The Life of a Farmer

 

My grandfather used to rise and shine at four a.m. to feed and milk his forty cows on his Iowa farm.  Grandma would get up with him, and while he was doing his first chores in the barn she would be fixing a huge breakfast for him.  When he finished feeding the cows he would come into the kitchen, kicking the mud and dirt off his boots, sit down and eat, and then return to the barn for milking.

Every single day, 365 days per year, rain, shine, sleet, snow, or hail.

I was reminded of that the other day when I was out on my stepson’s goat farm.  Every day he climbs out of bed, goes out and feeds and milks the goats, and then spends the rest of his day repairing things, making cheese, and just living the life of a farmer.

1955 . . . 2017 . . . the life of a farmer is not an easy one.  It is not for the weak of spirit.  You’ve got to love farming or you might as well not get into it.  You’ve got to love animals or you might as well not have any.

If that sounds like I’m trying to discourage anyone I’m not.  I think we need more small, independent farmers in this country. I believe strongly in localism and sustainability.  I believe strongly in farmers markets.  I would love it if someone reading this article was inspired to take up farming . . . but there has to be a reality check beforehand.

Farming is work!

You gotta love it!

And you gotta love animals!

Even on our urban farm we have enough animals to keep us busy.  Our chickens, quail, and rabbits all require, and deserve, special care.  They have to be fed, and watered, every morning and every evening.  They have to be provided with weatherproof housing so they are protected from the elements.  There have been many mornings, when the wind is howling and the rain is coming down horizontally, when I have not wanted to go out and feed the critters, but I do it because one, they are my responsibility and two, because I love it.

One other memory of my grandparents’ farm . . . fresh baked bread right out of the oven . . . I salivate now just thinking of that smell.

Random thought . . .

By the way, in 2006 the Billion Tree Campaign was begun by some Pulitzer Peace Prize winner who shall remain nameless because, well, I can’t remember his/her name. Anyway, it was an attempt to help the Earth by planting a billion new trees by 2007.  It was successful, by the way, and since the inception of that program there have been somewhere in the neighborhood of fourteen billion new trees planted.

You don’t have to be a farmer to help the Earth!

Random thoughts!

Bill

Taking A Deep Breath

I’m taking a deep breath and releasing a deep sigh.

Can you hear it?

October has come to an end and all winter preparations are completed. The new roof is on. The woodstove is cleaned. Firewood is stacked.  Critters are protected for the winter.

All is well on our little farm.

And now attention turns inward. There is painting to do inside the house.  The kitchen and bathroom floors need tiling.  We will do those things as time allows.

There is also planning to do for next spring.  We have to decide what we are going to sell at farmers markets and oh, yes, speaking of farmers markets, guess who was elected as Board President at the Tumwater Farmers Market?

Me!

There I was, at the Board meeting, minding my own business, when my loving wife entered my name into nomination for the President’s position.  Naturally there were no dissents because, let’s face it, nobody wants that damned job.

And now I have it!

My complaining is really hollow and we all know it.  I believe in farmers markets. I believe in locally-owned and grown products, and sustainability, and all those other catch-phrases which signal a return to our roots and a departure from Costco and WalMart.

So it’s all good.  The winter will be a busy time as we prepare for the spring, and next spring I’ll say the spring is a busy time as we prepare for the summer . . .

And so it goes!

Bill