How do you know when you've done enough or are doing enough to be a Farmer?
That seems like part of what you're talking about here, and it's something I've wrestled with for a long time. I've got that elusive life partner you were talking about, but even with two of us, we're stuck either both working full time in order to be able to afford land, and thus not having much time, or one of us working and the other one playing pretend farmer in the small space we have available at our rented duplex.
We've made it a priority to provide food and habitat for birds and pollinators and instead of lawn, are turning our back yard over to native plants. Our only animal is a cat, and our only real crop is berries. We're definitely doing some conservation work, but are we farming?
I've thought not, as I've felt like we we're doing enough, but after reading your post, I'm beginning to think maybe we are. Every year we try something new and grow a little more. It's very messy, and we make a lot of mistakes, but we learn from them and get better (at least I think we do).
So keep writing, please. I don't follow any of those fancy farmers with the pretty barns and pretty faces. That's not the kind of farmer I'll ever be. I need role models like you so I can feel like I'm still on the right path.
It sounds like you and your partner are on the right track. Maybe not all of us need to feed the world. Maybe, if we can feed ourselves even a portion of our diets, that's enough.
I think there's no right or wrong answer to this one. But I would say "do what you can, and don't beat yourself up for not doing more." (Though I struggle with that one myself, lol.)
Stay tuned, chicka! There's more to come in 2025!🙌
Wow Sam! This feels strange to write, since I've never met you and I'm not a farmer, but I feel that visceral connection to nature you describe here and I'm rooting for your success!
This is so helpful. I think I default into viewing farming like most other things in our capitalistic society, as a straight and ever increasing/intensifying exponential growth commitment. But viewing it like this as a messy process of adjusting to your own capacity, priorities, and life circumstances is so helpful. I’m neurodivergent, and farming is a huge joy and outlet until the overwhelm becomes too much. So this has been so helpful! Especially to see all the little adjustments that probably everyone does but just aren’t considered notable, except those are exactly what make the lifestyle sustainable!
That makes me super happy, Lena! I always feel like these end-of-year posts are rather tedious and worry people will be bored with them. It's wonderful to know I've actually helped someone better understand how life dictates the overall progress of a farm.
I wanted to be a farmer for so much of my life, and I've come to a similar realization that it's largely unattainable for me. I even went all the way through a master's program in sustainable agriculture, but I'm the sole wage earner for a family of four, we live in suburbia, and my wife is very unwilling to live the farm lifestyle. Compromise? I have a huge garden that feeds us for more than 9 months of the year, I grow things for the joy of it alone, and my knowledge has been helpful for dozens of others who need a little guidance growing and nurturing their own soil.
Even with all of this, I envy the sheer beautiful mess that your life is. Your writing fulfills some part of me that was meant to live a similar life. Thank you for sharing all of it, especially the very real parts. Don't give up. What you're doing matters.
Part of me misses the simplicity of growing for myself alone. You lose some of that joy when you turn your hobbies into income streams. It sounds like you've found a good compromise, and I'm glad it sustains that part of you who wants more.
I will keep sharing my messy, beautiful life for whomever needs it.
Sam - I appreciate that you’re so authentic. I am not a farmer - despite having goats and growing food. I enjoy both, but I am a baker/writer and wife to a personal chef - so most of my focus is on our business and my writing. I subscribed to you because I relate to so many of the challenges and adventures you experience - especially those as a woman trying to develop a life that brings her joy. I appreciate your continued devotion to farming, your bravery in all things, your commitment to a lifestyle that would defeat most of us and your willingness to honestly share it all. Thank you and keep at it. You’ve accomplished so much!
I live vicariously through your farming stories and dream about a homestead, but at my and my husband's age, I don't think we could make the change. We attempt to grow vegetables from pots off the back deck of our condo and support local farms by subscribing to a farm share. I admire your grit and your stories about farm life make me appreciate our farm share all the more.
I loved reading your message of honesty and vulnerability and perseverance. What I don't understand is the heterosexual woman's refusal to see relationship with a woman as a viable choice when men can't cope with your courage and strength. Sending you my best regards and wishes for success and serenity in 2025.
"I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that there’s only so much one woman can do on her own, and—honestly? It’s been difficult to accept.
Torn between 2 causes I feel very strongly about: local food vs wildlife conservation, I had to decide where my time and energy was going to go. Where would I be most effective? How could I make the most impact?"
When we crash into our limits, we can either despair or launch the next round of strategic thinking. Congrats on picking the smarter more resilient option Sam!
I've really enjoyed your frank honest writing this past year Sam (BTW, did you receive my little 11/25 contribution?). Others who shall not be named may be selling the sizzle here on Substack, but you're providing the steak. The world needs less fantasy and marketing, and more reality-based conversation. Thanks for providing some of that here. 👏
Wishing you and your sons the joy of the season and a year ahead of satisfying accomplishments! 🎉
The thing about agriculture is... all the paths are muddy.
I feel this post, Sam. Been wrestling with similar demons while building Farming Full-Time.
Some days you're knee-deep in shit, wondering if anyone cares about real farming stories when pretty barns and land grabs get the attention.
But here's what I've learned in 18 months of gonzo agricultural journalism: authenticity finds its audience.
Maybe not as fast as aesthetics, maybe not as pretty, but real eventually resonates.
You feeding soil microbial life while others feed the algorithm?
That's farming, too. Different paths, same mud.
Keep telling your story. The real ones always find each other eventually.
