The romantic vision of life on the farm is an existential vision based on the idea of the land of milk and honey. When we see acres of crops and farmers on their tractors we sense they are driving that tractor thinking about philosophical solutions to solving the world. Watching a farmer cut hay or plow under a field we may envy their stress free life. What I am learning however is an entirely different concept. Whether I agree with their farming techniques or not, I am but a novice in their world. It is easy to asess their methods when we have never tilled a field or fixed a broken tractor because we have never felt their pain. I have learned what it is like to hook your plow up when it is below zero and your hands are so cold you can't feel your fingers. I have fixed things mechanically and realized the ingenuity of the farmer. The laws of physics play an important role as the farmer devises a pully system or how to move a tree by himself. Summer time for many may mean camping, going to the beach but not to a farmer. Farmers working the plan are worrying about water, insects, and other very trying needs. The monoculture farm may be disdained versus the polculture farm and although I think the polyculture farm is the better plan I will still respect the work of any farmer. They work in an industry surrounded by those who view their work as an opportunity to profit from. Those profits dwindle quickly and leave many farmers in the lurch.
We are learning and as we learn our once rose colored glasses now see things a bit differently. Not that we haven't enjoyed the life on the farm, we have set up a campsite on the farm, or enjoyed riding our horses. Just like other families we have our share of drama and stress. As a chef I am building a bank of knowledge to share with my students as well as continue my own personal growth.
Finally I know that this farm has had new life breathed into it, and whether it will sustain itself will depend on well crafted plans. These plans are going to be dependent on not only economics but on mother nature and coming to grips with what doesn't work and what will work.
We are learning and as we learn our once rose colored glasses now see things a bit differently. Not that we haven't enjoyed the life on the farm, we have set up a campsite on the farm, or enjoyed riding our horses. Just like other families we have our share of drama and stress. As a chef I am building a bank of knowledge to share with my students as well as continue my own personal growth.
Finally I know that this farm has had new life breathed into it, and whether it will sustain itself will depend on well crafted plans. These plans are going to be dependent on not only economics but on mother nature and coming to grips with what doesn't work and what will work.
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| Deer in early spring in the alfalfa field |
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| looking south towards the woods |
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| looking west towards the woods |
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