An Update from the Homestead: Closing a Chapter with Gratitude

Dear Friends,

I wanted to follow up on our last blog post, An Update from the Homestead: A Season of Transition, and offer some perspective on what the 2025 year has been like.

The Indoor Farmers Market at Boyert's in March of 2025 ended up being our final market of the season and we did not make any appearances at the Medina Square Farmers Market this year either. Though there had been some hopes toward the start of the season to return, we went down a different road due to various circumstances.

On the bright side, I am improving in terms of health and am glad to report that in September, after many months, I finally started driving again. To celebrate this small victory isn’t trivial; it marked progress, recovery, and the answer to many prayers. Nonetheless, as time went on, it became increasingly tough carrying on a business in a responsible manner given what was involved in driving.

After a lot of prayer and reflecting on this decision, I have made the difficult decision of closing down Natural Ferments on a permanent basis. This is a difficult choice, but it is one made with peace and clarity of mind.

As part of this transition:

  • The Google Business Listing is now marked as permanently closed and will be removed shortly after the New Year

  • Social Media sites for Natural Ferments will be shut down shortly after the New Year

  • The Natural Ferments website will not be renewed in the early part of the New Year

With the end of this chapter, the legacy farm at York Meadow Farm lives on under the Kaiser Preservation Trust, in large part due to the dedication and care of Cody Grey. I would like to express my personal appreciation for the dedication Cody has made to the land and this legacy farm.

👉 You can follow Cody’s work here:

I also want to urge all of you to continue to support local farmers and makers by patronizing all of the great vendors at both of the farmers markets in Medina County. Buying local does make a difference.

As for York Meadow Farm, Mom remains busy fulfilling custom orders for bath and body products, but she loves this laid-back environment, which is very different from the hustle and bustle of the market seasons of previous years…and it is a perfect fit for this phase of life for sure.

To all who supported us throughout the 2025 season and beyond: thank you. Thank you for your love, your words of encouragement, your patience, and your prayers. This journey has not lacked challenges. But it has also known incredible moments of grace and incredible moments of community. I will always be grateful for that.

With heartfelt thanks,
Rob

Rob KaiserComment