WATERFRONT PROPERTY

We had an unsuccessful showing the other day.  They loved our house but they didn't like that there is no garage, and they didn't like the flood in the backyard.  Sigh.  Not really much we can do about it.

LIVESTOCK!

Well, we have another animal to add to our menagerie of non-productive farm animals!  Some friends of ours decided that their bunny didn't fit their family (the kids wouldn't take care of it!) and I volunteered a home.  I have a soft spot for bunnies since I had them as a kid.  So far the kids are pretty facinated with him, but I am sure he will bore them soon enough.  But he sure is cute.

READY TO PLANT

Even though we are planning on moving to Nova Scotia in July, I still wanted to plant our gardens here in Ontario.  Since we still haven't sold this house, maybe a prospective buyer will appreciate the ready planted garden.  We built these raised bed gardens last year after buying the book "Square Foot Gardening".  Last year was the first time I had real success with gardening and I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a beginner, has limited gardening space, poor quality land, or just wants less work!  For me, less work was a biggie.  I have always hated weeding and digging, and this program showed me how to avoid that.  I had the odd weed once in a while, but it was easy to just pick them out without getting down and dirty.  There was no digging involved at all, all the soil came from the garden store.  Not cheap, but it is an investment. 

Today, I got down and dirty and cleaned up the weed and grass that had taken root since we harvested last year.  I did it all by hand, no tools, just gloves.  The dirt is still so soft, it was easy to get the weeds and the roots.  I also was surprised with a few "bonus" plants, an onion, a garlic clove, a carrot and some sunflowers.  I put them back in after adding a couple bags of compost, they made it this far so they deserve a chance!

All my seedlings have been outside for about a week now, I have brought them in on the odd cold night.  I am looking forward to getting them into the ground.

I am also looking forward to planting our garden in Nova Scotia, it will be late getting in, but I don't care, we can do it!

WHY DO WE WANT TO BE FARMERS?

We have lots of reasons why we want become farmers, starting with because we can.

We can because we have spent most of our lives working in jobs that have provided pensions and benefits that give a safety net.  Our society does not encourage farming as an occupation and so farming has a well earned reputation for high debt and low income.  We will have a secure income to ensure that we can get by, and health benefits to take care of the unknown.  For us, our goals for farming include providing most of our own food and eventually adding a small income to cover farming expenses.  Don’t worry, no dreams of grandeur here!

We want to stop consuming and start producing.  For years we have been earning money so that we can buy stuff.  Now we want to make our stuff.  Recycle stuff, and reuse stuff.  Peak oil has got us thinking about how to live without all the stuff that the media says that we need.  We want to be able to take care of ourselves when times get tough, and feel good about being self sufficient.

The kids have spent many years on the move.  They have adjusted well considering, but we think that they need the stability of community in their lives, and more influence from extended family.  I have never felt like I had a “hometown” and I don’t want the kids to feel that way.  I think that feeling like you really belong somewhere is important.  I certainly appreciate that I can adapt to any new place to call home though, it makes me feel more worldly!

We want to get out of the city and the rat-race, high-speed, consumer culture. We want to work together as a family. To spend and enjoy our time together. To work for ourselves and to see the fruit (and vegetables, nuts and meat) of our labors. We will work to our own clock and manage our own lives. The more effort we put in, the more we will benefit. 

I want to know where my food comes from. I want to know that my meat was raised healthily, fed properly, killed humanely, and not pumped full of chemicals.

We want our kids to understand that food comes from plants, trees and animals, not from supermarkets wrapped in plastic. They will help to plant their own food from seed and raise their meat from birth. We think it is one of the best lessons we could possibly give them.

We want them to breathe clean air, swim in the river, play in the mud. We want them to know their neighbours and feel part of a community.

I don't think we need any more reason than that but I am sure I could come up with more.

IT'S A START

OK, I have spent enough time reading other folks' blogs, and I am finally starting my own.  After deciding that I want to become a farmer, I have found that reading blogs has been a great way to learn about my new chosen profession.  My family and I have purchased a farm in Nova Scotia and we will be moving there from Ontario in July 2011.  Red Maple Family Farm is not ours yet, but we are working on it.