becoming Buy From Friends (B.F.F.).

Check out our brand-new SHOP to peruse our for-purchase products, including Nicole’s photography! And, if you’d like to place a special order for our artisanal jams and popsicles (in bulk!), simply fill out our simple, customized form.