2.16.2012

let us farm, with peace.

i've had a hard time forming this as a cohesive thought in my head. so i beg your forgiveness if i seem, at best, indecisive.....and at worst, defensive in this post. but i have just about reached my limit of the Well Meaning (friends and family) telling us. warning nick and i that farming will be a hard life. i am so tired of hearing the tone of their voice get serious and slow and low. as though they are talking to a pair of half wit relatives that don't seem to get it. i am so tired of the concerned eyes and the slightly furrowed brow they give us as though we are something they now have to count in their worries.

we get it. at least i think we do. we get that life is tough. that farm life is going to be tough. that it is a life of commitment. that it will be a life of modesty. of relative poverty. or worse even abject poverty. we get that cows need to be milked once, twice a day. every day. that sheep need to be shorn twice a year. and then there is all that wool. and that gardens need your constant vigilance. that weeds will overtake you when you let your back turn. we get that winters up north are colder than cold. that our hands will forever be the most aged parts of our bodies. we get that our backs will suffer. that our shoulders will carry the weight of years of hay bales, of bags of feed, of the worry for the farm.

we get that our bodies are our livelihood. we get that a turned ankle will put one of us down and in turn much more weight on the feet of the other. we get that bringing babies into this world will be doubly tough. that our children won't have shiny things. that our children will learn to milk a cow or slaughter a chicken before they learn their multiplication tables. that our children will need to work hard to get scholarships to go to a good school. we get that the farm doesn't give us heath-care. we get that nobody will be there to cover us on sick days. we get that there is no 'time and a half' on holidays. on weekends. on nights when you are making yogurt so the milk doesn't go to waste or planting rows by headlamp.

we get it. i really think we do. and i appreciate all of the Well Meaning for their concerns. it is good to have objective eyes. it is good be challenged. i know that they all love us and want us to be safe and happy and well fed. and i know that we won't be able to do any of this without the love and support of every one of them.

but i also want them to know, that we will be o.k. that we can do this. that they need to have a bit of faith in our chosen life. because this life is a life that has made me (and i think i can safely say, "us") so intensely happy. i have never felt more natural. more at peace. more at home. than i have while on the farm. while working with the animals and tending to the crops. this life will be a good life. for rich or for poor. we are trying to do good not just for us but for our community. wherever and however that forms. and i think we can do it.

there have been many friends and family and parents and sisters and brothers and even internet-formed friends that are wildly supportive about our endeavors. and i do not mean to diminish how that has helped us by writing this rant. their support means the absolute world to us. clearly. we would be sunk without it.

but for all the career and life changes i have made in my short 28 years...farming seems to strike a nerve in the very people we love. nobody ever gave me a talking to when i started working for a major bank. and very few ever questioned my motives when i joined facebook. nobody ever warned me of the sun's dangerous beams when i worked for summers as a lifeguard. they never told me that my weekly manicures and pedicures in new york were a colossal waste of money. and most everyone thought it was fantastic when we quit our jobs and moved to france for the winter without any idea of how we would proceed. but so many of our loved ones have taken our turn to farming as a personal affront of some sort. and i don't know how to reconcile this.

i suppose i need to accept that some of the people in our lives will always think of small farming as a fool's errand. but i just need a little break from the negativity. i just need a couple of uninterrupted moments of the universe telling us we will be good. that we will do good. and that that is good enough.

so we are off to vermont for a long weekend and some positive planning.

46 comments:

  1. I think you have exactly the right attitude to succeed in this. It's your life, after all, not theirs.

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  2. Beautiful post, Kate. When I started reading this post I was thinking, you've been living so purposefully for the past few seasons (as long as I have been reading here), taking care of your animals and learning so much, I can't believe there are still people trying to talk you out of farming, even if their intentions are good. My husband and I are going to a workshop in March to learn to build our own log cabin and hoping to one day run our own sustainable mini farm, and even though we're crazy excited and talk about it with each other all the time, we're hesitant to tell the people around us about it. Perhaps it's also generational, as I feel like I'm trying to restore a way of living I only caught glimpses of before it vanished.

