We farm with a lot of heart. I know you often think of farming with muscles, with strong backs, and good arms, but, this year, I want to farm using my heart muscles more.

As a farm, we are in another transition year. Last year, we began a big project of fencing, installing waterline, and preparing the rest of our farmland to be put into pasture. This project is exciting because we not only will have more grass for our cattle, but will be able to start grazing more cattle and making less hay. We are moving towards a goal that started 5 years ago when I first started farming. A goal that involves:

Farming in a way that gives back to the earth by nurturing the soil. By making choices to plant trees, to plant grass, to protect our creek and natural resources because what we do on our land doesn’t just impact us. It impacts our birds, our foxes, our farm animals, and our next door neighbors.
Farming in a way that simplifies systems. That works to get food to people in our immediate community and reduces our consumption of fossil fuels as we learn new ways to have our cattle do the work for us.
Farming in a way that strengthens our local community. That builds up the other farmers in my area and brings our community together over growing, buying from, and supporting local businesses.

So, this year, as our farm continues to work towards these goals. I want to make farm decisions not just with my mind, but also with my heart. With a view of the broader community, of my impacts upon it, and a focus on how our farm can continue to work to take care of the community around us through wise decisions, good food, and care for the earth.