The Reciprocity Issue
Food, Stewardship, and the Art of Giving Back
On Thursday, as is tradition for many of us, our family gathered at my parents’ cabin on the farm to celebrate Thanksgiving. The table was loaded with homemade goodness sourced from (mostly) near and (some) far. We’re privileged to share such bounty, surrounded by loved ones.
But as I thought about the day—the traditions and the foods—it occurred to me that we’re at the table with more than our family and friends. Where did the foods of our feast originate? And what are we doing with the nourishment and energy we glean from them? Are we returning any of that energy to its source, or are we assuming our consumption is the end of the story?
It is all well and good to give thanks; saying the words matters. Recognizing when we have what we need (or more) is good for us, mentally and physically. But it isn’t just about us. “Thank you” is a lovely sentiment, but sentiments do little for the earth. We have one world, and we’re skilled at harvesting its bounty—what are we giving back to the origin of everything that sustains us?
I’ve been ruminating lately on reciprocity and connection. They’re concepts I feel at my core, though they can get buried under the daily to-dos. But I recently reread Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry, and those ideas have been sitting a bit closer to the surface. (If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it—and all of Kimmerer’s books.)
On the farm, we try to honor our responsibility for the stewardship of the land in our care. Could we do more? Absolutely.
We work to replace what we take from the soil, plant trees and native plants where we can, and leave (or create) natural areas to shelter the animals, insects, and soil life that keep this place humming. We don’t always succeed; our efforts often feel too small. But we keep at it, because we are inextricably connected to this place. “Thanks” is good. Action is better.
Caring for our communities is just as important—though, honestly, sometimes the land is easier. In years past we’ve donated eggs or produce to our local food bank. This month we tried something new. We committed to “Share the Bounty” by donating 100 pounds of potatoes to local food pantries, then invited our VegEmail customers to add to that total. Thanks to their generosity, on November 18th we delivered 245 pounds of potatoes to food banks in Des Moines and Knoxville. We plan to do it again in December. Connection fuels reciprocity; reciprocity fuels connection. It’s a cycle worth tending and together we can make a bigger difference in our communities and on the land.
Meanwhile, winter weather has finally made its grand entrance. Our long, mild fall meant we were still harvesting cold-hardy crops the week of Thanksgiving. Snow and single-digit lows put a sharp end to that, but it was lovely while it lasted—and our walk-in is full of storage crops thanks to the extra time.
We hustled ahead of the cold to finish two of the biggest fall tasks: getting the garlic in and the dahlias out. Thanks to our farm crew plus several veteran members, we planted and mulched about 2,000 row feet of garlic in one afternoon. A huge thanks to everyone who pitched in!
The dahlias were a slower, two-person operation with just Danielle and me. It took us about two weeks to dig, wash, divide, label, and store more than 600 plants. It’s a massive job, and no one should ask how I feel about dahlias while we’re in the middle of it. But when those blooms open next summer, when a customer gasps at Danielle’s bouquets, or someone shares photos of their flowers from the tubers they bought from us, it will all be worth it.
We’re still harvesting and delivering VegEmail orders every two weeks through the end of the year. Cold weather means adapting: the packing barn gets divided in half with a wall of used high-tunnel plastic so we can heat one side above freezing. We still wear our insulated Carhartts, but it becomes workable. We also switch the walk-in cooler to a heating unit to keep it just above freezing. Counterintuitive, yes. Effective, also yes. On the coldest days, the walk-in is the warmest place on the farm.
Speaking of VegEmail, the order form is open for the December 2 delivery. (Orders close tonight—Sunday—at 10 p.m.) We’ve added some fun new gift sets this year to make holiday gifting (or pantry stocking) a little easier, with a bit of a price break to sweeten the deal.
After this week, there’s one more delivery in December (12/16), and then we’re taking most of January off. Deliveries resume Tuesday, Jan 27. Here’s the full winter schedule:
✨ Bounty Box Renewals ✨
We are excited to announce that the winner of our first annual Bounty Box member renewal drawing for the Thanksgiving Bounty Box was Mary T! Mary picked up her box at the November 18th VegEmail delivery and we suspect she put it to good use. Huge thanks to Mary and all our veteran members who have already signed up for the 2026 Bounty Box season. We’re already more than half full for the coming season!
Are you a 2025 Bounty Box veteran that missed the early sign ups last month?
No worries, we’re still holding a spot for you. Veteran members have until January 5th to claim their place for the 2026 season. On January 6th we will release any remaining membership spots to our waiting list.
💵 No payment due now.
But if you’d like to check it off your list early, payments can be made anytime before April 30, 2026. Details on the sign up form.
🌱 Renew Your 2026 Share Now (available for 2025 Bounty Box members only) Use this button instead of the QR code on the card you received at the final delivery, that code has expired.
If you weren’t a Bounty Box member in 2025 but you want to join us for the 2026 season, contact us now to get on our waiting list. Your time is coming soon…on January 6th to be exact!
📅Important Upcoming Dates:
Here are a few upcoming events and milestones to keep on your radar:
Dec. 2 - VegEmail delivery 4-6pm
Dec. 16 - VegEmail delivery 4-6pm (final delivery until late January)
Jan. 27 - Bi-weekly VegEmail deliveries resume
🥕 Love the farmers market food, hate the fuss?
If you’re a Central Iowan looking for year-round, farm-fresh, chemical-free food without the crowds, guesswork, or farmers market chaos, our VegEmail program is for you.
Every week, we send you an order form with what’s fresh, and you pick exactly what you want.
✅ No subscriptions
✅ No commitment
✅ Just good food, from people you trust
Pick-up is easy—every other Tuesday, 4-6pm in downtown Des Moines, Knoxville, or right here on the farm. Plus, Des Moines customers can also grab Ebersole Cattle Co meats and eggs, Lost Lake Farm LLC cheeses, and CottageScapes Bakery goodies—all from one pick-up point.
Sign up at www.bluegatefarmfresh.com for food you can feel good about.
Winter gives us plenty to do, but it also reminds us to look up, look around, and stay connected. We’re grateful for this community—your support feeds far more than our work; it feeds the land and the wider circle we’re all part of. If you’d like to join us for the next VegEmail delivery, or help us “Share the Bounty” again in December, you can sign up for our email list here.
Is a monthly newsletter not enough for you? Follow us:
Website: www.bluegatefarmfresh.com
Facebook: Blue Gate Farm
Instagram at bluegatefarmfresh
Bounty Box members can also connect with other BGF members to share recipes or ask questions on our FB community page at Blue Gate Farm Community.
That’s about it for now. If you have any questions or comments, be sure to let us know.
Best from the farm,
Jill & Sean (and the whole BGF crew)
Reciprocity is essential. Glad to read someone else expressing this toward the nonhuman world.