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  3. Kate. What a great, heartfelt post. Confident, strong, but not defensive. I'm continually amazed by your bravery at abandoning the 9-5 for farm life, but not surprised. My father is plowing his own farm planning for his retirement project. While many in our family have doubts, I try to support him fully--lots of farm life books have been sent his way. Being from Georgia, farming is less abnormal than it is here in New England. Usually, I don't post comments but I just had to say that you have many silent supporters, like me. I'm living in Boston now myself, having just graduated college and moved up for a job. I'd love to see your farm and visit the farm shop in Cambridge. If you can, please send me the details. :)

    I'll end it with a quote from one of my favorite blogs, E-Tells-Tales, that I think you'd enjoy.

    "I'll look back on this and smile, because it was life and I decided to live it."

    Keep living your dream, Kate!

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  4. It always hits hardest when the people closest to us second guess what the deepest parts of our guts are telling us. It's usually out of concern, but it breeds insecurity and ill-will, resentment and insult to the most private parts of us.

    I think what you and Nick do is brave and beautiful, and both of those things (along with everything else that it is) are because of the hardships you will face. But, still, in the face of those inevitable hardships (which you so beautifully accounted for above) and in the face of a swiftly changing world and paradigm of food-and-lifestyle, you soldier on. You make that choice daily, and like love or any other life decision, that is most definitely enough.

    Besides, you are the best kind of inspiration I have found on the Internet, so this encouragement is colored with selfishness.

    Farm on!

    xo,
    Mel

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  5. You are doing great.
    Get your Vermonster on.
    xx Ash

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  6. I agree with Abby, beautiful post. It is clear that you have a deep- rooted love for this kind of life, and I believe that is what it takes to be succesful. It sounds like your family loves you and wants to protect you from hurt. It also sounds like they will support you if you choose to go ahead and follow your dreams.

    ~Don't be afraid to fail
    Be afraid to not try

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  7. I just wrote a similar post about parenting. (http://acollectionofpassions.com/blog/choosing-positivity-in-parenting)
    So much of doing something challenging is in your attitude and you guys seem to have a great outlook. I for one wish you all the luck!

    Kacie

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  8. I've been reading for awhile and rarely comment. I need to tell you that I cannot imagine you doing anything but farming. That may be odd coming from a stranger, but I had to say it.

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  9. I don't know you but I feel really proud of you. I hope that you continue to follow this farming dream because selfishly I want to keep reading.

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  10. You are doing wonderful and will continue to do so. Hard work is hard. Physical labor and long hours are tough. But, the benefits of living a life you live and feel at home with is worth more than any shiny things in the world. I admire what you do.

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  11. I've been following for a while now, and I have to say, I admire the love and passion you have for your chosen life of farming.

    Isn't that what's most important? Love for what you do? If you've found your calling, it would be silly to disregard it. I hope your nearest and dearest realise this very soon, and start to respect the choice you've made.

    Stay strong.

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  12. like most, I am coming from a place of no farming experience when I say that you are noble. you are admirable. & you're kinda heroes, really. be encouraged in that.

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  13. To add to the others, thanks for standing in your identity! I grew up raising cows and pigs in Indiana, and now live in Tucson, Arizona. I love the desert but deeply miss being on a farm, living life hand in hand with the animals. I've hung up some of your pictures from your blog to remind me that I need to keep fighting for the things I want in life (like Bella - I had a steer who looked just like her!), even if they're difficult. But the best things in life are supposed to be the things we have to work hardest for, right?

    Thanks for allowing all of us random strangers to be a part of it.

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  14. Do it while you are young. You will live healthier and less stressed, make firmer friends and maybe be strong enough to do it till you die. And you can always change your mind, dammit, if things are really as bad as they say.... Just Do It.

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  15. Thank you for this post. Your life is an inspiration. To choose to live a simpler life. To live with less. To live your values every single day. Your frustrations are valid and understood and I appreciate you sharing them here. Regardless of the "Well Meaning", know that what you are doing is inherently important. The life you live is yours and you will never regret living it by your own terms. Thank you for sharing your projects, adventures, findings and emotions of it all here. You two are going to be fine!

