I believe in farm life. And here's why.
My dear, sweet, ever-working husband is putting the finishing touches on our 9 foot farm table. It's been in the works since early summer and to say I'm excited to see this project coming to a close is an understatement. I've always dreamed of a table just like it – gigantic, solid, built for entertaining.
After all, that's what we do. Not ‘entertaining' necessary, but… well, eating.
We eat. We're eaters.
3 meals a day, we're around the table. No phones. No computers. No television. No microwaved meals. Just us, each other's company, and good food.
Because I believe in this farm life. I believe in what we're doing.
There are many stories and a rich culture behind our food – to think that society has lost touch with this every day awesomeness is grievous to food-loving, food-production people like us. While watching ‘A Good Year' for the umpteenth time the other day, I was struck – as I always am – by the depth to which food enjoyment can bridge gaps, build community, heal a tender situation, and create purpose.
One only needest (yes, needest) to study the feasts of the Bible to know that surely, God intended us to feast and celebrate and enjoy His provisions. Even Jesus, in celebrating the end of his earthly life, administered The Lord's Supper – bread and wine – to be enjoyed by his close friends.
As the very first bits of Spring arrive on the farm, right now in the form of new lambs, seedlings, and a few tips of garlic poking up through the soil, I have to passionately believe in the significance of food. On one hand, in the healing benefits of good food. Food that feeds the body, food that heals the body, and food that builds a strong body that is capable of hard work – fit for service! Good food builds healthy bodies – there's no denying it. Bodies free of preventable diseases that plague our society. It grieves my heart that I cannot fill every child's stomach with a bowl of homemade, from-scratch chicken soup. Because soup is love, man. Homemade food is love.
On yet another hand, good food also builds our spirits. We are blessed with a small handful of friends that share our love for fellowship and food – many nights have been spent gathered around kitchen tables, nibbling bread and cheese, sipping wine, carving chickens, ladling soup, and slicing vegetables. I'm talking about elongated fellowship – where hours of food preparation are enjoyed together before partaking of an even longer meal. Drinks are shared over the meal before coffee and dessert are served and the enjoyment continues. I can't really describe what happens over these meals – but when they end, I always find my cup filled. Even if there's a spread of crusty dishes and empty glasses strewn around our home.
When did our culture stop sitting? When did supper become something to scarf down in the car between ball games and errands? When did we lose the magic of opening our home to others and sharing our life with them over a perfectly buttered bowl of garlic mashed potatoes?
There is magic in this food. God-given magic. And I'm hell bent on sharing that with the world.
As we set out to begin another busy year of food production on the farm, it's important to ponder this magic. Because if the magic doesn't exist, than surely, it wouldn't be worth the effort. Because every single bite of food produced on this farm comes with severe effort (let there be no mistake!). Life is born and taken right here on this soil. Plants are grown and harvested. Even the bacon is a testimony to our farming philosophies and triumphs. But why does it matter?
Because, like it or not, “convenience” food doesn't tell a story. There is nothing rich or meaningful about it. It doesn't feed our souls. Like gas station coffee, this food offers us the idea of meaningful food without any of the bones to back it up.
As many have gathered around our table, they often come bearing stories about their own food experiences. What's fascinating to me is that the stories that people always chose to share are those where they've experienced food that has a special story. Maybe it was a speciality meat they ate while in Europe. Fresh fruit they collected at a U-Pick farm. Or even a unique or ethnic ingredient a friend cooked for them. But those are the food stories that they chose to share with us. No one is ever that excited to share that they went to the store, grabbed some DinoNuggets, and heated it up for the kids. Ain't no story in that, man. Our souls seek depth and meaning in all things – even something as small as a homegrown herb garnish.
I'm not saying there is no place for grocery stores. I'm simply encouraging myself, and all of us, as we fight to make our food culture and our food experiences more.
There is room for much, much more.
Every bite of food you take – every single bite – has a story. What does it say?
I'd like to think that if a stranger were to come to my home, they'd be able to see my kitchen – be it full of messy dishes – and my gigantic table, garden, and animals and think “Dang, man. Girl likes to eat!”. I'd hope that they'd be able to easily see what I value. Because if the Lord has called me to fill bellies with good food and nurture those around me while tending to my teeny little corner of this world, I plan to do it the best I can.
