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  • From: mckemie AT inetport.com
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: market-farming Apprentices Versus Hired Help
  • Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 17:00:13 -0500


Whatever became of our quoting limit?

On Sun, May 06, 2001 at 05:27:18PM -0500, Jeffery Blake wrote:
> Not every one has the same world view. I could not live my life with your
> values and goals. I have my own. I do not value short term efficiency,
> race cars, or making a million. I would pay for the opportunity to broaden
> my horizons and learn about the world around me, new approaches to farming,
> sustainability, environmental protection, techniques that have nothing to do
> with profitability, etc. My sole goal in life is not maximizing my returns
> on a business. I enjoy life for life's sake, not because I make lots of
> money. It never enters into my goals.
>
> I wouldn't suggest that you should share anyone's values, but do think that
> you should realize that not everyone shares yours. Maybe apprenticeship
> isn't for you, but it might be for others.
>
> I've been farming most of my life and come from a long line of farmers. I
> don't think anyone could assume that farming is 'simple'. If it is to you I
> believe you must be missing something very important. If I live to be a
> hundred, I will have a million things to learn about crops, soils, weeds,
> insects, nutrients, machinery, and various approaches. If I thought I knew
> it all, I would quit.
>
> Capitalism doesn't exist--thank goodness. What you are saying is that you've
> been able to exploit others and the environment to your advantage within the
> system???
>
> I am grateful that not everyone shares your love of capitalism. Social and
> communal altruists, as well as those who learn without regard for capital
> gain have made the world livable.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <marc AT aculink.net>
> To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 3:15 PM
> Subject: [market-farming] Re: market-farming Apprentices Versus Hired Help
>
>
> > I don't think it's carved in stone.
> >
> > An apprentice or intern is usually paid - often more than
> > they contribute. There is usually a symbiotic relationship -
> > especially when the farm owner has a desirable skill set.
> >
> > To me growing is easy. The on-farm skills are no great
> > challenge. The business part is a challenge.
> >
> > An integrated agrarian that can grow AND market AND sell AND
> > do business things -- now that would be a desirable skill
> > set to want to be around. Life is short.
> >
> > If a farmer can grow but their business skill set is weak
> > then I would be somewhat hesitant to spend my life time
> > allotment with them unless they wanted to pay for it. Their
> > teachings will be deficient in supporting my future ability
> > to clothe my children or buying a better set of tires for my
> > race car.
> >
> > If a farmer has the demonstrated complete set of skills then
> > I would consider paying them full tuition BUT they would NOT
> > be allowed to profit or take value from me in a manner that
> > does not provide a learning experience useful to me.
> >
> > Bottom line from my lifes experience is that I have yet to
> > meet a successful businessman who hesitated to pay properly
> > for good value or failed to search out the value I had to
> > offer and capitalize on it while urging me to improve.
> >
> > I like capitalism. It's been very nurturing, secure and
> > profitable to me.
> >
> > Marc Nameth
> >
> > Jeffery Blake wrote:
> > >
> > > I think a key point in this debate is that there is a difference between
> > > hired help and an apprentice.
> > >
> > > An apprentice is paying for an education.
> > >
> > > If I go to a University a pay 8000 a semester it is more of an abuse
> than
> > > working on the farm. It is pretty easy to put in 100 hour weeks at the
> > > university--between class work, study time, part time job. . . .
> >
> > ---
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>
>
> ---
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--
Onward! Through the Fog!
Willie
http://austinfarm.org/homegrown




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