newsletter Not Just Chickens and Sunshine

— whew, what a week.

Did anybody else notice how insanely windy it was last night?! I couldn’t fall asleep — just laid there listening to it, worrying about our farm. One of the weird things about becoming a farmer is that you get really in tune with the weather. Like, you don’t just notice it — you feel it. And the wind last night? Ya, I'll share some more at the bottom of this email.

But first, I wanted to bring you in on a few things from this week — because it’s all connected to why Kakadoodle exists, and why we believe so deeply in this work.

🎥 First: A Little Farm House Tour (Short & Sweet)

I’m leaning into video shorts this year instead of long YouTube videos — easier, more real, and perfect for quick glimpses into life on the farm. Here’s the first one — and intro to the old farmhouse on our property that looks kinda like a haunted house:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DTN7d0NkSXk/

🚗 On the Road (and Thinking About the “Boring” Stuff)

This week I drove down to Ohio to pick up chicken — yep, road-trip for chicken because there just aren’t many processors close by right now.

These birds were raised by Joe Wanda just outside of Rockford, IL — gorgeous, healthy, pasture-raised chickens we’re thrilled to bring your way.

Last week I wrote about how we're focusing on the "boring things" this year. Somebody asked me... what exactly are those boring things. So while I was on the road, I ended up geeking out with AI about what those “boring” actually are for Kakadoodle. It gets a little business-y, but if you're curious: 👉 https://kakadoodle.com/post/Why+the+Small%2C+Boring+Things+Matter

🍗 Speaking of Chicken!

I can't believe I fit all of that chicken into our little van! But ya, we’re officially stocked up on Chicken. Favorites that always sell fast:

• 🔗 Chicken Tenders — crazy convenient and perfect for weeknight meals: https://kakadoodle.com/shop/product/529
• 🔗 Whole Chickens — great for roasting, soups, Sunday dinners, and leftovers: https://kakadoodle.com/shop/product/457

These are raised right, with care, and processed with thought — not rushed through lines just to check a box.

💭 Why Today Was Rough

A few years ago, I told the founder of another local food company that Kakadoodle wasn’t just a marketplace — we also ran our own farm.

He paused and said, “Wow. That’s a lot to take on.”

At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I believed we could do both — farm and marketplace — and do it well.

But over time, I’ve come to understand where he was coming from. And this week especially, his words hit differently.

Remember that wind I mentioned earlier? Yeah… it ripped the roof off our high tunnel. I spent the day driving to pick up materials, then hustling to get everything back in place before nightfall. It was a team effort, and one of those days that starts out normal and turns into a full-on scramble.

And that was just yesterday. Earlier this week?

• 🚚 I was freaking out because we overloaded our little delivery van with chicken and I seriously thought I might get stranded in the middle of Indiana.
• 🥚 Egg production suddenly dropped for no clear reason. (And with some lingering bird flu PTSD… ya, we’re worried.)
• 💦 Bad water leak in the coop — and Chicken 101: Keep bedding dry.
• 😣 Me, out there in the mud, attempting to fix it — because it couldn’t wait.

These aren’t the cute, photo-worthy moments of farming. They’re the behind-the-scenes realities that pile up and don’t care what else is going on.

Running a farm is hard.
Building a marketplace is hard.
Doing both at once? Way harder than I ever appreciated.

But here’s the thing: I wouldn’t trade the learning — even the hard, exhausting parts of it.

Not from books.
Not from visits.
Not from good intentions.

Only from being in it.

Now I understand, in a way I never did before, what farmers experience every day — the emotional toll, the unpredictability, the ripple effects of one small thing going sideways. And that understanding changes how we show up as a marketplace that supports real farmers.

Here’s what I know now:

1. Farming will always be part of who we are.
   It keeps us honest. It keeps us grounded.

2. But I’m learning my limits.
   I want Kakadoodle to have a farm — I just know I can't be the one running it forever.

I dream of a future with multiple Kakadoodle marketplaces across the country, each with its own working farm. Not because it’s efficient — but because it’s real. A place that tells our story, rooted in the land, while the systems that deliver your food keep getting better, smoother, and more reliable.

So no, farming isn’t going anywhere. But this week? The risk, the mess, the weight of it — it all feels very real right now. And honestly, a little overwhelming.

🌱 Thank You For Walking With Us

Some seasons stretch you in ways you never saw coming. Some days feel overwhelming. But what it teaches you — about resilience, about empathy, about real work — stays with you forever.

We’re serious about putting farmers first. And understanding what it really costs to farm is part of that — especially when it’s hard.

Thanks for being with us on this road. And thank you for choosing food that supports local families, sustainable practices, and healthier lives.