1. I am allergic to bananas. But it’s cool because I don’t like them anyway.
2. I walk and talk in my sleep. A lot. On at least three occasions I have called 911 in my sleep and reported non-existent crimes.
3. I hate shopping and only allow myself to be dragged into a fitting room four times a year, usually by my sister.
4. I don’t have a favorite color.
5. I have a deep and pathological need for everyone to like me.
This last one gave me some trouble today. I got a very nasty, threatening email from someone who wasn’t happy with their CSA experience. And, because want everyone to like me, it really rattled me. Really, really rattled me.
I refunded the customers money immediately- frankly, Erin and I figured out a while back that if easy customers pay the same amount as difficult ones, and we’d rather just keep the easy ones. But what really bothered me is that the women threatened to say bad things about us on Ravelry. [Ravelry is the most important consumer website in the yarn/knitting world.]
Here’s the thing: our CSA is not for everyone. It’s not a fast, inexpensive way to buy yarn. It’s supposed to be a way for you, the shareholder, to connect with the animals your yarn is coming from. To see what goes into raising and caring for the animals, the joys of lambing, the heartbreak of losing a member of the flock, the whole shepherding experience. And maybe, when you knit with the fruits of our year’s labor, it will mean a bit more to you.
I loved the idea of the CSA when I thought of it and I love it today. And it hurts me when people don’t get it. But you know what? It’s time for me to man up a bit (woman up?) and stop getting weepy when someone says something mean to me about it.
Spring shares are coming very soon…
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That stinks! I did this as a cool endeavor and I have loved every day that I’ve watched the blog and learned about the animals. I went into it knowing that it was a shared risk and didn’t mean I’d get yarn out of it. That said, I can’t wait to get my spring share and I look forward to the tweets that a new blog post is up. I’d back this up as a great experience on Ravelry too.
woman up.
That is horrible! I frequent Ravelry regularly and I will defend you if I see anyone talking bad! I’ve come to love your animals even though I haven’t tried CSA myself, mostly because of money (being a poor college student sucks.) You care about your animals more than some people care about their kids. You are awesome and don’t let some grouchy people say other wise.
Susan, that person needs a new or better life! Thanks for all you do and being such a generous person sharing your life and animals with everyone willingly. I too don’t like it if someone is upset with me, but I’ve realized that no matter how good of a job I may do, there will always be those few people who are happy with NOTHING, no matter what and feel better to be miserable and complain. I have come to feel bad for them. Don’t change a thing you do! We are all imperfect. That’s what makes everyday unique.
I feel ya; I’m a pleaser too.
Honestly, I haven’t bought a share because I’ve never seen/heard how much anyone has ever received from their share. I’ve read your reasoning for this and while it makes sense to me part of being able to determine if buying a CSA is a good risk or a bad one is evaluating that CSAs prior return, IMHO. I enjoy knowing the animals through your blog and believe I would feel the same connection to any fiber I purchased through your shop and I would have control over how much I got and knowing that I could complete the project I had in mind with it. I wonder if you would have more easy customers if we had more information to base our decisions on.
Either way, I love you and Erin and the animals. Keep it up!
I also want everyone to like me. Which I’m aware is irrational, since there are certainly plenty of people that I dislike.
I love the CSA, and I wrote on Ravelry that I think you should make the timeline more clear before shareholders sign up, so they will understand that they are getting hard yarn, and it’s about the process as well as the final product.
I also agree with Kara that publishing information about the size of past shares (with plenty of caveats) will help people to decide if the CSA is a good choice for them.
I am super-excited to get my spring share! Hooray. The CSA model is awesome, Susan, and I’m glad you’re pioneering it.
No worries, Kara, the difficult customers are few and far between. Most of our shareholders are amazing, caring, wonderful people that I am thrilled to have as friends.
Susie, Casey and Jess do NOT condone name-bashing. Those posts are against community rules and will be edited to remove the slander. If you ever catch anyone doing that, you should flag their post so the moderators can take care of it right away.
