Day 180

Once our girls got acclimated and into the groove of laying, we had plenty of eggs. We had to figure out how to find these eggs a home. We knew there was a market for farm fresh eggs in the area since the previously nearest seller just two doors down just moved away, leaving a void in the farm fresh eggs market. We hoped we could fill that void. 

Inflation also had grocery prices skyrocket, so the usually more pricey farm fresh eggs seemed much more reasonable considering many found them to be healthier and tastier.

Not knowing how consistent our production would be, we decided to start with opening up the opportunity to get eggs to family and friends. We jokingly started our Craneview on Plainview Egg Club and got a number of interested members. Some wanted them weekly, biweekly, or when needed. If we had eggs, we'd be happy to provide them. Most of our members were colleagues of mine at school so it wasn't unusual to see me unload cartons of eggs along with my assorted school supplies. We also had a number of community members who found out we had eggs and would reach out occasionally when they needed their egg itch scratched.

The family also upped our egg usage. Egg salad and egg dishes were much more common. Any cracked eggs became the next batch of brownies. Hard boiled eggs became a more frequent snack. If we had leftovers, we found a way to get them into a recipe or meal.

Eggs became a more important and frequent part of our mindset. We paid very close attention to their production. How could we help it? What might be an issue if the numbers started declining? How do we make sure we check, clean, and unload eggs in a timely manner?

We have been fortunate that we have been able to consistently find takers for the eggs our girls have produced. As their numbers fluctuate, we sometimes can’t meet the demand of our members but overall, it seems like we have a decent system that works for us.

But who knew egg cartons would become such a vital and valued resource?