There’s a lot I could say about the difference between what we do at the farm and our “real jobs”. But, for today, let me say this: I love that farming is tangible.
I could work for hours at school and not have much to show for it at all. On the farm that’s not generally the case. Today I worked in the garden for an hour or so, and by the time I was done I had a pile of weeds to represent all that work. (Shown here with a Labrador for size comparison.)
True, no one learned to read today nor did they learn anything more about biology. But, look at that pile of weeds! (There’s some lettuce in there too that’s done for the season) That’s was a lot of work in the heat. I love that I have something to show for all that work.What is great about the pile of weeds is that it will be transformed into another tangible thing. We’ll give those weeds and lettuce to the chickens, and they’ll give us eggs. So, in the end, when I was weeding the garden I was really feeding us. And for today, that’s a pretty good feeling.
This is a wonderful posting. Chores can be gratifying because results are immediate. Maybe you could combine this work in your "real job." In Berkeley, Ca where I live all the middle schools now have garden classes. Students plan and plant. Then they get to do some cooking with the fresh ingredients. Parents and students love the program.
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean, Mollie. I also love how tired my body can get, rather than how tired my soul would get.
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