Story and photos by Constance Smith

Nowadays people are taking a greater and greater interest in where their food comes from. They enjoy visiting the farmers market, meeting the people who do the growing and supporting local farmers.

One of the farms here in Hartselle is owned by David and Laura Aymett. David and Laura both grew up on family farms in Tennessee and moved to Hartselle 13 years ago.

Laura’s family always had a garden, and they often had backyard chickens, even when they lived in a subdivision in town. The Aymetts always had a longing to have a farm and raise their children, Ryan and Elizabeth, with that lifestyle.

David and Laura said they had even thought about moving back to one of their family farms at one point, but they loved Hartselle. They loved the schools and their church, and they didn’t want to leave. This was home.

So, they searched for just the right place and found their farm right here.

David always said, even when they lived in the city, that if they ever had their own farm, it would have to be called Honey Do Farm, playing on the “honey do this, and honey do that” routine. So of course, when their dream became reality, Honey Do Farm became its name.

A decade ago, the Aymetts began researching Community Supported Agriculture. This past year in March, a farm in Killen was selling its greenhouses. The Aymetts said they prayed about it and decided they were going to go for it.

While schools were closed down for quarantine, the Aymetts made countless trips back and forth to get the greenhouses. One by one, they brought back what felt like a million pieces. Their children would do schoolwork on their laptops as they rode in the truck on the trips, then the whole family would work together to assemble the giant 3-D jigsaw puzzles.

Laura said a CSA is the best way to get fresh, healthy produce to people in community, and in autumn 2020, the family did their first trail season. It was a success, and they launched a full spring season this year. Customers received 12 weekly packages of fresh produce.

People who join a CSA from a local farmer pay up front for an entire season of fresh produce. At Honey Do Farm, participants each get a weekly package of everything that is in season. Packages sometimes contain surprises as well, like home-ground cornmeal from corn grown and milled right there on their farm.

People might also run into the Aymetts at the Hartselle Farmers Market. Each week they fill their commitment for their customers first, then they bring all of their extra produce to the market for the community to enjoy.

David and Laura said they love the Hartselle Farmers Market and appreciate the sense of community and support they experience there. Although everyone is trying to make a sale, everything is lighthearted and friendly.

The entire family takes part in Honey Do Farm, from planting the seeds and digging tomatoes to delivering the weekly orders or preparing the meals.

Laura said she takes joy in passing these skills along to the next generation: planting, harvesting and canning what they grow.

Having that time with multiple generations working together is priceless, creating memories and skills that money can’t buy.

Learn more about Honey Do Farm on Facebook or Instagram, @HoneyDoFarm256, or at www.localline.ca/honey-do-farm