Why Supporting Local Farmers Matters More Than Ever

As we embark on a new year, it’s a natural time to reflect on where our money goes and the impact it has. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to create. This year, let’s cast our vote for those unsung heroes who dedicate their lives to nourishing our communities – the small farmers and local makers who prioritize integrity and quality over shortcuts and mass production.

In 2024, it’s more important than ever to stand with these individuals who steadfastly refuse to compromise on the food they bring to our tables. They are the backbone of a sustainable food system, and their dedication deserves our unwavering support.

Semper Fi Homestead: A Story of Community and Commitment

Meet Jeana, the heart and soul behind Semper Fi Homestead. Her background in the Zappos world, during Tony Hsieh’s visionary era, instilled in her a deep appreciation for community-centric values, where the culture was genuinely lived, not just curated. Prioritizing community, human connection, and creativity while minimizing bureaucracy became her guiding principles. Jeana seamlessly translated these values into her homesteading life, creating a network that empowers neighbors to cultivate food, enhance their capabilities, and build lasting connections within a city that often feels fragmented.

Every so often, a delightful post surfaces, showcasing Jeana alongside a beaming friend, customer, or neighbor, each proudly holding a dozen of her freshly gathered eggs as if they had just won a coveted prize. Witnessing people’s genuine excitement over eggs is truly heartwarming. It speaks volumes about the intrinsic value they place on food that carries a story, a face, a place, and a family connection.

Jeana didn’t abandon her past when she transitioned from Zappos; she embraced the most meaningful aspects of that experience and used them as a foundation to create something new – something deeply rooted, local, and emotionally resonant. She has created a haven where people can reconnect with their food and community.

The Unseen Labor of Love

The Rehm’s homestead has blossomed, now featuring a newly approved farm stand right in front of their house – a humble structure with a powerful narrative etched into its very walls. However, what most people don’t realize is the sheer amount of work and dedication that goes into producing those farm-fresh eggs and other goods before they ever reach the stand.

Imagine the 6 a.m. feedings in the bone-chilling cold, the backbreaking work of hauling bales of hay after a long day at their day jobs, the tireless care for sick hens, the constant battle against water lines that crack under the summer heat, and the unwavering commitment to reviving gardens that wilt under the scorching sun. Beyond the physical labor, there are countless hours spent navigating bureaucratic red tape and thousands of dollars invested in fees, raising questions about whether the system is intentionally designed to exclude small farms from thriving.

None of this dedication is reflected in the price tag. A $10 carton of eggs doesn’t begin to convey the long nights they return home exhausted, yet still must tend to their animals, or the weekends spent rebuilding coops instead of resting. The work is constant, often inconvenient, but always a conscious choice. And it is this conscious choice, this unwavering commitment, that imbues their food with its true worth.

Semper Fi: A Commitment to Service

The name “Semper Fi Homestead” reflects the Rehm’s unwavering commitment to God, their fellow brothers and sisters, and a family that supports each other through thick and thin. This commitment extends to their two teenage sons, who are fully engaged in the homesteading lifestyle. They aren’t mere observers; they actively share the daily responsibilities, hauling feed, caring for animals, repairing what breaks, and carrying themselves with a maturity that defies their age.

The boys’ latest venture is microgreens, and they approach it with the same dedication, curiosity, and unwavering belief that food becomes truly meaningful when your own hands are involved in its creation.

From Marine to Healer: A Story of Service

Scott’s background provides further insight into the family’s ethos. He is a disabled veteran who served as a gunner in the Marines. Even with PTSD, Scott felt compelled to continue serving. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked as a traveling nurse, moving from hospital to hospital, entering rooms that most people desperately avoided. He carries the weight of this experience with quiet strength, and it’s palpable in his unwavering support for those who are hurting.

Their four Frenchie therapy dogs became his way of offering veterans a safe space to heal when the world felt too overwhelming. And now, there’s Johnny Cash, the charming 20-month-old fluffy HighPark mini steer, who stands patiently beside visitors like a four-legged sanctuary. Visitors find solace in his presence, breathing in sync with him, allowing his warmth to soothe their nervous systems in ways that human conversation sometimes cannot reach. None of this is contrived for social media; it’s simply the life they have cultivated. When someone needs stability, they provide it. When someone needs space, they create it.

