On Sunday, August 27, the owner of Four String Farm, Justin Butts, traveled back to Rockport, Texas to survey the damage that Hurricane Harvey left in its wake.
As he drove into the city and saw the damage all around him - the remnants of families’ lives literally upturned in the rubble - he could anticipate what lay before him and his family farm.
Four String Farm is a small family farm located in Rockport, Texas. After building a dream that began 17 years ago, Justin has been an anchor of the pioneer farm movement in the Coastal Bend. His family farm offers pastured pork, pastured poultry, fresh eggs and seasonal vegetables and herbs throughout the year. No hormones, steroids, or antibiotics are given to their animals. They never use chemical pesticides or fertilizers on their plants.
And in the wake of Hurricane Harvey — 17 years were eviscerated. Aside from the existing livestock miraculously surviving the storm, there was not a farm structure, a tool or space that managed to escape the wrath that Harvey left. Some of the oldest oak trees in Rockport were felled, a tangled maze that rendered the property mostly impassable.
But in a true pioneer fashion, Justin and his family have embraced the possibility and hope that often stands side-by-side with devastation.
Because where some people see the devastation, others see a blank slate.
Four String Farm - like many other businesses in the Coastal Bend — has an opportunity to reinvent itself. And because they are so focused on their beloved community, they wish to share a hopeful message with others.
With that in mind, Four String Farms has invited an internationally-acclaimed speaker, author and farmer Joel Salatin to two events in South Texas in October 20, 2017. These events focus on innovation in local food and the integral role that local farms play in the sustainable food movement.
Salatin will visit Four String Farm in hurricane-ravaged Rockport, TX, for an afternoon farm tour, talk and book signing. This event is free and attendees will have the opportunity to learn the incredible dynamics and ingenuity that comes with small farming — and how it plays a vital role in how the world consumes food in the future.
After the farm visit, Salatin will appear at a farm-to-table dinner at Water Street Seafood in Corpus Christi from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Salatin’s visit, called FARMATASTROPHE HEALING, will bring inspiration, hope and local food awareness to South Texas.
Enjoy great conversation, excellent entertainment and locally-raised food cooked to its perfection on October 20 in Corpus Christi. Space is limited, so make sure you reserve your seat.
There will be cocktails and a meet-and-greet with Joel Salatin, one of the most dynamic and influential speakers in America. Guests can also reserve an autographed copy of Joel Salatin’s groundbreaking book, Folks, This Ain’t Normal, to be picked up at the dinner