I don’t read a lot of Substacks (and comment even less) but your writing is always authentic and speaks to my soul. It’s nice to follow your journey without the sugarcoating. It completely resonates with me that you can’t waste your time in soulless jobs. It will work out. You belong where you are… Much love!
It's still a little scary for me to share my story without any sugar, lol, so I'm grateful it resonates and attracts folks like yourself. I'm not giving up on farming and I'll be damned if I'll ever go back to another "job".
Might be a bumpy ride, but at least we're in good company!
I feel you. I am not trying in farming (although the one acre thing totally appeals to me), but I left the school system and yes, it's a bit bumpy at the moment. But I trust the process. Grateful for the good company! Keep sharing!
"Maybe success is just making the conscious choice to come back to farming again and again…"
Your essay reflects every conversation I've had with every small farmer and landholder I know. Man, woman, married, single, young, old. Every one. And, we say the same thing in response; "It shouldn't be this way."
But it is. The only victory we can claim is that we aren't contributing to the chem bio food system that is killing our people and destroying our land. And that's not nothing.
As someone who has worked with food farmers extensively and am doing it myself, (but with the privilege of lifetime savings and my husband's Social Security) I can tell you you're asking all the right questions.
A few things I hope will help you on your journey- Myth #1, couples farming together is easier. I'm on a huge FB page with women homesteaders. THE most popular the posts relate to a hubby not doing crap. (My husband has aged-out of our outside work together but he's still here supporting me with cooking, laundry, a shoulder to cry on.) Myth #2 - most farmers make the majority of their living from the farm. In fact more than 80% make most of their money elsewhere. Maybe you're writing will be that "elsewhere." Or maybe you'll bag groceries or some other mindless part time work that pays for they kids' clothes. Just know that if you pull this off you're in a tiny minority. Myth #3 real farming involves livestock. You have chosen THE most labor intensive farming there IS. Please consider at least diversifying with perennials and build toward a U-pick operation if your land will support it and if you're anywhere near an urban area. Finally, Myth #4 - farmers are solitary. Farming alone means a lot of bartering which I think you said before you're doing. Get more creative about that.
As for authenticity, screw the people who don't appreciate it. Reading Adam Kuznia inspires me to be more authentic and to find more writers like him (he's got the writing chops AND the passion/vulnerability that makes it all work.) You're done compromising. Don't start here.
Consider this all moral support! Cheering you on from Iowa!
There's definitely a give and take with dudes in farming, and, though I've made it harder on myself in some ways, in others it's a blessing to be a solo-farmer.
Meanwhile, I *do* have 22 fruit trees, a large bed of asparagus AND artichokes I've put in since buying the property. Can't wait for the day they all start producing!
And though I will likely never go the bagging groceries route, I have committed myself to the idea of subbing at the local schools should the need arise. But mainly, I'm intending for the writing to be that "other thing".🙌
However, my sheep are my conservation effort--they are my environmental superheroes regenerating our 10-acre pasture for the good of our local wildlife. The conservation in the "Runamuk Acres Conservation Farm" isn't just talk. We actually have a 50-year contract with the government for conservation work on this property and it'll be a while before I'll give them up.
Plus, when people visit the farm they love being able to get up close and personal with our super friendly sheep.
Thank you for your moral support!!! 3 cheers for being done compromising!
Pandora’s box open. Lot to digest. Must make this point. You are a writer. No need to question your ability. You have proven to yourself what you cad do. You could set up an apprenticeship with students that would work and learn about farming, help you with getting chores done. Keep writing. I have not responded for a while. My own writing takes precedence and landscape business keeps me busy.
Sending a virtual hug and high five because you have just put my feelings into words! Thank you from my very soul! I left my job to start an herb nursery which has expanded to growing edible flowers and exotic fruits for a resort. I’m the “farmer “ when I’m onsite but it’s role playing. They want smoke and mirrors. If I could, I’d come by to lend a hand so we could work and chat.
I admire your authenticity and grit! This year, I acquired a small community garden plot (300 sq ft), and it requires a significant amount of work to maintain when you have a full-time day job and other commitments. But it makes me appreciate the land and those who work hard on it to produce our food.
My idea was really not about "making it in farming" - I only envisaged a kinder world where older ladies were enabled to grow food for their families, and share surplus, on little plots of magically available land.
In terms of surviving economically, you are completely right. I think my imaginary old birds had some alternative means of financial support. Pensions? Wealthy husbands? Inheritance?
Or they were hanging out in Middle Earth? It was kind of a fantasy. A wish
I am also often too fed up to contemplate such dreams. And I'm not even single!
Fed up of the unavailability of land in my home country (UK), fed up of everything costing so much that even with one of us working full time, we're getting nowhere. Fed up of stupid regulations as well.
Can we make it? Well we can make some of it, I think? And we have to patch together the rest from 'elsewhere'. And your writing is an 'elsewhere'. You're here. You're doing it.
As someone said to me this week: Just keep swimming.
Thank you for understanding, Jackie! I wasn't trying to call you out--merely highlighting the conversation. I think we need to keep talking about it. Giving up on the concept is never going to change a thing, right?
And you're right, we will piece it together somehow because this is the work we've been called to do.
I don’t read a lot of Substacks (and comment even less) but your writing is always authentic and speaks to my soul. It’s nice to follow your journey without the sugarcoating. It completely resonates with me that you can’t waste your time in soulless jobs. It will work out. You belong where you are… Much love!
I really appreciate that, Jools!
It's still a little scary for me to share my story without any sugar, lol, so I'm grateful it resonates and attracts folks like yourself. I'm not giving up on farming and I'll be damned if I'll ever go back to another "job".
