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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Got Hope??

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  • From: William Lensmire <wlens AT exnihil.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Got Hope??
  • Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:27:41 -0600

Hi Gary,

Our land and country needs people like you. People like you who are willing to work hard to make a difference by producing locally grown healthy foods. This industrialized world is moving every faster to GMO foods and animals. This GMO is whole topic by itself.

Like yourself, there are days where I too get caught up looking at the immediate "things" and get that feeling "so whats the point in all of this? why try?" The world tells me to give up. The world tells me to go back to the "easy life". Buy your food from the industrial food troughs (you know, grocery stores). I am ten years older than you. How I wish I was able to start farming when I you did. My wife and I initially choose to live the suburban life, not knowing any better. We were slaves to the industrial model.

The passing away of my father a few years ago opened my eyes. We sold our house in the 'burbs and bought a couple acres in the country. We have four beautiful children that now love the outdoors. I still work full time off the farm in the industrial software factories. I do not know how much longer I will have a job due to the industrial model of outsourcing.... We are raising pastured poultry for ourselves and selling to friends and neighbors. We bought three goats this past fall so we can have real milk. We are looking at acquiring more land. My dream is to be able to make a living on the farm. I do not know if I will be able to do this, but there is a good chance my children will be able to.
Every job out there has risks. Industrial farming is no different than any other industrial job. You either have to continue to get bigger and make your widgets cheaper and lesser quality. What we are doing is not industrial farming. We need to look at ourselves differently from the industrial model. You have built up a good base for your CSA. Keep up the good work!!

Why do I ramble like this? Is this what I want for my children...to go to the industrial government universities to work in the industrialize factories for some multi-national global conglomerate? I have come to realize that I need to train my children how to raise healthy non-GMO foods for themselves. Our government schools are failing us. We home school our children. This is a lot of work for my wife. We farmers have chosen a different path from the world....

When I am down, which happens more often than I would like, I need to look up and see 5, 10, 15 years from now. I could give up now and go back to the 'burbs with all of the other industrial slaves.... When your children grow up, there will be even fewer farmers out there. You need to teach your children that hard work is a GOOD thing. There is a great reward for this hard work. You will be building character in your children. Your customers need you. Our customers love our chickens. They do not have the slightest idea as to how to raise them. They need me and my family to raise this food for them.

I enjoy reading Joel Salatin books. He is a very good farmer and a very good speaker.

Gary, this work is hard, but the rewards are great!!

Take care and God Bless.

your fellow farmer,

--bill




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