Likes and Dislikes about farming

Today after Market Monte asked each of us what was our favorite aspect of farming and what was our least favorite.

When I first started working here my least favorite was easy to name quickly... weeding and the heat. Now I think my least of what I love would be longer then my list of dislikes. I thought about this question for a good portion of the drive home (which takes an hour). And I thought it would be good to answer this question in full on my blog.

Dislikes:

1. I don't like cutting up onions and peppers to dehydrate (especially when I am doing it alone and there is at least two bushels).
2. I don't like sorting through rotting onions.
3. I don't like the smell of the turkey or chicken water.
4. I don't like doing the rabbit chores when the mister has been on and turned the area into a nasty muddy swamp.
5. I don't like being the only intern.
6. I don't like to harvest produce that 1. makes you itch. 2. has slight thorns that are painful. 3. that makes you smell like that vegetable all day and longer. 4. turns your hands black. 5. that is like a jungle and makes you feel terrible when you step on a vine that has been growing in the walkway.
7. I don't like it when it gets too hot and there is no shade, breeze, rain, etc.

Likes:

1. I love watching the day begin.
2. I love being a witness of the sunrise.
3. I love the quiet and stillness of the morning.
4. I love the peace that you feel on the farm.
5. I love the beauty that I can see each day.
6. I love seeing rows and rows of things I helped plant or weed flourishing.
7. I love seeing the garden or farm grow.
8. I love the baby goats (even though they are not really babies anymore).
9. I love having little pigs.
10. I love the freshness of everything.
11. I love being able to use farm fresh eggs that are AMAZING and everybody wants.
12. I love seeing the things I harvested arranged on the table at market and people taking pictures of our table because everything looks so beautiful.
13. I love seeing the things I harvested turned into beautiful meals or preserves.
14. I love canning or pickling.
15. I love how everything tastes.
16. I love having more interns here.
17. I love how I have changed.
18. I love the person I have become.
19. I love the experiences I have been able to have.
20. I love everything I have learned.
21. I love eating the vegetables that I helped with in so many ways.
22. I love being connected to the land again.
23. I love being a farm girl.
24. I love growing good healthy food for others, and hearing their praise.
25. I love the feeling of accomplishment and knowing I did a good day's work.
26. I love knowing that I deserve the sleep at night.
27. I love being a little tanner.
28. I love that my hair is no longer getting darker but lighter.
29. I love the confidence I have gained.
30. I love gathering beautiful eggs of all sizes and colors each night.
31. I love hand-milking some of the goats.
32. I love how beautiful each night is and how full the sky is with stars.
33. I love the cooler weather.
34. I love the people I get to be around, and the conversations that take place with each person.
35. I love being more aware of real food. And knowing that I am making a difference for the better by being here.

I'm sure my list could go on but I also think you might be getting bored reading an unending list. In short... I love this farm and I love being here. I can hardly wait till I am ready to start my own farm and be like Laura and Monte and help the world to become more of a farming people again.

There is something so amazing that takes place inside of you when you plant, weed, harvest, and become part of the land. I don't know how to describe it, you feel like you are more of a part of something that is worth something and will make a difference.