TWO YEARS OF PATINA HOME & GARDEN

Starting something new can feel like walking blindfolded along a winding road. Your direction is unclear, every step uncertain, with no way to know what lies ahead. But as you move forward, the momentum of each step slowly loosens the fabric obstructing your view, and eventually, your eyes are free to see where your feet will fall. Others begin to walk alongside you, and while there are still bends in the road you can’t see past, the journey shifts from anxiety to anticipation.

As we celebrate two years of Patina Home & Garden, I feel we have reached this steadier stride.

Image by Lisa Romerein

When we first created our shop, we did so with the hope of creating a place to gather. We dreamed that when our community walked through our old creaky door, they would discover not only a curated collection of home goods, garden essentials, beauty products, & provisions but also a space where they could come together to learn and grow. We didn’t know exactly how it would all come together, but we believed with this as our guiding principle we could create something meaningful. 

I am proud to say that since my first anniversary blog post, we have remained committed to this dream, furthering every aspect, and constantly refining to reflect the evolving wants and needs of this village and those we serve.

Our shelves are fuller than ever, overflowing with an ever-changing array of home goods, beauty products, and garden essentials to meet the needs of the season. We’ve continued to collaborate with merchants in our community to bring unique and intentional gifts to all of you. We’ve added bucolic landscape paintings on vintage wood from Meghan Aileen, a stunning curated collection of vintage pieces from Shoppe Ada, as well as a line of holistic healthcare products from our new neighbors at Zuma Nutrition. 

Our Farm Shop underwent the greatest transformation over the last year. We are filled with gratitude to be able to provide a convenient place for our community to pop in for food that they can trust to be healthy for their family.

 Our little market continues to be filled with a curated offering of goods, many from local farmers and makers. It’s been a privilege to work with vendors like Noble Springs Dairy, Gardner Grove, MayPop, Mindful Moon Wellness, Eleventh Hour Fire Cider, and many more who share our commitment to providing nourishing, fresh, quality food to our community.

Among the most notable additions to our Farm Shop this year has been Baked & Free, whose weekly sourdough bread drop-offs, along with those from Sage from Scratch, were the catalyst for our favorite day of the week, Wednesdays at Patina, where everyone can come in and get their fresh, local goodies. 

The space got a new life with the introduction of Leila’s Bloomerie produce and flowers.  Throughout the past year, visitors constantly comment on the unique varieties of locally grown flowers, secretly touching the blooms in disbelief, sure that they couldn’t possibly be real, and remarking on the superior taste of our produce compared to their grocery store companions. We are truly honored to see how many of you came and supported our goal of sharing beautiful local produce that nourishes our bodies, minds, and souls, as well as the land that supports us. 

Our integration with Patina Meadow extends far beyond our Farm Shop, with the commencement of classes at The Shed. Though this section of our journey is just beginning, it has quickly become one of our favorite aspects of our shop. Coming together as a community to learn and grow together in a myriad of subjects, from canning and preserving to sourdough baking to honey tasting, has truly been sweeter than we could have ever imagined. We look forward to hosting more classes in the following year that continue to further our connection, not only with each other but with nature and the abundance she provides. 

None of this would be possible without our incredible team, who throughout the last 2 years, have become an extension of our family. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our shop manager Rachel, our event planner and the head of our online store, Skylar, assistant manager, Amelia, sales associate Devon, Dan the handyman, and Leila and Kerri, who myriad of jobs goes far beyond any job description. 

Image by Lisa Romerein

And then, there is always Steve. To visitors in the shop, he appears to just play the guitar in the Pickers’ Corner and steal “free” drinks and cookies, but he is my dream partner — the man with the ability to help me see the big picture with his trusted pencil. 

The shop has given me, Leila, and Steve the opportunity to meet so many of you in person, and we are truly grateful. Each visitor has allowed us to become a part of your life journey, and we are deeply thankful for the stories you’ve shared. It’s an honor to be able to give back to you in some small way for the support you’ve given us throughout the years and for the many blessings we’ve received. 

As we continue to walk this road, we will build upon what we have accomplished thus far. Patina Home & Garden will remain filled with products and provisions that you can trust and that imbue beauty into every aspect of your life.  Patina Meadow will continue to grow as a gathering and educational space, housing our pottery classes with Leila later this winter, and many more classes and events, from foraging classes to sheep milk vodka tastings.

We truly can’t wait to share what we find around the next bend. If these past two years are any indication, we are in for a joyous surprise.

xx

Brooke