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When you look at our farm, basically, what you see (I hope) is that we are non-conventional farmers all the way around.  We started farming because we wanted to devoid ourselves of grocery store items that we could provide for ourselves.  Growing up in a major city, we had to transition to a life of farming and that transition was shocking, at times, both to ourselves and observers.  We were used to living by a clock, our own schedule and moods instead of weather, sun and moon patterns.  During this transition we acted and reacted in ways I could not express or even understand myself (weather made us uneasy, we began waking up earlier and going to bed earlier, we left social gatherings before the other guests and we sometimes abandoned hosting our own parties if we heard a noise outside which alerted us to check for predators).  Most of our acquaintances were far removed from farming and, actually, I did not even know what it was either.  We had some land and raised animals and planted gardens in our large back yard.  If there were no eggs in the fridge at breakfast time, we would do our chores and wait for some to be laid instead of going to the store; I would collect milk from our sheep and if we saw ripe pickings in the garden, we would come in the back door with those harvested items.  We often had cheese curing on the counter or in the fridge.   In short, we were supplementing our food needs by all means available to us.  What would you call that?  How could you explain this life-style?  

I did not feel the title of “farmer” was appropriate since the only thing I knew about farming related to big agriculture and did not fit into the mold of what we were carving for ourselves.  Regardless, one day, I said it out loud: I told someone who I was sitting next to at a social event that I was worried about the rain because of my animals in the back yard.  “Animals!?”, “ What kind?!”, they asked…  “Sheep!?, Chickens?!, Wow!!!!”,  “What else!?”….  And that was the first time I realized of other people’s interest in what I was doing.  I later researched and learned that I was in the process of being a self-sustainer and that there were whole communities of others doing the same thing and many others who wanted to do it.  And, that encouraged me to continue talking about and sharing my development into a “farmer” with others.  And, that led to the infamous, inevitable question:  “do you have items to sell?” 

From there, the Green Family Farm was in business.  Things were great; we were growing, talking, selling, developing and sharing.  Then, came the down spiral when, one day, my daughter overheard someone refer to our family as “dirty farmers”.  And, that opened our eyes to the dark and gloomy side of farming.  A century ago most of America strived to feed their families to the extent, and beyond, like we do.   In those times, most people farmed as a career and way of life.  Some of those were educated and others, not so much, which helped popularize derogatory labeling of farmers.  

Today, there is a whole new way of farming and a different kind of farmer evolving, right now.  If you are not already aware of it, you will be, since this development has spiked the use of farming buzz words you most likely hear or see often in your everyday life.  The type of farmer I am referring to, and, what probably led you this far into our farm page, is a “non-conventional farmer”.   They are educated and have other career options which they either fully, or partially, exercise.  They choose farming as a passion they support and/or carry out as a way of life.  These are people who want to know what they are eating, where it comes from, and that it was raised properly with future sustainability in mind. 

These are people who have a much broader sense of food than those in “agri-farming” which IS chosen as their main career and is usually focused around minimal input for maximum profits.  Non-conventional farmers are price makers and not price takers.  They invest in their future harvests to the height of their ability, in faith, that the final product will be superior, and recognized as such by consumers.  They are driven by quality and rewarded by highly satisfied consumers who will contribute to their passion for good food and financially support their effort to produce more, at best, or, their reward is simply good food on the family table, at worst. 

The demand for good food is greater than the supply but, unfortunately, that is because not everyone is willing to contribute to produce it.  A farmer will not, or a lot of the times, cannot, afford to invest in growing a product that most likely will result in a loss because the consumer did not understand the value of it.  Or, worse yet, they will reduce their investment and grow a “b” quality product with the idea that it will be marketable because it was grown on a farm.  Unfortunately, this leads the consumer to a perceived inability to pay for good food or, unwillingness to do so because they don’t see the validation of the price (and, rightfully so based on the farmer’s scenario).  However, there are times when the price is validated but, still overlooked because it is being compared to government subsidized prices found on grocery store shelves.     

 

Conventional farming may upset you and, probably does if you got this far on our farm page.  The farmers in that industry aim to make a nice profit as they have chosen farming as their career and rely on it to make a living.  They are the source of food conveniently available in the grocery stores at bargain prices.  They truly believe in the way they farm and have as much passion about it as any other farmer and do not understand why some feel the need to go sustainable (as we’re doing).  They, too, are educated and have graduated with lessons of profitability, marketability and cost analysis.  They believe that the medicines they give the animal are for the animal’s welfare and that the hormones or GMO’s or whatever means they use to increase yield is necessary to increase profits and satisfy world hunger.  

We understand where the conventional farmer is coming from and realize that there is more than one way to skin a cat.  But, as non-conventional farmers, we attract a lot of people who are mad about our country’s food supply (as I was for a time before my conviction to a life of sustainable farming) and people who are simply confused- sometimes so much that they opt out by eliminating certain foods in their diets (it can be compared to the stock market: if you don’t understand it, don’t risk it).  

So, we went from “what are we doing” to, “dirty farmer”, which led us to explore and find a deeper understanding of food and farming, which is invariably connected.  We now know what we are doing and what others are doing and realize that everyone has a choice and, as Americans, a freedom to exercise those choices.  Though we try to be open-minded about, and accepting of, farming practices we do not agree with, we do not feel like it is our mission to “feed the world”.  Instead, our mission is to create awareness, teach what we’ve learned to those who want to know, answer questions for those who are still confused under the umbrella of farm and food buzz words, and serve a community of like-minded farm supporters who believe in us and what we are doing and who will come through during harvest time leaving us with assurance that when we put every dollar we have into producing a superior product, we will not be left holding the bag. 

Though we are blessed with the opportunity and ability to live the “dream of a farm” (as some would see it), a conventional life-style of reliability on the grocery store with city or urban conveniences would be an easier road and, occasionally, seems “dreamy” to me.  Regardless, we have been convicted to farm and choose to live out that conviction.  Our whole family has devoted a part of their lives and soul to it.  We care for every plant and animal in our charge, and every creature affected by our farming practices.  We smile, we laugh and we cry because of our farm; therefore, we only want to share it with those who truly support what we are doing and/or are genuinely curious and open about our choice to farm and the means we utilize to carry that out.  So, when you e-mail me, please hesitate before sending an e-mail with a simple statement like:  “do you have eggs” or “please add me to your e-mail list”.  You just learned a whole lot about me and my family and, I, in turn, want to know who you are and what led you to reach out to us. 

Welcome to our farm!   : )