I’m really sorry to hear that someone gave you a hard time – I haven’t been a shareholder yet (purely for financial reasons, I’m a student… but I’m DYING to get involved, as soon as I have the funds I will!), but I think what you do is both highly admirable and totally innovative.
I guess I just wanted to say, rest assured that even if some people have negative feedback for you, there are lots of us out here who think you, Erin, the farm and all your delightful animals are just that – delightful!!!
The people that matter, like you just fine and really believe in what you’re doing. Some people are unpleaseable, you can be the biggest pleaser in the world and you still won’t make them happy. I think you’ve done a wonderful job explaining the CSA model. I never once got the impression this was a fast easy way to get yarn. Refund their money, take a deep breath, and move on knowing there are TONS of us out here that think you and Erin are doing a great job!
Oh, hell. That is SO NOT COOL.
I mean…it’s a CSA. You buy shares. It’s not supposed to be KnitPicks, you know. (No knock on KP- they are great. But I have never seen a KP goat win a blue ribbon.)
well, I don’t know if you need to woman up. I totally understand the need to be liked, as I have it too. I think many women do. That said, I don’t think it’s unwomanly to feel stung, hurt, and saddened when we are misunderstood. The trouble starts when we begin to doubt the worth of our whatever it is we were criticized about based on what one person says. You knew in your gut the CSA was a good idea, and you’ve had the responses to confirm that instinct. It’s not for everyone and it’s not perfect, but I’m damn excited to get my share and I am really starting to get hooked on this blog.
Susan, I don’t see you very often, but I can honestly and sincerely say that you are without a doubt one of the awesomest people I know. Erin’s okay too.
Wow, what crimes did you report in your sleep?
BTW, don’t let the random jerks (I wanted to use a meaner word that starts with “a”) get to you. They’re always out there, but luckily they’re a minority. You do not owe them ANYTHING. Keep moving forward and let them eat your dust.
(I’m totally kidding, by the way, in case someone gets their panties in a twist. Erin is awesome too, and I wish she would come to knitting group more often because I haven’t seen her in forever. Although to be honest, I haven’t been to knitting group in a while either. We’re all so busy!!)
Well, Girl, I’m just sorry that this had to happen, but heh, jerks are everywhere!
There is just this one, teeny, tiny little devilish thought in my head that says just let her post anything she wants, and just sit back and watch the “Army of Aunties” launch the attack! I’ve heard them say to you many times “don’t worry, Susan, we’ve got your back!” In my humble opinion, they’ve got your back, your sides, they would form a wedge in front of you, and Erin, too, and if need be, I’m sure they would throw themselves on you, Erin, and any one of the goats, lambs, chickens, dogs, and any other critters that are “ours” to protect and defend. She would not know what hit her, and she would, maybe, learn a thing or two about community and CSA, not to mention love and friendship!
But that’s only a teeny, tiny little devilish thought way in the back of my head. I’m glad you dealt with her much more professionally that I might have! And you are an amazing human being…don’t let her or anyone else make you doubt yourself and what you are about.
Dear Susie and Erin,
It amazes me that someone could so totally miss the point of your CSA? I feel you were very upfront about everything and quite honest about the time this will take. I knew I was making a year long investment! That was not kept from me at all. It really upsets me to think of all the effort you and Erin put into this only to have a really ungrateful and mean response. Because I have the same need to please I know that the mean responses really stick with you. But please try to shed them off. Those people aren’t worth your time or effort (or yarn!) Please know the rest of us get it, and get you! I have totally loved this experience and if my budget allowed, I would buy shares every season.
Don’t worry about Ravelry. Your shareholder fans would quickly drown out any naysayers. Put out a call to action and just watch us go!
My brother sleep walks/talks and while it can be terribly funny, it’s also terribly dangerous. Be careful!
Love to you and Erin and the animals.
Auntie Dina
There will always be those who don’t understand the CSA concept of risk-sharing. I think it is important for those of us who can afford to take a chance on a crop or a shearing to do what we can to keep the individual farmers and shepherds in business. I will gladly risk my money on a CSA to avoid supporting a CAFO.
