4 Free Ways to Support Your Local Farmers & Ranchers
4 Free Ways to Support Your Local Farmers & Ranchers
Supporting your local food system doesn’t always have to mean opening your wallet — the truth is, every act of support, big or small, helps the folks who grow your food keep doing what they love. There are countless simple ways to lift up the people behind your food, and each one ripples out farther than you might think. Supporting a local farm or ranch isn’t only about signing up for a CSA or filling your basket at the market (though we love that too). Sometimes it’s as easy as a few clicks, a kind word, or a quick question at your favorite restaurant.
Here are four completely free ways to support the farms and ranches that keep your community fed:
1. Leave a Review on Google or Yelp
If your local farm or ranch has a Google Business or Yelp profile, hop on and leave them a review. A short sentence or two about your experience — maybe about that perfect peach you picked, the friendly faces at the stand, or how much you love their beef — can make a huge difference.
Those reviews help new people find local producers and help build trust in them before they even visit. Plus, they remind farmers that every early morning and long harvest day adds up to something meaningful — that their work is seen, valued, and making a difference in their community.
2. Share Their Posts or Tag Them Online
When you tag the farm in your dinner photo, share a post, or leave a heartfelt comment, you’re helping that story travel. Every click, every tag, every word of encouragement tells the algorithm — and the world — that local food matters. It’s one of the most powerful, modern forms of word-of-mouth we have, and you help more people discover that good things are growing right here at home.
3. Tell a Friend
Old-fashioned marketing still works — maybe better than ever. When you tell your coworkers, neighbors, or family about a local farm stand, ranch, or CSA, you’re helping build the kind of strong, resilient food system we all want.
Your words carry weight. A simple, “Hey, you should check out this ranch in Bishop — they have the best steaks,” might be the reason someone decides to spend their next Saturday supporting a local producer instead of a big chain.
4. Ask Your Local Businesses Where Their Food Comes From
Next time you’re out to eat or grabbing a coffee, ask your favorite café, grocery store, or restaurant if they buy from local farms or ranches. It’s a simple question that starts an important conversation.
When customers ask, it signals to businesses that people care about local sourcing — and that demand can lead to real change. You don’t have to be pushy; curiosity alone can inspire chefs and owners to look closer to home for their ingredients.
Every little bit of support helps farms like ours keep doing what we do — feeding our community, caring for the land, and building something beautiful and lasting.
So this week, pick one (or all four!) and give your favorite local producers a little free boost. They’ll feel it.
Here at Blue Heron Farm, we’re endlessly grateful for this community — for the people who stop by the farm stand, share a post, or simply tell a friend about us. If you’d like to lend a hand in one of the easiest ways possible, we’d be so thankful if you left us a quick Google review or tagged us on social media @theblueheronproject when you visit. Every bit of love you share helps keep this farm growing strong. We so appreciate it.