Focus on Small Business | Meanwhile Back on the Farm

Disclosure: In the meantime, Back on the Farm sent me some of their products to share on social media, but I really love their brand and story and wanted to write a blog post about their small family-owned business. My mom and I have also shopped at this company as customers. There’s a 15% off coupon code at the bottom of the post, so don’t miss out!

Since moving back to the East Coast, it’s become a tradition for my mom and I to go to Luke’s Market in the fall and spring. It’s a girls’ day. Fall 2022 was our first time attending, and before I went to the event, a woman from my church told me, “You have to visit Meanwhile Back on the Farm. They’ll be there as vendors and I know the owner. Say hi for me!” So ​​I looked for the booth and said hello, and it turned out to be a serendipitous mission. My mom and I love bags and own a lot of them. We’re not talking designer handbags. We’re talking totes, zippered bags, shopping bags, beach bags, backpacks, messenger bags, canvas bags, project bags… all the bags. My mom fell in love with the bags from Meanwhile Back on the Farm and bought her first one that day.

Since then, this store has become one of our regular stops to buy a new bag in a new color or style. I bought her a bag for Christmas last year as well. I tried to resist buying another bag because I have so many, but their bags are so well made that I finally bought one. I bought the Waxed Canvas Backback 2.0 in Olive and it is a great bag.

The size is perfect for use as a large handbag or a small clutch, making it a versatile bag. I decided to use it as a clutch for a while. It gives me extra space to store a water bottle and notebook when I need it.

The best part is that you can convert it into a backpack by swapping out the straps. I think I’ll use it with one strap most of the time, but it’s nice to have the option of two. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve had back pain if I carried a bag on one shoulder for too long. It confuses me and it helps if I can carry the weight evenly between both shoulders. It’s hard to find a bag/backpack that doesn’t look too childish and this one definitely doesn’t.

I was already a fan of the Meanwhile Back on the Farm brand, but I knew I’d met a kindred spirit when I read their story. Heather and Bobby launched and run the company together to share their love of all things locally grown with their customers. Not only do they design and manufacture high-quality bags, leather goods, and accessories, they also sell vegetables from their organic garden and a spicy mustard made with their own chili peppers. They’re creators and makers—my kind of people.

I also loved reading that Heather started making and selling suitcases at a young age to pay for her favorite hobby—horses. I was a hard worker as a child and teen, so I can relate to her entrepreneurial beginnings. It’s so cool that what started out as a way to make some money from a hobby has become a family business. I bet her bag design and making skills have grown as she’s matured as a person, a maker, and a business owner.

All of their products are made with the highest quality materials and with the utmost care. You can feel how heavy they are when you unzip them or grab the handles. You don’t feel like you have to be gentle, careful or precious. But along with the hard-wearing practicality come the lovely details like the fun fabric lining, key clip, pockets and a wide range of interchangeable straps. When my mom bought her first bag from their stall at Locketts Market, she picked out her bag and then they fitted her with a strap that was the perfect size for her height, body shape and how she likes to carry her bag. With all the bag shopping I’ve done, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bag that fit so well! This just shows their attention to detail.

I also got one of the waterproof Ditty bags made from one of my favorite fabrics—the Strawberry Thief bag from William Morris from Liberty of London. I could have found dozens of ways to use a bag like this, but I ended up putting some of the personal care items I like to have on hand in my bag—headache medicine, tissues, lotion, and a nail file. It keeps things contained within my bag and I can easily pull it out when I go for a quick walk and I’m unlikely to need the entire pharmacy!

A “wet” travel bag would be great for shampoo and liquid soap that might leak, and I could also use it for paints. Of course. Everything in my world can be related in some way to paints.

They also sent me a jar of mustard, which would be fun to try. I put Dijon mustard in the chicken pot pie I make regularly (you can find the recipe here ), so I think I’ll try using it in those.

Meanwhile, Back on the Farm is based in Lynchburg, Virginia, and sells its products online and at events across the U.S. You can shop online here and find their 2024 event list here.

If you see something you love or someone you love would love, use code MUSTARDSEED for 15% off your online purchase.

You can also follow their new releases, sales, and special events here on Instagram.

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