A Balanced Farm Life?
Like most people we know, we are constantly striving for the ever-elusive “balanced life.” Oooo. Sounds so dreamy, doesn’t it?? No matter your profession, it’s an extreme challenge to achieve. As a farmer, it may be an especially farm-fetched aim. The crops just don’t seem inclined to adjust their needs to our 9 to 5 lifestyle dreams. Jerks! Still, we’re constantly pursuing the secret sauce that will allow us the sweet taste of extra time for music, exercise, friends, family, and relaxation during the farm season. I don’t want to have to knock on wood, but this just may be the year we achieve something balance-esque. “How the heck are you doing that,” you ask? Oh, thanks for your interest!
Well, a mellower farm life has come a bit out of necessity. Last year was what some may call a disaster zone, a cluster or a train wreck around these parts. We had chaos happening in our family, on the farm, and in our brains. It happens to the best of us! So back in winter, we planned for a calmer season— we’d start our CSA a few weeks later than usual, cut out unprofitable crops that very few people liked anyway (we’re looking at you, fennel), and trim out wholesale accounts that were more trouble than they were worth.
All those changes paid off in spades (garden spades!). None of you had an extreme meltdown with our late start date- in fact, most of you were downright supportive. The wholesale accounts and fennel didn’t cause a serious fuss. And our two extra weeks without harvesting this June allowed us a reinvigorating vacation and extra time to get ahead of farm tasks that often fall far behind mid-season. The 2025 farm vibes are on point, people!
A friend of mind likes to say “Balance isn’t real anyway.” By this, I think he means, there isn’t a chord we can strike with all our obligations and activities to achieve something that everyone would agree is officially “balance.” To be a bit woo-woo about it, he claims balance is more a state of mind and that we can set ourselves up to feel it or not no matter the circumstances. I’d be curious to hear your take on the matter.
At least for now, with the help of two incredibly competent and upbeat employees, 12 dedicated work trade volunteers, and more modest set of farm goals, we’re feeling more at peace about farming and the rest of life than we have in years. Is it balance? I don’t really know, but whatever it is, I really like it, and wish something similar for you as well!