Let’s see–I bought my Spring 09 share 15 months ago. I’ve already bought a Fall 09 share. I know I won’t see my yarn for sometime (woohoo–except that spring share coming soon!) I really don’t understand how someone can buy into the CSA without reading/understanding the whole concept.
Dissing on Rav is against the TOS, and it wouldn’t get far, don’t worry aboiut that!
And–since you’re a Texas chica–shouldn’t that be “cowboy up”??? Dang–now I have an image of George Strait in my head……
Gigantic Stephanie Hug from Texas… you are awesome, and I know that because I have been the recipient of said awesomeness!
I received my CSA share as a Christmas gift from my husband and two sons. If my husband, who knows nothing about knitting other than I have too many projects and yarn, thought it was a great concept then a knitter should be able to understand the concept. By the way Susie, he thought you were great in answering any questions he did have before purchasing. Looking forward to my Spring share arriving. The best part is that I got to see the shearing in person and now I can see the end result. Keep up the fabulous work!! Hugs from Texas!
Dang – this upsets me! I found out about your CSA from a blogpost on another site. I quickly “googled” you and from everything on the internet and on Ravelry about you, you are a truly loved, dedicated, and compassionate person. So I invested – in you, the animals you take care of, and the idea you bring to the fiber world: It’s about the process, not just the end result.
I can’t wait for my Spring 2009 share. Not because of the yarn (even though that’s a plus), but to hold the fruits of your dedicated labor. Hats off to you for all the time and effort you put into your blog, your followers, but especially your friends, family, and animals.
Forget the naysayer – you wouldn’t want their negative energy anyway!
Hi Susan,
I am also a shepherd and in addition to having a deep and pathological need for people to like me, I also have a deep and pathological need for people to respect my sheep and what comes from them. I raise Corriedale sheep (half my flock are natural colored) and I have been toying with the idea of also doing a CSA with them, but I am really afraid of getting customers who don’t understand that a small farmer will produce a unique product and the yarn is not going to always look like it was made in a factory in China. Nor can I match Wal-Mart prices. The yarn from my girls has so much vitality and charecter, but I am very much afraid that I will dissappoint customers who just want something inexpensive. And will miss the point that I never got dinner tonight because I was out moving my flock to a new pasture and needed to do some fencing because my girls wanted to go someplace else (the pasture that is still re-growing and they can’t have for another two weeks) and my daughter, border collie and I were out chasing them until it was nearly dark. Nor is it cheap to get yarn made in a small, custom, family owned mill. But that the mills and the farms are owned and operated by families is, to me, the key. Because, you can support a big faceless industry or you can support families and become part of the village, the extended family. If someone has chosen to support the industry model, that is their choice and it must fill some basic need for them. I hope instead to find people like those who support Fiberfarm who will find joy in creating works of fiber art with the wool from my sheep and will become part of my extended family. If I ever find the courage to start that CSA, that is……..
No one with half a brain on Ravelry would listen to that kind of trash talk. Just one person taking their bad day out on you, not fair. I would be part of the CSA if I could, but money is just too tight right now.
I would call out anyone who spread piss and vinegar with no real substance to their claim. I don’t think I am alone here either.
If you had a (love) button, I would click yours – you need a break.
Susan – if that person had a Hudson Valley Spring 09 share, I’ll “buy” it!!! Just let me know. Maybe instead of a vest, I can knit a sweater!
I like the “cowboy/girl” up, but perhaps “pony up” is better???
Retail – no matter WHAT kind of stuff you sell – is hell. But you have so many people who love you, love what you do, and love those critters, that I think we make up for that bad apple!
Susan in HK
Susie, You have to remember that you can’t always please everyone and CSA’s are not for everyone. Everything is explained on your website so I don’t know how she didn’t understand how it worked. You did the right thing refunding the money because it just isn’t worth it. However, remember that you are awesome and all of us aunties just love you, Erin and the gang. I can’t wait for my Spring 09 share to just be close to all our “kids”. Hang in there and don’t worry about Ravelry, always remember the aunties have your back!
Oh, Susie! Put it behind you.
Touches on one of my pet-est of peeves – Why have we have become a society that expects instant gratification in all things.