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  16. I'm only just starting to know how lucky I am. My parents have never once said anything negative about my decision to leave a stable job in NYC and start farming. Come to think of it, I've had nothing but positive support from my parents and friends, but I've heard a lot of stories similar to yours from other young farmers in my area.

    I'm sorry you're dealing with it. Nobody needs negative input when they actually have the courage to live their dream.

    So, in hopes that it will encourage you, I want to share the two things I hear most when I talk with people about being a farmer: "I wish more people were doing what you're doing" and "I wish I could do what you're doing".

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  17. I don't blame you for being frustrated. I suppose it makes sense for most people to be shocked that anyone would choose to farm these days, as Americans have for generations done everything they could to LEAVE the farm. I think our parents' generation, especially, doesn't undertand why younger folks would want to intentionally choose a life devoid of conveniences that they have come to appreciate.

    Being cognizant of how food "magically" appears in stores is an uncomfortable bit of knowledge for most people, but once you've been on the small-scale production side (whether at a small farm or at home in one's own little homestead) you can't ever look at food the same way, nor can you forgot those beautiful tactile moments: eating a salad made with baby greens that were harvested that morning; or petting a happy goat and then eating cheese made from her milk; or picking tomatoes (hard fucking work, by the way) and then enjoying that sublime scent of tomato plants on your hands for the next several hours. Maybe your new farm (in Vermont!) will allow these same skeptics to have their own little sublime moments. I'm sure that once they allow themselves to experience the Farm as you do, they will change their minds.

    (sorry for the novel). =)

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  18. beautiful and raw. thanks for being so open. thanks for your spirit. i'm grateful for your passion and commitment. one that we all should make in life (in whatever way life calls us to!)

    much love.

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  19. I found this on Marc and Angel a great blog. Seems appropriate for you. And ps. how lucky you are to find something you love and that has real purpose and away from that computer screen. I am still looking...

    "Unfortunately, just before you take your first step on the righteous journey to pursue your dreams, people around you, even the ones who deeply care for you, will usually give you awful advice. It’s not because they have evil intentions. It’s because they don’t understand the big picture – what your dreams, passions and life goals mean to you. They don’t understand that, to you, the reward is worth the risk.

    So they try to protect you by shielding you from the possibility of failure, which, in effect, also shields you from the possibility of making your dreams a reality."

    As our friend Steve Jobs says:

    “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

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  20. I'm glad that you found this and are going to stick it out, regardless of all the negativity. We need more people like you!!

    I know how hard it is, and every thing that you wrote about I understand perfectly. I used to live that life (only working specifically with horses) and I couldn't cut it. For me, the love just didn't outweight all the negative and the hard work. Which makes me sound positively lazy, but when something you thought you loved actually makes you start hating it..? Never good either.

    Best of luck to your future!
    xoxo

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  21. farmers are some of the most important people in a community. without farmers to tend to the land and to care for the animals, we wouldn't have the vegetables, the meat, the dairy...or anything else that comes with a farm that we enjoy so much. it's absolutely not a fool's errand and i hope that you and nick both know how many people there are who fully back everything you are doing. it wouldn't work for everyone, and so not everyone will get it. but if it works for you and makes you happy there should be no questioning that.

    hope to see you in brighter spirits, soon!

    martina

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  22. you both are better than the best. I admire and rejoice all you do.

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  23. I hope I've made it absolutely clear how insanely wonderful I think your decision is. I'm almost jealous, but you are just to lovely to be jealous about.

    I don't know why society today feels like the right life is a big house, fancy cars, a stable job. Isn't it about love and concern for others, for what we put into the world and how we take out of it or spending time watching our babies grow, being self sufficient. People say reach for the stars, that's great and all but what happens if you are perfectly happy here, planted, deep roots, into the dirt and earth?

