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market-farming - re: weekend/hobby farmers

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  • From: "Dave Bennett" <dbennett AT micoks.net>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: re: weekend/hobby farmers
  • Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 13:55:00 -0500


Uh, Liz. If you do this full time, you are a farmer. If you're just "playing"
at it as a business because you can, then I'd say "Not". I'm referring to
those who do this & sell below market price- thereby hurting the full time,
farm only, folk.


"Liz Pike" <pike AT always-online.com> wrote:
__________
>Uh, Dave. I'm one of those
>
> >>weekend farmers who hold high $, non-farm jobs that subsidize their
>"farming"<< farmers.
>
>Actually, my dh is the one with the $ job. Because of it, I could choose to
>sleep in, not get up at 5:30am to feed livestock, or monitor crops, or grow
>our food, or baby seedlings. I could choose a shiny clean car instead of a
>dusty farm truck with dents & squeaks. I don't have to worry about
>tomorrow's weather, temperatures, plant diseases, lack of rain, or finding
>someone to bribe to help me shovel off that last load of mulch/compost. I
>don't have to sit up at night studying or compiling data. I could have a
>very nice house in a very clean subdivision. Or I could hire lotsa help on
>the farm. But that isn't me. It isn't us.
>
>We both come from self-sufficient farming backgrounds (all grandparents, my
>father). He put himself through college selling peaches on the side of the
>road. Then we met. I married money. HE married a farmer. It was his
>hard work that got us this farm. He's working harder now, to retire extra
>early so he can do what he truly wants to do. In the meantime, if anything
>ever happens to him, or his job, and we must rely on me for income--this
>farm is it--I've got dirt for blood--it's all I know how to do (or want to
>do). So I work it as if it IS our sole support so if/when the time ever
>comes....
>
>I know people look at us and think just what you said--weekend/hobby
>farmers. Just don't ever let me hear you say it when I walk in at 9pm (on a
>week night), an acre of dirt in my boots, pockets full of pill jars with
>weed & insect samples to identify, & aching muscles----I might just swat you
>with MY bib overalls !!! ; )))))
>
>Liz Pike
>Morningstar Gardens
>Pollocksville NC
>ICQ 46954468
>
>
>
>
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Dave




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