#OperationGroundTruth 🌱
Good thing I like mud, then, Adam! 😆
I don't know how to be anything but honest and transparent in my writing. If it's a little messy and not so pretty, then so be it.
Those pretty b*tches ain't got nothing on me!
How do you know when you've done enough or are doing enough to be a Farmer?
That seems like part of what you're talking about here, and it's something I've wrestled with for a long time. I've got that elusive life partner you were talking about, but even with two of us, we're stuck either both working full time in order to be able to afford land, and thus not having much time, or one of us working and the other one playing pretend farmer in the small space we have available at our rented duplex.
We've made it a priority to provide food and habitat for birds and pollinators and instead of lawn, are turning our back yard over to native plants. Our only animal is a cat, and our only real crop is berries. We're definitely doing some conservation work, but are we farming?
I've thought not, as I've felt like we we're doing enough, but after reading your post, I'm beginning to think maybe we are. Every year we try something new and grow a little more. It's very messy, and we make a lot of mistakes, but we learn from them and get better (at least I think we do).
So keep writing, please. I don't follow any of those fancy farmers with the pretty barns and pretty faces. That's not the kind of farmer I'll ever be. I need role models like you so I can feel like I'm still on the right path.
Thank you for doing what you do!
Thank you, Sarah!
It sounds like you and your partner are on the right track. Maybe not all of us need to feed the world. Maybe, if we can feed ourselves even a portion of our diets, that's enough.
I think there's no right or wrong answer to this one. But I would say "do what you can, and don't beat yourself up for not doing more." (Though I struggle with that one myself, lol.)
Stay tuned, chicka! There's more to come in 2025!🙌
Wow Sam! This feels strange to write, since I've never met you and I'm not a farmer, but I feel that visceral connection to nature you describe here and I'm rooting for your success!
I knew I couldn't be the only one who feels such connection to nature!
Thank you very much, Erik!
This is so helpful. I think I default into viewing farming like most other things in our capitalistic society, as a straight and ever increasing/intensifying exponential growth commitment. But viewing it like this as a messy process of adjusting to your own capacity, priorities, and life circumstances is so helpful. I’m neurodivergent, and farming is a huge joy and outlet until the overwhelm becomes too much. So this has been so helpful! Especially to see all the little adjustments that probably everyone does but just aren’t considered notable, except those are exactly what make the lifestyle sustainable!
That makes me super happy, Lena! I always feel like these end-of-year posts are rather tedious and worry people will be bored with them. It's wonderful to know I've actually helped someone better understand how life dictates the overall progress of a farm.
Thank you for being here!
I wanted to be a farmer for so much of my life, and I've come to a similar realization that it's largely unattainable for me. I even went all the way through a master's program in sustainable agriculture, but I'm the sole wage earner for a family of four, we live in suburbia, and my wife is very unwilling to live the farm lifestyle. Compromise? I have a huge garden that feeds us for more than 9 months of the year, I grow things for the joy of it alone, and my knowledge has been helpful for dozens of others who need a little guidance growing and nurturing their own soil.
Even with all of this, I envy the sheer beautiful mess that your life is. Your writing fulfills some part of me that was meant to live a similar life. Thank you for sharing all of it, especially the very real parts. Don't give up. What you're doing matters.
Thank you, Robin!!!
Part of me misses the simplicity of growing for myself alone. You lose some of that joy when you turn your hobbies into income streams. It sounds like you've found a good compromise, and I'm glad it sustains that part of you who wants more.
I will keep sharing my messy, beautiful life for whomever needs it.
Much love, my friend!
Keep up the good work! It is such a hard line to walk between conservation and turning a profit.
It really is. Thank you for the positive vibes!
Sam - I appreciate that you’re so authentic. I am not a farmer - despite having goats and growing food. I enjoy both, but I am a baker/writer and wife to a personal chef - so most of my focus is on our business and my writing. I subscribed to you because I relate to so many of the challenges and adventures you experience - especially those as a woman trying to develop a life that brings her joy. I appreciate your continued devotion to farming, your bravery in all things, your commitment to a lifestyle that would defeat most of us and your willingness to honestly share it all. Thank you and keep at it. You’ve accomplished so much!
I live vicariously through your farming stories and dream about a homestead, but at my and my husband's age, I don't think we could make the change. We attempt to grow vegetables from pots off the back deck of our condo and support local farms by subscribing to a farm share. I admire your grit and your stories about farm life make me appreciate our farm share all the more.
I loved reading your message of honesty and vulnerability and perseverance. What I don't understand is the heterosexual woman's refusal to see relationship with a woman as a viable choice when men can't cope with your courage and strength. Sending you my best regards and wishes for success and serenity in 2025.
Thank you, Viviane!
I wish ladies did it for me, as I'm sure I'd have a better time there. But alas, I'm straight as a toothpick.😢
"I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that there’s only so much one woman can do on her own, and—honestly? It’s been difficult to accept.
Torn between 2 causes I feel very strongly about: local food vs wildlife conservation, I had to decide where my time and energy was going to go. Where would I be most effective? How could I make the most impact?"
When we crash into our limits, we can either despair or launch the next round of strategic thinking. Congrats on picking the smarter more resilient option Sam!
I've really enjoyed your frank honest writing this past year Sam (BTW, did you receive my little 11/25 contribution?). Others who shall not be named may be selling the sizzle here on Substack, but you're providing the steak. The world needs less fantasy and marketing, and more reality-based conversation. Thanks for providing some of that here. 👏
Wishing you and your sons the joy of the season and a year ahead of satisfying accomplishments! 🎉