    We all have this kind of problem, well meaning folks, who without knowing it, bash our dreams, whatever they may be.
    The only way to get them to stop would be communication like this very post and then living just the most fantastical farm life. See you guys, see this dirt under my nails, these happy healthy farm animals, the grins on our 50year old faces.

    Anyway.

    With love and support,
    Your Internet, doula-ing, farm loving friend, Terri-Leigh

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  24. I hope I've made it absolutely clear how insanely wonderful I think your decision is. I'm almost jealous, but you are just to lovely to be jealous about.

    I don't know why society today feels like the right life is a big house, fancy cars, a stable job. Isn't it about love and concern for others, for what we put into the world and how we take out of it or spending time watching our babies grow, being self sufficient. People say reach for the stars, that's great and all but what happens if you are perfectly happy here, planted, deep roots, into the dirt and earth?

    We all have this kind of problem, well meaning folks, who without knowing it, bash our dreams, whatever they may be.
    The only way to get them to stop would be communication like this very post and then living just the most fantastical farm life. See you guys, see this dirt under my nails, these happy healthy farm animals, the grins on our 50year old faces.

    Anyway.

    With love and support,
    Your Internet, doula-ing, farm loving friend, Terri-Leigh

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  25. I think the path you have chosen to go on is a wonderful one. And good for you both choosing something that makes you happy and you can be proud of. And having grown up on a family farm, I know that your kids (if you choose to have them) will have a wonderful introduction to life!

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  26. Honestly, the way you and Nick have chosen to live has been such an inspiration to me. And judging by all the comments, I'm not alone. It's funny how people are more apt to support your life choices as long as you make "enough" money, even if it means living a sedentary existence in a cement block filled with recycled air. You are living life in this world as it is meant to be, for are living with and within it.

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  27. I wish wish wish I was doing what you are! I think it is the best life; it's the most real.

    Anyway, why is what's 'hard' viewed as bad? Nothing good comes easily.

    I love your blog but often cannot bear to look at it because I am so envious of your life, it makes me sad. Please do not give up!! What you are doing is of great value.

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  28. a favorite, for a favorite;
    "simplicity is the nature of great souls." -papa ramadas

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  29. dear kate,

    thank you.

    thank you for sharing yourself. for sharing your thoughts. and for sharing exactly what i feel often. when i tell people that while i will graduate from a very expensive private liberal arts college i was all but forced to attend, i don't want to go into publishing or translation with my spanish-english double major. that i belong as i have always on a farm. and that i believe that that is just as good, if not better.

    i can only say that i understand very much how you feel. that it is so deeply frustrating that people don't warn about the stress of a high-powered financial career.

    thank you for inspiring me. for showing me that though it may be hard, it is so very worth it. i hope to join the ranks of wonderful people like you and nick who i have loved reading about through your blog. i hope your weekend in vermont is exactly what you need. vermont has many of my favorite places and people. sending abundant good vibes your way!

    many thanks and much love,
    meredith

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  30. Oooooooh, I'm so happy you wrote this. A major turning point in my life was when I met Severine from The Greenhorns. She said something that really hit home... that every year for a long time her family would question if farming was just a "phase." Eventually, they got the point. Whether we like it or not, farming is almost our duty to these families of ours, you know? They don't see the flaws in working for a huge bank now, but we'll teach them. With time. Time is the only thing. Fortunately, I can say my family has laid off the criticism. It's only been four years, haha! Stay strong! Have a rejuvenating weekend!

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  31. You all are just the absolute sweetest women. Thank you for all of your kind and inspiring words. You've truly given me new good confidence in 'us' and in our farm future. Ill hopefully have some good news on the farm front when I get back on Monday...or at the very least be pleasantly rejuvenated from my weekend in Vermont. A very sunny and happy weekend to you all.

