We've had quite a few new folks join our mailing list recently, so I wanted to begin with a warm welcome from our family to you.
We hope you enjoy following along and reading a little about what's happening on the farm each month.
We are so grateful for each of you who have stopped by, spread the word, or made a purchase. Thank you for helping make the farmstand's opening such a memorable success!
Also, if you missed the cutest advertisement you'll ever see, check out the link to our Instagram post below:
Fresh eggs are laid with a natural protective coating called the bloom or cuticle. This invisible layer helps seal the shell’s thousands of tiny pores, reducing moisture loss and helping keep bacteria out. When eggs are commercially washed, the bloom is removed. That’s why grocery store eggs must be refrigerated from the time they’re washed until they’re consumed.
Why We Offer Unwashed Eggs
Natural Protection: (see above)
Freshness: With the bloom intact, eggs retain moisture better and stay fresher longer.
Less Processing: Our eggs are collected, sorted, and handled with care, without unnecessary washing or processing.
Farm Fresh: These eggs come directly from pasture-raised hens raised right here at The Farm in Jones Valley.
How to Store Unwashed Eggs
Option 1: On the counter unwashed eggs can be stored at room temperature for several weeks if kept in a cool, dry place.
Option 2: In the refrigerator. For maximum shelf life, you can refrigerate unwashed eggs. Once refrigerated, keep them refrigerated.
A Few Notes
- You may notice small specks of dirt or bedding on some eggs. This is normal for unwashed eggs. If desired, wash eggs just before using them.
- Avoid washing eggs for counter storage, as this removes the protective bloom.
The Bottom Line
For thousands of years, all eggs were stored without refrigeration because the bloom naturally protects the egg. By leaving that protective layer intact, unwashed eggs remain one of nature’s simplest and most effective examples of food packaging.
Thank you for supporting local agriculture and our family farm!
Our girls out foraging in their pasture.
As neighborhoods, schools, churches, businesses, and roads expanded across the valley, many farms gradually disappeared. Fields became subdivisions, and open space became increasingly scarce. Yet through those decades of change, The Farm in Jones Valley remained. While the city grew around it, the farm continued to serve its original purpose as a working agricultural landscape. Cattle still grazed the pastures, crops were still harvested, and generations of families continued caring for the land. What was once a farm on the outskirts of town gradually became a farm in the heart of a growing city.
Today, thousands of people pass by the farm each day on Carl T. Jones Drive and Garth Road. For many, the open fields, grazing cattle, ponds, and mountain backdrop have become part of the daily rhythm of life. The story of The Farm in Jones Valley is not only about preserving land—it is about preserving a connection to the history of this community.As Huntsville continues to grow, places like this help remind us where we came from and how the valley earned its name.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of this story is that it is not just history—it is also the present. More than 85 years after Carl and Edwin Jones purchased the farm, cattle still graze the pastures, crops are still grown, and the land remains a working farm. While much of the valley has changed around it, this piece of land continues to serve the same purpose it has for generations—a living reminder that some of Huntsville's history is not behind us, but still very much alive today.
My guess is that many of you would answer yes this month. And while it almost feels embarrassing to admit that I struggled lately to see God as noticeably in His creation, I think it may be serving as a gentle reminder to my heart.
It is a reminder that I am human, and my awareness of my Creator ebbs and flows with my focus.
It is a reminder that my hustle and bustle does not always place me at the feet of Jesus.
It is a reminder that without taking time to be still, I may miss what He wants to teach me.
God's Word says:
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Whether we are in a garden, on our porch, in the car or at our desk at work, our God is there.
He never ebbs and flows, but is ever-present.
At His feet we can always find rest and fulfillment.
In stillness He will teach us.
He doesn't ask us to work harder for these blessings or to try harder for His love,
all He asks is that we be still.
As always, we would love to hear from you; please reach out anytime. We are so grateful for your support and thankful we can enjoy a life made more beautiful by flowers and farming.
