Daily Inspiration: Meet Janet Coffey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Coffey. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Janet Coffey and her husband Don built their Stilwell property in 1989, adding their signature barn 6 years later as a home for their horses Whiskey and Chief. Janet later added a small produce garden. Over time, the garden got bigger. And bigger. And a little bigger. Soon, Janet was donating their abundance of produce to a local church. When the pandemic hit and uprooted everyone’s lives, Janet poured her heart into the garden that would soon become Coffey Grounds Farm (a cute play on her name that Janet thought up years ago). She continued expanding the garden, adding flowers she sold alongside her produce through Next Door and a small card table on the corner. Janet and Don quickly uncovered a need for positive work experiences for the youth in Stilwell, so they brought in local kids to help her tend to, harvest, and sell Janet’s produce. Janet even got her first chicken, even though Don threatened to divorce her if she added chickens to her repertoire (don’t worry, he didn’t!). Her little card table corner stand was a major upgrade when Janet found a truck bed for $300 that she could repurpose. Around this time, she also started welcoming visitors into her horse barn and gardens for tours, which sparked an idea. What if we offer Farm to Table Dinners? They no longer needed the barn for their horses, so the space was sitting there, full of opportunities and old bits of hay. Janet had already offered fresh, homemade pasta and bread from her little blue truck bed stand. The feeling of a family-oriented space was dear to their hearts. What’s more family-oriented than dinner!? One slow remodel later, Janet’s dreams are realized. Coffey Grounds Farm is now a destination for community members and Kansas City families, offering event space, cooking classes, fresh food and produce, farm-to-table dinners, and an ever-expanding pick-your-own vegetable and flower garden!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ll be 72 this year. People should know you can start your favorite business at any age.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Janet has called Kansas City home since 1975 and moved to the Coffey Grounds property with her husband, Don, in 1989. A former scientist with a background in microbiology and biochemistry, Janet is excited to shift her focus to a business that nourishes her soul. Her passion for food, gardening, and community are at the front and center of her daily life on the farm. When she’s not tending to the chickens, teaching classes, or cooking up some fresh pasta, Janet loves spending time with her family and friends. She’s always on the go!

Before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
You’re Always Welcome at Coffey Grounds Farm! We love collaborating with our community and hosting special events!

Pricing:

• 4 Course Farm to Table Dinner – $125 with Wine or $95 without.
• High Tea – $39.00 plus tax + gratuity

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coffeygroundsfarm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeygroundsfarm/?fbclid=IwAR3WN34lGdFxaI9WwDilT97yokvhJd3JHKdVxYLT20QT2FMtWjwsl36o3LQ
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026536853852
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/coffey-grounds-farm-stilwell