Grown with Love

How did two divorced people find love again?

Our journey began on a free dating site back in 2016. I am not sure if “free” was the thing that attracted me to the site, but back then it seemed like you would see the same people on all the sites regardless of the cost, and everyone was embarrassed to admit they were online dating. So I figured, why bother paying?

So how did we connect with each other when there are so many profiles to look through? I decided to be bold and say the most outrageous thing I could think of and see what happened. After all, everyone likes hanging out with friends, good food, or walks on the beach. That does not tell you how they treat animals, or what they think about poverty and homelessness. How can you find someone who matches your morals and values and separate the hookups from a life partner?

Simple. Tell them you are an environmentalist who cares about the planet, does not eat meat, and only wants someone with the same lifestyle and empathy for the world. The inbox went silent. Of course, I got the usual spam from men telling me how wrong I was. Then one day there was a message. I clicked the inbox, and a gentleman appeared.

Cody and I had everything in common. A passion for the environment and holistic living, a vegetarian diet, and houses filled with animals. We were both growing food. I had a small plot on the island, and Cody had started working his land. We talked for weeks, but it was not until we saw each other in person that our connection was sealed and the idea was planted. Why not start a farm?

So I did what any rational girl would do. I sold my island house and jumped right in with this dreamy farming cowboy.

In 2018, Elemental Farm was born, with a mission to grow organic food in a symbiotic relationship with nature. Embracing permaculture values, we set out to cultivate a diverse and thriving ecosystem that not only sustains us but also contributes to the South Texas community and the environment.

The early years were filled with growth and abundance, and we felt pretty good. Then we began to face the challenges of the changing climate and the wider world. Our new normal became extreme droughts, ice storms every winter, gale winds every spring, and the occasional hurricane in the summer. We struggled to get anything to grow, and then the pandemic hit and sales stopped completely.

We refocused our growing on more resilient medicinal herbs and shelf stable products, creating our tea blends and apothecary selection. That still was not enough to sustain the farm alone, so in January 2024 we officially opened our newest extension of the farm, the Mushroom Houses. By adding gourmet and medicinal mushrooms and diversifying our offerings, we strengthened our resilience against unpredictable weather and helped keep the farm open.

Through our love and dedication, we have remained committed to each other and feeding and educating the community with wholesome, organic food that is in harmony with nature. Despite the challenges, we continue to lead by example, showing that regenerative farming practices are not just a choice but a necessity in a changing world.

Join us on this journey of love, sustainability, and growth at Elemental Farm, where every seed planted is a step toward a brighter, greener future.