The Sun King has been born and the calendars have been replaced! Join me in a reflection upon the past year and growing season as I attempt to synthesize and relish in all the glorious experiences of 2014.
As I have previously stated, 2014 was quite a year of change for us. Very wisely, or very foolishly, we repeatedly dove into tasks and responsibilities that we knew little about. Learning curves were steep and treacherous but consistently the experiences proved to be rewarding. Ultimately this past year was a grande exercising of the muscle of Resiliency. Life flies at you a million miles per hour, ready or not. I think we were ready.
Here are a few new things we began learning last year.
Scaling up
Working for an established farm and/or urban farming is a world in itself. Having access to 75hp, a range of implements, and 120 acres under your wing is a whole other ballpark. Keegan spent a large percentage of his time last season going through a crash course in diesel mechanics. We're super indebted to Lonesome Whistle Farm and Paul's Tractor Service for their incredible support and compassionate dispersal of knowledge on all matters farming. Myself and Keegan both have been giddy little kids with mechanical pencils and tracing paper attempting to best design a landscape that fosters the agricultural pursuits of a community of people. We got to participate in the rotational management and sheering of 200 head of sheep. We've raised ducks before, but this time we started out with a whopping 60 ducklings, and we're developing integrated livestock and food forest systems that won't come to fruition for 10 years.
This leap in scale has taught us so many new aspects of 'small' scale organic farming. The constant dependence upon and fixing of mechanical equipment, as aforementioned, is one huge element. Repercussions for poor decision making are on a larger scale. Learning about our personal labor and time limits, and knowing when to hire people to help us stay on track was also something new. Financial management is another skill we're honing; keeping track of ALL receipts, categorizing expenses, setting up an office with filing folders!, learning the legalities of farm direct sales, and acquiring necessary upfront infrastructural purchases. As you can tell we've kept ourselves very busy with this whole expansion thing.
Working for an established farm and/or urban farming is a world in itself. Having access to 75hp, a range of implements, and 120 acres under your wing is a whole other ballpark. Keegan spent a large percentage of his time last season going through a crash course in diesel mechanics. We're super indebted to Lonesome Whistle Farm and Paul's Tractor Service for their incredible support and compassionate dispersal of knowledge on all matters farming. Myself and Keegan both have been giddy little kids with mechanical pencils and tracing paper attempting to best design a landscape that fosters the agricultural pursuits of a community of people. We got to participate in the rotational management and sheering of 200 head of sheep. We've raised ducks before, but this time we started out with a whopping 60 ducklings, and we're developing integrated livestock and food forest systems that won't come to fruition for 10 years.
This leap in scale has taught us so many new aspects of 'small' scale organic farming. The constant dependence upon and fixing of mechanical equipment, as aforementioned, is one huge element. Repercussions for poor decision making are on a larger scale. Learning about our personal labor and time limits, and knowing when to hire people to help us stay on track was also something new. Financial management is another skill we're honing; keeping track of ALL receipts, categorizing expenses, setting up an office with filing folders!, learning the legalities of farm direct sales, and acquiring necessary upfront infrastructural purchases. As you can tell we've kept ourselves very busy with this whole expansion thing.
Patience is everything
We didn't necessarily begin learning this last year, but it definitely came to the forefront of our minds much more than any year prior. When you're really learning a lot of new things, patience is your best ally. Patience with yourself, with others, with the landscape. It helps you to suppress sudden bursts of emotion (particularly anger) and allows you to see things from an others perspective, to empathize. And wouldn't it be lovely if we could all empathize more?
Intentionally raising a dog
I love dogs, always have. But they have lost their place in our culture as working members of the family. I grew up with dogs as pets, which as human companions provides a person with great lessons in compassion and responsibility. But I've never seen a dog filled with such a sense of purposefulness and pride like when you give them a job that they're drawn to do. When Rumi is barking at a Red Tail Hawk flying over head, or when Dixie is following a scent trail, they're totally in bliss. And when you tie those innate desires into a task that benefits the whole, everybody wins.
The life giver and taker: water
Ten year droughts. Melting ice caps. Tsunamis. Being a big fan of Dune (as well as a human being) I've been privy to the importance of water for some time now, and it needs to be a more prominent topic on the international table of discussion as we continue to poison our supply of it. Concerning our tiny part of the world, approximately 40% of the farm's perimeter is riverbank. We've been learning a lot about water rights, wheel lines, riparian habitats, erosion, flood planes, psi, frost spigots, the water table, and fertilizer run-off because of that reality. It has been quite a skill set to assimilate, but how important it is and fortunate we are to have access to water! Clean water at that! The Southern Willamette Valley is a very special place and I would argue that it is so special because of the way water defines the landscape.
Being a parent is awesome!
If you're lacking a sense of hopefulness for the future, go and make friends with an infant. The purity, magic, wonder, joy, discovery, creativity, and love that emanates from fresh life is infectious. You don't need a baby in order to know these, but the fact that Keegan and I have a little one in our lives every single day has made us tremendously more fulfilled, inquisitive and hardworking people. On top of it all I have such a deeper sense of positivity for what the future holds, all thanks to Theo. The drive to stand up for what I believe in, so that he has a better world to live in, is a strong call to action. Thanks for being my inspiration Little Dude!
The solidarity and optimism of beginning farmers in Oregon
After having the privilege of hosting the Farmers Rising! Young and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Convivium for Oregon I have swelled with pride and com-patriotism to be included in a growing community of farmers revamping the standardized agricultural system. The folks that I met were unanimously supportive of each other. This next-gen group of farmers are bringing to the table a mixture of skill sets I've never seen before in the ag world. Humility, creativity, tech-savvy, craftsmanship, indefatigability, understanding and appreciation, ingenuity... the list goes on. Maybe it's reminiscent of the way life once was but in the context of the 21st century; all the hope for life and the understanding and respect of the land, with none of the classism, racism, sexism, consumerism, and exploitation. The learning sessions provided by Friends of Family Farmers were incredibly inspiring and informative. I hope to be a part of making the Convivium accessible and functional into the future.
After having the privilege of hosting the Farmers Rising! Young and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Convivium for Oregon I have swelled with pride and com-patriotism to be included in a growing community of farmers revamping the standardized agricultural system. The folks that I met were unanimously supportive of each other. This next-gen group of farmers are bringing to the table a mixture of skill sets I've never seen before in the ag world. Humility, creativity, tech-savvy, craftsmanship, indefatigability, understanding and appreciation, ingenuity... the list goes on. Maybe it's reminiscent of the way life once was but in the context of the 21st century; all the hope for life and the understanding and respect of the land, with none of the classism, racism, sexism, consumerism, and exploitation. The learning sessions provided by Friends of Family Farmers were incredibly inspiring and informative. I hope to be a part of making the Convivium accessible and functional into the future.
There is always time to enjoy the simple things
This is another thing we didn't learn just this past year, but I feel the need to share the thought. How lucky we are to live in this place at this time. To have supportive and loving friends and family. To watch the blossoms awaken in the spring, and to cozy together by the fire on the winter solstice. Life is miraculous, it only makes sense to appreciate that fact.
Take risks
Learn something new; about yourself, about the world. Usually even greater unforeseen opportunities rise out of taking risks. If there's something you believe in, you better hurry, time is ticking away!
Cheers to another ring around the Sun, and to the continued experience of life!
Cheers to another ring around the Sun, and to the continued experience of life!