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Thank you for this post.... I can see the gumption and passion you have when reading this. I enjoy reading your posts so much. So many blogs these days are self absorbed, but yours shows me into a world of beauty and wonder.... Thank you!
    February 17, 2012 10:31 PM

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  34. I agree very much with what miss minty said above. I think in many ways it is a generational thing. My mom thinks I'm completely crazy for what she sees as me depriving myself of convenience. Even when family is well-meaning (most especially family!), the naysaying does wear you down. Just give it some time, Kate. The more your family sees your joy in this chosen life, the more accepting they'll become. Slowly, that's how it's happened for me anyway. Many people don't fully understand my life choices, but in time I think most come to accept it.

    And here's the thing - we absolutely NEED young farmers in this country! And so many young people are choosing to farm instead of following a more average path. Seeing what you two are doing gives me tremendous hope for the future.

    Many blessings to you!
    -Jaime

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  35. Kate, this is such a beautiful beautiful genuine post. And I just want to tell you that I think what you are doing is right. That I know so many people who are living in the accepted way and suffering every day because the burdens they are carrying are not those of hay bales and farm worry, but the burdens of not living. It is impossible to read your blog and not see the extent to which you and Nick ARE living. And that does not mean that it is easy, or there are never troubles, but I am so inspired by those people who take a leap and change their lives despite how crazy it may seem to the outside world. I think that those moments, those decisions, are when great things happen. And I do not feel sorry for your future children one bit, because I think that they will have the most beautiful things in abundance: the opportunity to run around outside and play until dark, the chance to learn the things that they love and to feel connected to something bigger, instead of wasting away indoors and occasionally playing on playgrounds with concrete underneath them, or listening to teachers tell them what they need to do to succeed. As if there is a formula. As if any of us understand what exactly succeeding is. Don't even doubt yourself!

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  36. I face the same thing, and it is tiring. Quite a beautiful rant ;)

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  37. those who question your path are only questioning their own. take solice in this.

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  38. There is nothing more inspiring than a person following her dreams.

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  39. Yay for you being able to express your desires in an eloquent way ! I'm the granddaughter of farmers who are my mentors forever and the mother of 3 daughters who have very different ideas of what they want for their lives. This was a reminder to me to support all of their endeavors whatever they may be, Thank you for that and 'farm on' we love reading all about it ! :)

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  40. 3 thoughts:
    - I hope I never fell into that "concerned and condescending group"

    - Weekly manicures and pedicures are absolutely NOT a colossal waste of money

    - I suggest we swap children for a couple of weeks every summer: my kids will learn the meaning of hard work and how to milk cows etc and I'll take your kids to Paris and London and Monaco, deal? ;)

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  41. Kate,

    A bit of unsolicited advice: Just keep doing YOUR thing in YOUR own passionate way.

    It hurts receiving adversity from those you love. I've learned that this is likely driven by a couple of things: 1) their complete discomfort and/or disconnect from the subject; 2) their subconscious desire to have balls as big as yours to take on such a challenge and realizing they don't (aka jealousy).

    Trying to change someone's mind is futile. But you might just get the message across by moving forward relentlessly in your farming endeavours.

    Let being a blinding inspiration to so many of us that don't know you personally be your fuel to do so.

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  42. I LOVE this post. You totally get it. It is my most favorite post that I have ever read. Ever. In all of my blog-reading-history.

    We have started planning for our future farm. And we get it, too. It's tough. And we're ok with that.

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  43. oh my goodness. well said.
    i started following your blog because i was raised on organic food, but have recently become devoted to a more organic life stlye. i desperately want to learn farming skills, so i look to your blog for inspiration and motivation to seek that path when i finish college. i admire you for what you're doing, and for all the courage it takes to lead an unconventional life within a society obsessed with technological innovations and blind glamour.

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  44. People will always be weary of things they don't know, and boy does anybody really know farming anymore (I mean, apart from actual farmers)? There will be many reasons for people to act as they do, quite possibly mostly out of fear, but don't let it get you down.
    The people in my life have responded similarly when I chose to work in an organic foods store part-time and starting my own handmade jewelry business. I don't even want to think about what they'll say when we make our plans to move abroad (which we will). I know your frustration about this, like they're saying that you don't know what you're doing. But if you know that you do, that's all that matters in the end. xo, Inge

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