The Backstory - Part I
by fig + fauna farm on 01/09/13
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It's hard to pinpoint where our story begins. As I look back, it seems as though we've been heading in this direction all along. Our tale holds an equal dose of both reverie and reality. I'll start with the urge to create Fig & Fauna, which was twofold, and the first spark was ignited by dogs.
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In 2006, my husband and I created a dog care service (walking, training and dog sitting), called Onblonde. Our mission was to provide dogs with an outlet in which they could be fulfilled through exercise and cognitive interaction. As we walked alongside dogs, day after day, we learned many things about the dynamic of the dog/client relationship - clearly found: a satisfied dog creates a happy owner. It became our passioin to serve as a liaison between dogs and their owners - with hopes to communicate both needs and strengthen their connections. Over the years, with the help of our friends, family and clients, Onblonde grew. We opened a brick and morter store, which served our human clients well, but our minds still searched for more ways to bring deep satisfaction to dogs.
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Then our daughter Dane was born.
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She ignited a revolution in our minds and hearts. My interest in natural cooking and gardening, only swelled when I began to offer her food. Influenced by the concepts of the book Nourishing Traditions, I searched to find the purest, untouched forms of food to nuture her growing body and tried my best to obtain farm fresh food. However, the thought of having our own chickens for eggs, was clearly building a case within me. We lived in a great home, with great neighbors and a great little vegetable garden...it was just the place we thought we would be for many years to come. But when we lay in bed at night, marveling over our young daughter, my husband shared stories of his childhood on a farm in Missouri. I realized that many of his greatest virtues were gained during his formative years spent on the farm, amongst pigs, tractors and grape vines. His memories, in a way became a part of my hopes for our own daughters' childhood. Of course, some of my thoughts were laden with whimsy; aprons, tree swings and bare feet in the garden. But I genuinely desired a place for her to grow - physically, mentally and emotionally - with the beneficial support of nature.
It became our quest to blend our longing of farming and love of dogs into one package. Then it occured to us - our clients dogs were seeking the same things that we were: to be immersed in nature and to be nature. We created a new business plan to expand Onblonde's service offerings to Farm Retreats. "Every dog is a farm dog at heart". That year, we sold our home and found our farm. Here is what came of it:
onblonde farm from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.
Over the past year, I've written about the Fig & Fauna story from different angles - you can find one on our beloved chickens in Kinfolk Vol 4 , or an interview in LaPiperita and my words on why we love farming in Pure Green Magazine.
// Top picture by Rose E Martin
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