J & J Homestead

here are moments in homesteading when progress feels slow and steady, and then there are moments when everything seems to move forward at once. The past couple of weeks here at J & J Homestead have definitely fallen into the second category. Our long-anticipated farmstand is finally coming together, and with every new step, the dream of sharing what we grow and produce with our community is becoming more real.

If you have been following along with our journey, you know that building the farmstand has been one of our biggest goals this year. Seeing it take shape has been both exciting and a little surreal.

Preparing the Farmstand Area

One of the first major steps was preparing the area where the farmstand would sit. The millings were finally delivered and packed into place, creating a solid base for both the stand itself and a small parking area for visitors.

Anyone who has ever worked on a homestead project knows that groundwork like this is rarely glamorous, but it is absolutely essential. Without a solid foundation, the rest of the project simply would not work.

With the millings packed down and the area ready, we were finally able to take the next big step.

The Farmstand Arrives

Not long after the groundwork was finished, the farmstand building itself was delivered. Seeing it placed on the property was one of those moments where you pause and realize that something you have been planning for months is finally happening.

We quickly got to work making it our own. The J & J Homestead Farmstand sign went up on the side of the building, and we placed a chalkboard outside to let passersby know that we will be opening soon.

Even though there is still work to do inside, putting that chalkboard out felt like making a promise to the community. We are almost ready.

An Antique Icebox with Character

Yesterday brought another memorable addition to the farmstand.

My husband picked up an antique icebox that we found on Facebook Marketplace and brought it home for the stand. I should probably admit that I did not ask the seller nearly enough questions before he went to pick it up.

Specifically, I should have asked how heavy it was.

The answer is: extremely heavy.

Thankfully, my husband managed to get it home safely, and it will make a beautiful and functional addition to the farmstand. Pieces like this add a little character and history to the space, and they fit perfectly with the farmhouse feel we want for the stand.

So a very special thank you goes out to my husband for that one.

A Small but Important Victory

Homestead projects often come down to small wins along the way, and yesterday delivered one of those too.

My husband installed the solar light on the farmstand, and to our delight, it actually works.

That may sound like a small thing, but anyone who has worked with solar lights knows that success is never guaranteed on the first try. Seeing it light up was a simple but satisfying moment.

Sometimes progress looks like finishing a huge project. Sometimes it is just flipping a switch and seeing a light come on.

Planting the First Farmstand Tomatoes

After a full day of farmstand progress, the evening was dedicated to another essential part of the homestead: the garden.

When I got home from work, I spent the evening planting tray after tray of tomato seeds. Tomatoes will be one of the anchor crops for our farmstand this season, both as fresh produce and as starter plants.

In total, I planted four varieties:

Cherokee Purple
Roma
Beefsteak
Giant Red Cherry Tomatoes

Each variety brings something a little different to the garden and the farmstand table. Cherokee Purple tomatoes are famous for their rich flavor and beautiful deep color. Roma tomatoes are perfect for sauces and preserving. Beefsteak tomatoes deliver those big, classic sandwich slices, and Giant Red Cherry tomatoes provide sweet little bursts of flavor that are hard to stop eating.

Now comes the waiting game. Germination always feels a little like magic, and I will be checking the trays every morning hoping to see those first tiny green shoots pushing through the soil.

Next Up: Peppers (If I Can Find the Time)

Tomatoes were the priority, but peppers are next on the list. Between work, farmstand projects, and everything else happening on the homestead, finding the time can sometimes be the hardest part.

But that is the reality of homesteading. There is always another project, another task, and another opportunity just around the corner.

And honestly, that is part of what makes it so rewarding.

The Farmstand Dream Is Getting Closer

Just a few weeks ago, the farmstand was still mostly an idea and a plan on paper. Now we have a building, a sign, lighting, and even an antique icebox waiting inside.

The garden is underway, seedlings are being started, and the pieces are slowly falling into place.

There is still a lot to do before opening day, but the progress we have made recently has been a huge step forward.

If all goes well, those tomato seeds will soon become plants, the shelves will start filling up, and before long we will be welcoming visitors to the J & J Homestead Farmstand.

Until then, we will keep planting, building, and dreaming.

And maybe asking a few more questions before buying heavy antiques.