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  • From: road's end farm <organic101@linkny.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] was FEDCO now farm&garden
  • Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:34:22 -0500


On Dec 27, 2007, at 11:29 AM, Thomas Olenio wrote:

Hello,

Yes, farmers know what they are doing, but their equipment is geared to huge
acreage, not garden plots.

Auto mechanics, plumbers, carpenters also all know what they are doing, but
often it is their own home that goes wanting for their own expertise.

After slinging a hammer or pipe all day the last thing many of them want to
do is go home for more of it. How many office workers out there race home
to enjoy sitting down with bill payment and family budget with joy in their
hearts? A farmer going home and getting off his tractor is no less likely
to pick up a shovel and dig up a garden plot and enjoy it.

Farming is hard work and most farmers rest when they can. City folk and
suburbanites can hold any opinion they want though. Though none of them
have ever milked cows at 5:00 AM and finally finished up their day on the
combine ending at 11:00 PM or later, the grain then has to be dried in huge
grain dryers so that it meets mill standards for moisture content.

I am sure you will see postings of how easy it is to earn 100% of your
income from the farm (no retail farm outlet involved), and still have loads
of spare time, but then the internet has all kinds of people making all
kinds of claims.

The truth is farming is hard work and time is at a premium.

Later,
Tom

Tom,

I am not city folk or suburbanite. I am not telling you about city folks or suburbanites. I am telling you that most full-time farmers in this area do have vegetable gardens; including those who start off milking at 5 AM and finish on the combine after midnight. They don't, of course, try to harvest the vegetable garden with the combine. Just as the equipment used to milk the cows is different from the equipment used to dry the grain, the tools used in the garden are different from those used in the fields, or in the farm shop, or in the household kitchen (which is also an essential part of the farm). Most farms around here have a variety of tools and equipment. Some of them also have retail farm stands selling the vegetables; some don't.

This may not happen in your area; but please stop trying to tell me that it isn't true in mine.

--Rivka
Finger Lakes NY; zone 5 mostly



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