I purchased my Spring ’09 share a whole long year ago and I am so excited because I know good things come to those who (will) wait.
Just to say I think your project is fully awesome and your blog is one of my all time favourites.
I feel inspired to become a shepherd because of what you do here and the CSA model is really inspiring and positive.
I agree that it is best to lose the difficult customers. For every Ravelry-badmouthing character there is a flotilla of adoring blog-readers like me who think that Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm is the best thing ever.
Keep doing what you are doing; there are many people who perceive the value. And take the annoyed people around as a sign that you are breaking new ground and being a little bit revolutionary x
PS Jan your comment is so true and so good it made me cry. I love your characterful Corriedale flock and their fleeces already. x
Susan:
Most importantly, you can’t stress yourself over this. I am a firm believer that constant stress can make you ill. We can’t have everyone like us. Your blog explains it well, that the CSA is not for everyone… that it is as much about being a part of the process as the end result. I am a person short on patience too, so I carry Ghandi around in my head: There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Perhaps you should “grab” some of that verbiage and put it into your intro here or on your blog? It may help the people who don’t have (or make) the time to read the blogs and be part of the community to go elsewhere. You don’t need them.
There always seems to be at least one bad apple…..
Don’t let it get to you! CSA’S are not for everyone. Evenindependent farm grown , gorgeous hand dyed yarn isn’t for everyone (although for the life of me I can’t understand why).
ps I think the phrase you’re looking for is ” Time to pull up my big girl panties”…
Wanting to please people is one of the things that makes you good at what you do. And I’m more than a little amazed that anyone could have a life so devoid of activities worth their attention(knitting? family? not in that order necessarily) that they’d choose to spend their precious free time venting their spleen in your direction. No someone whose opinion I would seriously consider.
I talk in my sleep too. Have had whole conversations, made plans with people and remember nothing about it in the morning. Kinda sucks.
I thought signing up for the CSA was clear that you would not be seeing the yarn for eons but that you got to see how it was grown, sheared, and wound into yarn and that that experience was worth the weight (and to me it has been). My spring share was a gift and I bought my fall share without ever seeing any yarn because watching the yarn grow has been as fun as knitting with they yarn eventually will be.
There will always be people who want instant satisfaction…buy now use now. Just know that there is a whole community out there who get the concept of a yarn CSA and love you for bringing it into our homes every day.
Don’t let the bad customers get you down. Whoever threatened you deserves a moth infestation!
I completely understand, but I also know that your CSA is well respected even by those (like me) who can’t/don’t participate. I think you will always have someone who doesn’t like something and it can be hard to handle. Just keep working on your vision for it and handle those one-off situations with grace (as you explain you did) and things will continue to work well
You are right – she didn’t get it, and you are better off without her. Someone who does get it will enjoy her share much more than she will.
I am sorry, though, that you had to experience this. I know that with the comic book my husband and I produce, we get comments from people who don’t get the story we are telling, but we don’t mind too much, really. We just smile, shake our heads at them, and go on. Not everyone gets everything and that’s how it should be. That’s what keep life from getting too boring and keeps us from getting too complacent.
By the way, I love what you do and am looking forward to seeing my share of the fall shearing from all those wonderful goats I read about. Keep up the hard work and know you are doing something wonderful!!!
I’m so sorry that someone was that mean to you. You are one of the sweetest people I know. I have always loved coming to the island but since I have met you, Erin and Alisa the island is even more fun. Some people just don’t understand how to communicate with others. Just think of all the people who love you and the beautiful yarn you make. I’m making a scarf out of your yarn right now and I think of your beautiful animals with each stitch. Don’t let one mean person get to you–we all adore you!!
Not everyone “gets it”.
You are doing just fine.
You did the exact right thing, refunding her money and moving on with those who appreciate your
efforts and sharing.
No one gets along with everyone. That’s how writers get plots.
Please, please, Susan, do not let this one unhappy woman stress you out. If I can provide some counter balance to her bad karma, let me tell you about my experience with MVFF.
