STONE TO TABLE BY JESS STONE | PUBLISHED 1/21/2024
This is the second piece of a weekly series contributed by Jess Stone, owner of Cold Spring Farm and organizer of the Colchester Farmers’ Market. Each week, Jess will write about all things local food and agriculture for your healthy consumption.
Are you familiar with the Shaker’s motto “Many hands make light work?” Well, let me tell you that motto is fitting for farm life because many hands make a farm, too!
Farming is a fast-paced gig with all the mulching, transplanting, hand weeding, harvesting, farm stand stocking, market preparations, CSA packing, milking, bottling, labeling, egg cleaning, animal care, demolition and building projects, equipment maintenance and repair, and then all the budgeting, marketing, filing, customer service, and other office-y things that go along with it.
The work of a farm involves many moving parts that need to be juggled skillfully by capable hands. These hands are those of the farmers, employees or staff, trained volunteers and CSA members, interns and apprentices. These hands are of all ages from young to old; there is something for everyone to do. There is no shortage of things to accomplish on a working farm. Just imagine a list that never ends and that also refreshes daily like your Facebook feeds.
There are myriad lessons to be learned on the farm. Happy farmers learn to trust in nature, to surround themselves with life, to use their talents and skills, to respect the details in everything, and to stay open minded even if with a little skepticism. The work of farming is ART in its purest form, which makes farmers artists. The support farmers receive by their surrounding communities is what determines the future landscape for everyone.
To develop an appreciation for farming one has to experience it directly in some way or another. One way is to actually become a farmer. This job is not for the ‘faint of heart.’ Lifetime farmers are a rare breed, with their lives dedicated to the work and the sacrifices that come with it. They deserve to be cherished.
An easier way to get some exposure to farming is to join a CSA and offer to volunteer some time in the field. You can frequent the farmers markets and show your support by prioritizing the purchase of farm goods. You can visit local farms during their events and take it all in. Breathe the air, view the gardens, spend time with the animals, and talk with the farmer(s) while you work alongside them.
I highly recommend you befriend a local farmer, ask questions, and listen to their stories and woven tales of risks and rewards. Your ears will never hear better fodder. Your bellies will be full. And your heart will be filled with happiness in the form of gratitude.