This is me, Sandra, with Blase, our 5th and youngest grandchild on my, birthday  8/9/13.  

Why do we farm?  Simply put, it’s a good life for our family!  The farm is a place that creates an atmosphere for learning.  It’s a great training ground for so many skills, with much opportunity for decision-making.  Fred and I feel it is so important to grow as much of our own food as possible and we’re bound and determined that the kids know how to do this when they leave, no matter where they go.  When you raise most of your own food it allows us to feel secure, especially in knowing where our food comes from.

Living on this farm is in a sense like living in a monastery.  It’s not that we are perfectly organized, far from it.  There is definitely a daily schedule with plenty of projects and chores that have to be accomplished.  Everyone has his or her position on this farm and is heavily relied upon to complete certain given tasks. When one person is missing or ill, the others find out quickly how much that individual accomplished during any given day.  Everyone has to pull his or her weight.

Meaningful purpose is needed by all people and it’s easily found here on a small farm.  Work ethic, knowledge that things need to be done in a timely manner and that the seasons govern our work schedules keeps us all in an industrial behavioral mode most of the time.  There are so many blessings that flow from this kind of life, a life of work, prayer and play.

http://newcatholiclandmovement.org/  If you are interested at all in farming/homesteading I suggest you click on this link, The New Catholic Land Movement.  There is some encouraging information there, especially for those who are yearning for the country lifestyle.  Of course, you don’t have to be Catholic to check it out.  The philosophy is the same for all Christians.  Be encouraged by some good writing there and make your dream happen.     Here is one example of an article on the web site titled, Calvary and the Farm by Kevin Ford, http://newcatholiclandmovement.org/calvary-and-the-farm/  Kevin dreamed of farming for years and he made it happen with a lot of hard work.

God bless everyone and have a wonderful life!