Wealth can be measured by money in the bank. But a better measure may be abundance of life. By that accounting, homestead farmers are the richest folks on earth!
We were at a lunch with a group of friends not too long ago, and the younger lady across from me with one son, a beautiful house on the lake, tastefully stylish clothes said to me, “You are so lucky!” She envied (in a nice way) all the kids that keep me constantly running and never with personal space, the farm that wants more energy than I possess, and the business that keeps us together but in the proverbial poorhouse. She lacks nothing in the bank, and feels that I have so much more.
She loves her child and doesn’t complain about her life, don’t get me wrong.
I could have laughed and said something to the effect of she didn’t know what she was talking about. To bring up the dirt, the noise, the mess, the wear of never a “real” vacation. I took a breath, and said, “Thanks.” Period.
Farmer friends, I had more wealth than she could imagine. My bank account doesn’t scream, “Wealthy!” Doesn’t even whisper it. What I do have is a lot of kids to keep me going and to love. I have meaningful work to get up and do in the morning. Sure, cleaning a pen, feeding chickens, or carrying a bucket of sloshing cold water isn’t glorious and it can do a number on a manicure, but it’s rewarding in the end. There’s nothing like a homegrown steak on your dinner plate. Queen Elizabeth can’t buy such good chicken as the one we raised and harvested ourselves. And the kids love to eat veggies because they taste so good!
Don’t ever listen to “it doesn’t pay.” We have health, food, and a lifestyle that can’t be bought with all the money in the world. We enjoy a life of abundance that can’t be bought with money. It isn’t easy, but would we really have it any other way?
In the bank of Life, we are millionaires! And spread the word, because there is abundance in this accounting for everyone. And, we could really use some help cleaning the barn! Perhaps this farm wealth story isn’t for farmer’s only.
Anyone Can Farm!
Processing- crew at work
Heritage breed Mangalitsa weaner and feeder pig
GMO free, beyond organic, free range chicken with Mangalitsa heritage breed pork bacon
Turnips are good for people…and for pigs! Sam proudly shows off some roots he grew.
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
-Howard Thurman