I value creation. I value health. I value God's provision. I value community. I value fellowship. I value my family. To think that all of that can be reflected in a breakfast of scrambled eggs is astonishing.
As we head into the busy season of farming, not to mention the season of another newborn, I am ever more focused on these values. The freezer has been stocked with chickens, pork, and lamb from our farm. Cecelia is in training to be the new dairy queen of the farm. Eggs are overflowing out of the baskets. Vegetable starts are filling up the entire kitchen. And the new potager garden is slowly being pieced together. We are filling our soil with what will fill our souls.
This life. This farm life. This is absolutely as good as it gets. And I believe in it.
Which is why I'm showing up, day after day.
And Amen.
I’m often asked why I “bother” to garden, raise poultry for meat and eggs, sometimes a pig, and especially why I hunt. Good, honest, ethical, humane, tasty, healthy delicious food – that’s why. My kids have grown and flown and taken these values and the love of food with them. Farm life is a good life. I’ll be sharing this with family and friends. Some will nod as they read, others will be wide-eyed and learning as they go. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Well said!
thank you so much for this post! you put my thoughts into words. xx
Great post – my memories of family circle around a table (though when we were all gathered, we kids were on a blanket on the floor.) The meal filled the senses not just the belly – aroma, laughter, busy hands working colorful foods, and sounds etc. All powerful memories and experiences.
My suburban family hates it when I talk about what they’re eating. Thanksgiving is particularly trying for them as I discuss the bird by it’s sex “he” or “she” and it’s personality. Our current pigs get belly rubs and I adore them. I talk about how much I love them all the time. We’ll still eat them and while we are eating them I’ll still talk about how wonderful they have been for us. Just making sure my family doesn’t forget that their food died for them. We don’t raise all our meat but my son is fond of asking whether the chicken we are eating was ours or another farmers.
Well said! We raise all our meat and I am the same with my pigs. They get spoiled and loved on. They all learn to plop over for belly rubs but they are food. I have family and friends that just don’t get it and unless they ever come work in the cold and the hot, the muck and the rain, the wonderful sunshine, have sweet moments with each and every life on the farm and then have the security of knowing what they feed their loved ones is the best possible then no they won’t ever get it.
I agree. We work so hard to produce our food and to sit and share it around our home-milled-built table is a glorious thing! We believe in this farm life too! Even today, I wondered who harvested the quinoa I cooked as a side because we didn’t. Oh the life of a farmer. Hallelujah!
Great post! I completely agree with you 🙂
On an unrelated side note, I have a blogging friend who had a photo of her daughter stolen and used on a very bad site, so you might consider not sharing photos of your daughter in her underwear like that. I’m not judging you at all, I wouldn’t even think about it myself if not for that blogger’s experience. Her photo was an innocent one as well.
This post totally speaks to me and what I want for our family. We still have a long ways to go, but it is my dream. I wish you and I could be friends! You sound like a really wonderful person.
Your perspective and philosophy are admirable and respected. I too plan to share this post as an inspiration to everyone, from the full farmer to the potted herb gardener, the message is clear and resonates. Food that has been over processed from mistreated animals and over-treated crops depletes our health, our environment, our humanity and our souls. Thank you so much for your words
Mary, I totally hear you! The other day I was at a wedding and they served little cups of mixed fruit. The fruit was completely bland and tasteless. I thought, over-produced and early-harvested. Yuck! We all need to take back our own control of food production and return to our roots. pun intended 😉
One of my favorite things about gardening is simply experiencing the “miracle” of finding a ripe tomato after months of waiting. There is something so miraculous and wonderful about food picked fresh from a garden especially the first few weeks of harvesting. It is so hard to convince a non-gardener/non-farmer that it really is wonderful. They just don’t get it. In some small way, it is kind of like that magical moment when you first meet your baby after giving birth.
Great post! We bought our farm about 13 years ago and have come a long way with producing our own food! The big farm table in our kitchen is our favorite place to be, nothing like cheese made from our own dairy goats and fruit off of our own trees. Keep on farming, love reading your posts!
