06/23/2026
Here is your feel good story of the week- hopefully one that will restore your faith in all the good that is still out there. Two weeks ago someone visited my farmstand and took $80 worth of inventory. As a stay at home mom who bakes with three children running around my feet, driving an hour each way to pick up local honey and other items I stock regularly, waking up at the crack of dawn to set up and prep- I felt defeated and disheartened. In my 3 years of being in business this had only happened once before back when I first started.
I decided to close the following weekend take a break and troubleshoot ways to deter the thief from returning. I sent out my weekly newsletter to all my amazing local customers and in it I mentioned that I would be closed that weekend due to theft. I wrote a note about how at first I was feeling sad for myself and then decided that I should feel sad for the thief because that is the way they are going through life. Stealing from a neighbor in their community, taking instead of giving. I genuinely prayed for that individual because the idea of that as a mindset is a sad thought!
That following Saturday I set up as usual. A little apprehensive but I wasn't going to let that stop me from serving all of the AMAZING, LOYAL and SUPPORTIVE customers who come every single weekend, who choose to show up and buy from me when they could easily go anywhere else.
At the end of the day as I closed out my cash box I found a beautiful sealed yellow envelope with my name on it inside. I opened it in disbelief. A patron who only referred to herself as "Kathy K" wrote a note about how she heard about my stand being robbed and how she was touched by the story. Along with this heartfelt handwritten card she enclosed four $20 bills.
I was in disbelief.
But then, I remembered- THIS IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO EVERY WEEKEND. It's not about the money from this generous anonymous patron, its about the act of kindness. The blessing that was someone giving it back to me even they weren't the one who owed it. My community of Brooksville is unlike anything else and each one of you who visit my stand mean the world to me. I may be a small town farm stand- but I know I have the best customers in the world.
Thank you to each and every one of you who make my dream a reality every Friday and Saturday as you visit my stand.
XOXO,
Adriana Edling
