Farmette — Local services in New Buffalo Township

What an incredible addition to the area. Sweet little farm that adds the freshest, most local organic produce possible to its marketplace's wide variety of high-quality, regionally and sustainably produced goods. Everywhere you look, it's abundantly clear that a high level of care and attention to not just quality, but values like environmental stewardship, fair labor practices, and support for woman-owned businesses and local economies, has gone into their product selection. Their wine selection alone is a marvel to behold and beautifully showcases these values without giving one inch in comprising taste/quality (and the majority of them are quite affordable!). This place walks its talk in a way very few businesses do, and overflows with heart and soul.

Pair all this with their outstanding in-house organic sourdough breads (quite literally the best I've ever tasted), focaccias and other baked goods, their perfectly dialed-in organic/fair-trade coffee drinks (along with organic kombucha and wines on tap in the cafe), consistently good vibes and friendly service - even when the big summer crowds are at their most frantic, and a large, positively dreamy outdoor space with tons of seating that's easy to accidentally (or not) spend hours hanging out at, and you have one of the very best spots in the whole Midwest for locals and visitors to delight in. A locally owned small business you can feel really good about shopping at. Oh, and they're...

Disappointing Visit – All Hype, No Heart I had high hopes for Farmette after seeing it all over social media, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the buzz. The whole place felt like it was designed for Instagram rather than genuine enjoyment. You could tell most people were just there because they saw it online—myself included, so I can’t be too surprised.

The staff wasn’t friendly or welcoming, which really set the tone for the visit. On top of that, getting in and out of the parking lot was a headache. People were flying in without paying attention, making it genuinely unsafe.

It also felt like the place was overrun with out-of-towners trying to catch their perfect shot rather than enjoy the experience. Overall, it was more stressful than fun. Won’t be back.

The apple cinnamon muffin was...

Although Farmette is a cute establishment, my experience was ruined by the way the staff treated me and my dog. Over the course of my visit, three different employees asked me if my dog was a service animal, and one even went as far as to ask what kind of service animal she is.

This is not only inappropriate but also against the law. You cannot pry into personal details about a service animal, and you certainly shouldn’t harass a guest multiple times about the same thing. It made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, which completely overshadowed any of the charm the space itself might have.

Frankly, I left wondering: What is wrong with these people? A little education and basic respect would...