After reading this I wish our family lived next door! Your food thoughts echo my own so perfectly. My husband and I ( along with our 5 kids) just bought a small farm here in Wisconsin in a few months ago and are excited to begin learning how to take our cooking to the next level by cultivating our own meat/produce. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words! I hope they inspire more people to connect with people through the gift of delicious food .
God bless you for having the corrage to accept what God gives you! As they say , he never gives you more than you can handle.
We live in Canada and have had five kids, and I TOTALLY can relate with alot of what you talk about….the kids driving me nuts , me feeling like a bad person for being tired, etc….
But I just wanted to say thank you for being so open and honest! Our kids dont always help us and some times we question what we are doing…your post make me feel better and you inspire me…your one of my idols…and dont be humble and say no, it takes a lot of work and faith to do farming! I often read out load to my husband and we laugh together…or nod our heads together, like yes, thats true…thanks keep up the great work!
Linda
Hi Linda! Nice to hear a fellow Canadian! My husband and I bought our small farm 2 years ago and we are slowly starting to grow out own food and getting into chickens. Plus we have a 8 month old. It’s hard work and I would not trade it for nothing. Same reasons has she has put on her blog. All the best to your family!
Yes food is love. It is ashamed that we can not get good healthy healing food into all kids now a days. Good healthy food is so need for a developing body. It is something to be said for a good bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup made with fresh homemade chicken stock it can surely heal the soul.
I would love it if you posted some rabbit recipes!
Thank you very much for your story, Shaye. I fully understand what you are talking about. I read it as my thoughts. And I am sharing it with all my friends.
Love from Belarus.
I am new to your site but find it delightful, thoughtful, and inspiring…Im a life long gardener of 60 years old, just started raising goats, learned how to milk, make cheese and soap, and this summer planted a willow garden(or Sally garden) for basketry–will be learning that as well…there is NOTHING better than home grown!
Your photos are beautiful! they make me want to hug my kids…go cook….go grow…visit a friend over a good cup of home brewed stronger than mud coffee…
God bless you and your family and the homestead!
Thank you!
I have followed you and your beautiful growing family adventures for a few years now, and bought your book whilst I was pregnant with my son (he’s now almost 3!) i would love to be able to live where you do, so close to nature! I grow as much as can in my small garden… Peas, tomatoes, carrots, herbs, beans, garlic, salad, some squash,strawberries, blueberries. Thank you for your inspiration! I want my boy to know where his food comes from, it’s so very important. Life is tough with small people – just want you to know that you help me without knowing xx sending love and light to you and yours xxxx
Thanks Gemma!
Two words: Awesome. Inspiring.
As an aspiring homesteader by way of born and raised city girl, you havr encouraged me. I am absolutely positive that thwere will be days that I don’t know why I am leaving the conveniences, but when I read the outflowing of your heart, I can’t imagine that there could ever be anu place better than where you are. I’m on my way to share in the farm life with you. I will look forward to reading your experiences consistently! Thanks for sharing!
Thank YOU for reading and commenting! 🙂
The kitchen is the heart of the home and providing our families with delicious and nutritious food is the most loving and selfless thing we can do for the ones we love. Thanks for sharing!
I just wanted to say thank you for your site. I’m living in AZ with the hubser next to1 son and his family. It is very depressing down here if you have been a Gardner or brought up in a small farming town. The soil for growing veggies in your own yard is too sandy. We are planning on moving back to Spokane in 4 years when the hubser retires. Your husband’s WSU t-shirt almost made me cry. We are great cougar fans. Your site will be my pot of gold at the end of rainbow until we move back north. We hope to homestead and I can see your site will be a joy to read and will be great for tips and suggestions God Bless You and Your Family.
Thank YOU for being a loyal reader and for your very kind words. God bless!
I love that there are more Christian farmers with my outlook. Sometimes it feels like all the farmers are either conventional or way far on the hippy end. I am not judging, it is just nice to see others on a similar path.
Oh my, I love these words so much.
As beginning homesteaders and farmers, I have often gotten comments and criticism asking why on earth we would want a garden so big and so many chickens.
In my heart, I know this life is for us yet as I ramble and bumble around an answer, I have yet to fully convey what it really means to us.
These words have helped me as they are the words of my heart.
These are the words I will say when asked WHY and I will say them with intention and with pride.
Thank you!