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  • From: "Nan Johnson" <nan AT olemiss.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: middleaged farming (long)
  • Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 14:14:49 -0800

Dear Jane........I started as a farm apprentice at age 39 (yes, still relatively young) with a suburban background - never been near a farm animal,etc.
 
    Though it was difficult to get an apprenticeship because I had no farm background, only some gardening, but I persevered and got a great position, even got put on staff after awhile! (but since you are not seeking apprenticeship, not a problem) After the learning curve, I don't think my age affected my ability to do most of the farm and livestock work, but I also couldn't work 6 days a week at 12 hours a day (like some of the younger folks could!) 
 
 
    What I was aware of, as I went into my 40's rather than going into my 20's, was that I just didn't have the energy or  time to master ALL the farming skills needed (for example, I had never done fencing, and didn't have the upper body strength that my male colleagues did, nor the back strenght, nor was I interested in mastering that skill...same with tractor maintenance, ugh!) SO, I ended up working with partners and did what I could handle (goats & poultry, greenhouse seedlings, blue berries, marketing, field plantings, weeding, etc, but not the construction end) -
 
    Now, this means paying someone else to do it, so that it gets done well and quickly (hah! even throwing money at something doesn't mean it gets done well and quick alas)...And actually, I have jerry-rigged some pretty ugly gates and fences all on my own, but they do the job! It was that, or not do what I had my heart set on!
 
But I know women who started farming in their 50's.  I read an article about how alot of farming is about problem solving, and many women are especially good at problem solving (see things as a whole, non linear thinking, whatever...this was a quote from a woman farmer in Mass.) - and you can problem solve at any age, maybe even being older is wiser!   
 
Alot depends on your back and your creativity - Growing for Market had a great article in past year about a woman who grew her operation based just on herself and how she was able to streamline some things (but she also had a husband who built her infrastructure)... I bet there will be alot of good feedback from our list for you!  Best wishes!
 
nan
dancing goats farm
n. mississippi



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