The sheep have noticed that America loves the idea of the small farm with the warm sincerity usually reserved for children’s books and almost none of the financial follow-through.
I gave my flock away a few years ago to a nice, young mexican american family who were climbing their way out of Ag slavery. Now they got a medium sized flock and the side hustle is selling to mexican restaurants. Sheep are helping the personal economy of at least one family, they went from leasing to owning 30 acres.
It’s kind of the same with small businesses—a small dental office in my case. People want a personal relationship and then also want cheaper care— on Saturdays and Sundays when it’s convenient for them and only want what their insurance covers ($1000 yearly benefit similar to 1970). Ease is winning, and I don’t like it. I get it. I just don’t think it’s going to be easier down the road.
❤️🩹👉 "... Simone put it more directly. 'People support small farms in the same way they support clean rivers,' she said. 'Emotionally, symbolically, and at a safe distance from the budgeting process'.”
I keep thinking of my exposure to a farming community in SE Washington where my late husband and I worked at a tiny school plopped down in the middle of fields of alfalfa, wheat, peas, onions and asparagus. Most of the kids in that school lived and worked on farms of various sizes and lateness to school was often because the cows had gotten out. We got particularly close to one family who seemed more worldly and educated than most and it showed in the way they ran their farm. They pointed out to us the value of planting diversified crops and running a few head of cattle and not buying new equipment every year when the old was working just fine with a little upkeep. The surrounding farmers that were failing depended on only one crop, mostly alfalfa, and went into debt buying the latest combine. This was the late 70's and while mom and dad are now gone, their son, who took the time and effort to get a business degree, inherited the farm and is still running it successfully. That is not to say with ease, and without concern for changing markets, rising cost of labor, and the forever eye on the sky for inclement weather. Farming is a hard life which takes the smarts you seem to have. It's only gotten harder, as you have pointed out, and as much as people idealize what you have to offer, most will always be looking for a bargain these days. The sheep have definitely figured it out.
Yeah, I got lamed up one winter and messed up my knee and needed bolts and such. My wife had to run the whole works. And the kids were running 60 head of angus with a new baby down in Oregon. So, they couldn't help. My rams were breeding true, with 4 horns and I pure black wool. But no more lambing in deep winter at 3:00 a.m. or bottle feeding six times a day in single digit weather.
Lived it and enjoyed it, but these days, I getta sleep in until 6:00 a.m. ha!
I gave my flock away a few years ago to a nice, young mexican american family who were climbing their way out of Ag slavery. Now they got a medium sized flock and the side hustle is selling to mexican restaurants. Sheep are helping the personal economy of at least one family, they went from leasing to owning 30 acres.
Nice!
It’s kind of the same with small businesses—a small dental office in my case. People want a personal relationship and then also want cheaper care— on Saturdays and Sundays when it’s convenient for them and only want what their insurance covers ($1000 yearly benefit similar to 1970). Ease is winning, and I don’t like it. I get it. I just don’t think it’s going to be easier down the road.
Don’t get me started on health insurance…what a disaster!
That’s a next chapter for the sheep to discuss!
❤️🩹👉 "... Simone put it more directly. 'People support small farms in the same way they support clean rivers,' she said. 'Emotionally, symbolically, and at a safe distance from the budgeting process'.”
🙌🏽
I keep thinking of my exposure to a farming community in SE Washington where my late husband and I worked at a tiny school plopped down in the middle of fields of alfalfa, wheat, peas, onions and asparagus. Most of the kids in that school lived and worked on farms of various sizes and lateness to school was often because the cows had gotten out. We got particularly close to one family who seemed more worldly and educated than most and it showed in the way they ran their farm. They pointed out to us the value of planting diversified crops and running a few head of cattle and not buying new equipment every year when the old was working just fine with a little upkeep. The surrounding farmers that were failing depended on only one crop, mostly alfalfa, and went into debt buying the latest combine. This was the late 70's and while mom and dad are now gone, their son, who took the time and effort to get a business degree, inherited the farm and is still running it successfully. That is not to say with ease, and without concern for changing markets, rising cost of labor, and the forever eye on the sky for inclement weather. Farming is a hard life which takes the smarts you seem to have. It's only gotten harder, as you have pointed out, and as much as people idealize what you have to offer, most will always be looking for a bargain these days. The sheep have definitely figured it out.
Yeah, I got lamed up one winter and messed up my knee and needed bolts and such. My wife had to run the whole works. And the kids were running 60 head of angus with a new baby down in Oregon. So, they couldn't help. My rams were breeding true, with 4 horns and I pure black wool. But no more lambing in deep winter at 3:00 a.m. or bottle feeding six times a day in single digit weather.
Lived it and enjoyed it, but these days, I getta sleep in until 6:00 a.m. ha!