Might be a bumpy ride, but at least we're in good company!
I feel you. I am not trying in farming (although the one acre thing totally appeals to me), but I left the school system and yes, it's a bit bumpy at the moment. But I trust the process. Grateful for the good company! Keep sharing!
"Maybe success is just making the conscious choice to come back to farming again and again…"
Your essay reflects every conversation I've had with every small farmer and landholder I know. Man, woman, married, single, young, old. Every one. And, we say the same thing in response; "It shouldn't be this way."
But it is. The only victory we can claim is that we aren't contributing to the chem bio food system that is killing our people and destroying our land. And that's not nothing.
Knowing that I'm doing my part, in the very least, is a big consolation!
Thank you, Dana!
As someone who has worked with food farmers extensively and am doing it myself, (but with the privilege of lifetime savings and my husband's Social Security) I can tell you you're asking all the right questions.
A few things I hope will help you on your journey- Myth #1, couples farming together is easier. I'm on a huge FB page with women homesteaders. THE most popular the posts relate to a hubby not doing crap. (My husband has aged-out of our outside work together but he's still here supporting me with cooking, laundry, a shoulder to cry on.) Myth #2 - most farmers make the majority of their living from the farm. In fact more than 80% make most of their money elsewhere. Maybe you're writing will be that "elsewhere." Or maybe you'll bag groceries or some other mindless part time work that pays for they kids' clothes. Just know that if you pull this off you're in a tiny minority. Myth #3 real farming involves livestock. You have chosen THE most labor intensive farming there IS. Please consider at least diversifying with perennials and build toward a U-pick operation if your land will support it and if you're anywhere near an urban area. Finally, Myth #4 - farmers are solitary. Farming alone means a lot of bartering which I think you said before you're doing. Get more creative about that.
As for authenticity, screw the people who don't appreciate it. Reading Adam Kuznia inspires me to be more authentic and to find more writers like him (he's got the writing chops AND the passion/vulnerability that makes it all work.) You're done compromising. Don't start here.
Consider this all moral support! Cheering you on from Iowa!
You're absolutely right, Suzan!
There's definitely a give and take with dudes in farming, and, though I've made it harder on myself in some ways, in others it's a blessing to be a solo-farmer.
Meanwhile, I *do* have 22 fruit trees, a large bed of asparagus AND artichokes I've put in since buying the property. Can't wait for the day they all start producing!
And though I will likely never go the bagging groceries route, I have committed myself to the idea of subbing at the local schools should the need arise. But mainly, I'm intending for the writing to be that "other thing".🙌
However, my sheep are my conservation effort--they are my environmental superheroes regenerating our 10-acre pasture for the good of our local wildlife. The conservation in the "Runamuk Acres Conservation Farm" isn't just talk. We actually have a 50-year contract with the government for conservation work on this property and it'll be a while before I'll give them up.
Plus, when people visit the farm they love being able to get up close and personal with our super friendly sheep.
Thank you for your moral support!!! 3 cheers for being done compromising!
Richard posted an interesting way to keep your farm going while sharing your knowledge & love for the land. Check out this link:
https://wwoof.net/
Keep on keeping it real!
Pandora’s box open. Lot to digest. Must make this point. You are a writer. No need to question your ability. You have proven to yourself what you cad do. You could set up an apprenticeship with students that would work and learn about farming, help you with getting chores done. Keep writing. I have not responded for a while. My own writing takes precedence and landscape business keeps me busy.
Thanks for taking the time, Richard!
I think writing is my way-forward. Stay tuned, my friend!
The apprenticeship he mentioned is kind of brilliant. You need more hands on deck but can't really afford to pay them. Something like that could work!
Sending a virtual hug and high five because you have just put my feelings into words! Thank you from my very soul! I left my job to start an herb nursery which has expanded to growing edible flowers and exotic fruits for a resort. I’m the “farmer “ when I’m onsite but it’s role playing. They want smoke and mirrors. If I could, I’d come by to lend a hand so we could work and chat.
I appreciate that, Leslie!
I think there are a lot of us in the same boat. Fighting that disconnect between society (and social media) and the realities of farming...
I admire your authenticity and grit! This year, I acquired a small community garden plot (300 sq ft), and it requires a significant amount of work to maintain when you have a full-time day job and other commitments. But it makes me appreciate the land and those who work hard on it to produce our food.
Ah, Sam, I totally get you.
My idea was really not about "making it in farming" - I only envisaged a kinder world where older ladies were enabled to grow food for their families, and share surplus, on little plots of magically available land.
In terms of surviving economically, you are completely right. I think my imaginary old birds had some alternative means of financial support. Pensions? Wealthy husbands? Inheritance?
Or they were hanging out in Middle Earth? It was kind of a fantasy. A wish
I am also often too fed up to contemplate such dreams. And I'm not even single!
Fed up of the unavailability of land in my home country (UK), fed up of everything costing so much that even with one of us working full time, we're getting nowhere. Fed up of stupid regulations as well.
Can we make it? Well we can make some of it, I think? And we have to patch together the rest from 'elsewhere'. And your writing is an 'elsewhere'. You're here. You're doing it.
As someone said to me this week: Just keep swimming.
Thank you for understanding, Jackie! I wasn't trying to call you out--merely highlighting the conversation. I think we need to keep talking about it. Giving up on the concept is never going to change a thing, right?
And you're right, we will piece it together somehow because this is the work we've been called to do.
Glad to be in such good company. 🙏
Can you make it? Sure, you already have made a start, which is more than many would dare.
Thank you, Nick!! Valid point!