This is for my fellow backyard farmers. Whether you have an apartment balcony, 1/2 an acre, or a handful of land to call your own.
For those who do it yourself. Make it yourself. Grow it yourself.
Anything…everything…something.
No matter how little or how much you’re currently growing, raising, or making- you make a difference!
I was recently involved (or, rather, involved myself) in a discussion where large farmers and backyard homesteaders were pitted against one another. The large farmer was defending her right to use GMOs and argued “what are YOU doing? the world cannot be fed from your back yard”. As you can imagine, this accusation created quite the wind storm from the many homesteaders, urban gardeners, and backyard farmers involved in this group.
It got the rusty wheels in my mind turning.
And my blood pressure up…slightly.
Because, you see, this one person caused many to feel that what they do has no impact whatsoever. That because they were not born into a multi-generational farm with the ability to feed thousands of people, then their efforts in sustainability held no weight. That if all you can do is feed your own family- and maybe even share with friends and neighbors- then you haven’t a right to speak out against farming practices that you may disagree with.
Shut up and sit down was more or less the message that was received.
No.
No, I won’t sit down. Or shut up.
I want anyone and everyone who grows, makes, builds, digs, DIYs, feeds, rakes, and shovels to know that your efforts are not lost on yourselves.
You DO make a difference.
For every time you make a meal from scratch, that is one less processed box going out the door at the grocery store.
The tomato plant you grow from seed in a container on your balcony means that one fewer plant containing bee-killing neonicotinoids is being sold at the big chain greenhouses.
That handful of warm, fresh eggs in your coat pocket from the morning’s gathering means you are one less person supporting a battery hen operation.
The homemade salve, dried dandelion root, infused tincture, and fragrant calendula petals in recycled jars on your apothecary shelf is one more back turned against the big pharmaceutical monster.
Every jar of home canned goodness.
Every newborn chick tendered, every turkey home butchered, every dirt-dressed carrot plucked from the ground.
The blood, sweat, and tears that you shed for your efforts are not in vain.
Be proud.
Keep doing what you do. Keep doing what you can.
Because every effort- no matter how small– makes a difference.
Don’t let anyone ever make you feel or think otherwise.
In the words of the great Joe Dirt…
“Keep on keepin’ on.”
Now get back to it, you self-sufficient, scratch made, dirt-loving fool you.
And I will too.
I found my feelings in your words.
There is no steping back after you get the pleasure of growing and doing. Our kids are learning to do the same so yeah there will be a difference, more and more…
So bring on the seed catalogs and let the planning for the new season begin. May it be the yet best ever for everyone
I completely agree. Little eyes are watching, absorbing, learning…preparing to become cultivators, teachers, and sharers. It’s beautiful. I wish you the very best 🙂
You’re so right, I do work hard in my garden, keeping my bees and chickens, but its all worth it when I know I don’t have to depend on the big box stores for all my needs, I feel a sense of pride everytime I walk into my coldroom and see all the gleaming jars of jams and pickles I put up ,and I know the freezer is full of produce from my garden from plants that I grew from seeds. I know I make a difference, thank you for putting in into words.
I know exactly how you feel, Elsa. And yes, you sure do make a difference! Good work.