The End of the Stratford Court Era: Summer Week #13 – 8/28/24

The End of the Stratford Court Era!

For 18 years, Jim and Gayle have opened their home on Stratford Court as a pickup site for our Middleton members. They have done so graciously and have always helped us out so much.

(It helps that they are Michael’s parents).

That’s 18 years of clearing out unclaimed shares. Eighteen years of checking in with me on the first two deliveries to try and match people up with their boxes as they are getting the swing of things. Eighteen years of dealing with all the little unexpected issues that can arise when one opens up their garage to strangers.

After a lot of years in that home, Jim and Gayle are moving. Due to a variety of factors (an interested buyer faster than they could have ever imagined and the constraints of residency for the Middleton School District), they are moving much more quickly than they had expected.

This Wednesday, August 28 is the last week that Middleton shares will be delivered to the Stratford Court site! (If you are a Stratford Court member, never fear, we are working out a new location with longtime sitter share members, the Sanners, to deliver at their home. We will roll out all the info you need as we get closer to that first delivery on September 4th).

I feel sentimental about Jim and Gayle’s era ending. In the early years, I delivered there myself when the farm was smaller. Before Michael and I were married. Before Zea and Sora and Juna came along. Since they were my in-laws, I loved delivering there because I always knew there was a bathroom and a few Jelly Belly beans I could grab for a snack. Our family ties to that home hold a lot of memories of our kids being little and getting big. Holidays and delivery days, saying goodbye to Stratford Court is definitely the end of an era for our family and our farm.

Thank you, Jim and Gayle for everything you have done for us over the years, your house being a drop-site being only one of many many ways you have helped our family and farm.

If you get a chance to thank Jim or Gayle for the use of their home when you pick up today, I hope you will!