I read about you in the Wall Street Journal about 2 years ago, was intrigued by the story and the CSA concept and went immediately to your website. Since that day, I have been enthralled and awed by what your are doing. I have purchased yarn from you and crocheted lovely gifts for my family. As a matter of fact, the first purchase I made went astray in the mail and never arrived and you immediately replaced it. I was so impressed by your warm customer service and personal concern about my buying experience. I subsequently purchased more yarn and am a shareholder in Spring ’09. I have the 2009 Calendar on my cubicle wall at work ( I can see Dan Rather right this second.) You and your staff are doing something unique and great and you are allowing the whole world to share, if they wish. I can’t wait till your book is published. I check your blog every day. You brighten up my day!
Now, I hope that we have brightened yours a little bit too. Forget that unpleasant woman. I know how much that can sting, especially when you are pouring your heart and soul into something. But if you were to stop doing what you are doing, you would create a big sad hole in the lives of your admirers and supporters.
If it’s any consolation, I’ve heard different flavors of similar stories from the farmers who run our vegetable CSA.
Having gone to the shearing festival, I can say that there are many people who like and support what you are doing with this fiber CSA & your farm.
As a consumer, buying a share should probably be considered making an investment, where there are risks to the outcome like weather, health of the animals, etc. In a CSA, the consumer is is in the same boat as the farmer, and invested in the farm doing well. It is an experience, and an investment in a small business that it trying to create an alternative to industrial agriculture–which isn’t the same as buying yarn at the store or a festival, and may not be for everyone.
keep up the good work!
I’m so like that, it’s VERY difficult to take when someone is upset with, unhappy with, disappointed in, or in any other way doesn’t like me.
I’ve been getting better at it. There’s a guy at work who I can tell just thinks I’m annoying. I’m accepting it, though, because I kind of think he’s a jerk. Plus, the people who think I’m annoying, once they get to know me they see that I’m not who they think I am, and then they usually end up liking me. I’m sure there are some people who will continue to think I’m annoying, but when it all comes down to it, I have so many amazing people in my life who like me, and I like them SO much more than I like the people like this guy at work, that it all kind of balances out.
Even if the mean lady was mean to you, *I* think what you’re doing is amazing.
Some people just won’t get what you are trying to do. You’ve chosen a difficult road, but a very rewarding one. That said, this shareholder would like to see some photos of the animals — particularly the little animals!
I don’t understand why people can be so mean. If they aren’t happy with a certain experience, you can convey that in a polite way, nastiness isn’t necessary.
((((Susie!!)))) Hugs to you!
I wouldn’t worry about a thing if I were you. Your reputation precedes you; people on Ravelry who know you and your flock won’t bat an eye because they know that, frankly, you rock. To quote my mother, ‘it’s her problem, not yours,’ so don’t waste any more worry on the topic.
Non sequitur: are you allergic to latex and kiwis, too? I have had several students with latex/kiwi/banana allergies. How odd; I suppose they’re in the same family of allergens.
I must say that I am totally excited about the fiber CSA and look forward to investing again – and I haven’t even gotten my first share yet! There is something so powerful about getting to ride along with you on the ups and downs of shepherding – and I’m really grateful to you for giving the rest of us who aren’t able to keep a few sheep or goats (much to my chagrin!) a chance at feeling a tiny bit like a farmer. You’re doing a good thing. Keep it up!
I am so sorry that you were treated so badly. I haven’t been financially able to purchase a share….yet, but I love the entire concept and hope to be a future share holder. I am so glad to see the wonderful and supportive feedback that you get here, so that you know what you are doing is very right!
Thanks for sharing your 5 things and the only comment I have for the mean CSA-hater-woman is this: your lose!
Keep up the great work Susan and Erin!
What you are doing is intensely personal and a huge commitment. Of course criticism is going to smart! I don’t think you need to cowgirl up, but keep in mind how many of us appreciate what you do and love the CSA excitement.
That having been said – can we have the meanie’s yarn?
piffle! it is not nice to threaten people. fair enough to say you don’t like the experience and why but the rest is bullying and that is just not right! well, you know we love you. (((((hugs)))))
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