A Half-Acre of Healing

These moments of connection and healing unfold on their half-acre homestead – a relatively small space that encompasses an extraordinary amount of restorative energy. Visits are available by appointment on Saturdays for a modest donation. People come for the animals and the profound peace they exude. There’s Holy, the seven-month-old Dexter, who will one day be their milk cow; Big Papa, the wise 42-year-old sulcata tortoise, who sets the tone for the entire property; Mr. Butterball, the watchful blue slate turkey, constantly scanning the yard as if on patrol; Hennifer Lopez, the stunning black copper Maran, who lays eggs the color of dark chocolate; and Guile, the Polish rooster with a feathered mohawk, whose crowing announces your arrival before you even step out of the car.

Building a Community of Self-Reliance

Jeana, Scott, and their sons haven’t confined their efforts to their own gate. They have established a place where others can acquire skills that may have been lost or never taught – how to bake sourdough bread, butcher poultry, make candles, cultivate herbs, render tallow, or locate farmers who adhere to ethical and sustainable practices. Her Facebook community, “Las Vegas Anything Homesteading,” has grown to over 700 members, all sharing knowledge, tools, and celebrating small victories. She recommends sources for truly pasture-raised chicken (Josh & Sons), reputable beef suppliers (Battle Born Ranch), and other Nevada makers who are committed to doing things the right way.

What she has cultivated is far more than just a hobby group; it’s a thriving network of self-reliance and mutual support. People arrive with curiosity and leave feeling more empowered and capable. This empowerment strengthens households, neighborhoods, and, gradually, the entire local food system.

The True Cost of Food

Food prices are on the rise everywhere, and nothing seems like a bargain anymore. This prompts us to shift our perspective from “Why are farm eggs ten dollars?” to “What am I actually buying when I spend money on food?” When we buy from Nevada’s small farmers, we aren’t just purchasing convenience or perfectly uniform produce. We are investing in food raised by people who refuse to compromise on quality or ethics. We are buying eggs from hens that bask in the sun alongside tortoises and wander freely with turkeys. We are buying meat from farmers who move their birds across fresh pastures instead of confining them under artificial lights.

We are investing in the hard work, the early mornings, the unwavering care, the occasional losses, the continuous learning, and the unwavering integrity that is reflected in every bite. Price is merely the surface; true worth lies beneath.

Faith and Food: An Intertwined Connection

Supporting those who nourish us also means acknowledging the faith that underpins their work – the belief that small things matter, that service is valuable, and that feeding a community is a sacred act. The Rehms don’t separate their homestead from their faith; it’s the foundation that sustains them during challenging times. You can sense this deeply ingrained belief when you walk their property. Johnny Cash greets people with an intuitive understanding, offering silent support.

When they bring their animals to the Farmer’s Market once a month, people linger not just out of curiosity, but because the atmosphere around them feels different – quieter, kinder, and more grounded. As the day comes to an end, a sense of tranquility settles over the animals. There’s a profound peace, a quiet spirituality that you can feel simply by being among living creatures who are loved and cared for.

Jeana puts it simply: everything they have built is because Jesus placed it on their hearts and trusted them to bring it to fruition. Some experiences fill your stomach, while others nourish your spirit. Their homestead manages to do both.

Holding the Line: Choosing Integrity

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that those who feed us are not simply selling food; they are holding a line. They are choosing integrity in a system that rewards shortcuts, choosing community in a culture that prioritizes convenience, and choosing faith when their work stretches them beyond their limits.

And we have a choice too.

Small Acts, Big Impact

Our support doesn’t require grand gestures, but rather consistent decisions that honor those who are dedicated to their craft. Start wherever you are. Choose one thing. Perhaps it’s buying farm-grown microgreens at the farmer’s market once a month, or stopping by Semper Fi Homestead occasionally for a dozen fresh eggs. Let your dollars support the hands you trust and the food system you want to see thrive.

They have taken their stand.

Now it’s our turn to stand with them.

You can find the Rehms at: @crazyfarmgirlera on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, Homestead Facebook Group: Las Vegas ANYTHING HOMESTEADING