How is parenting like farming?

How is parenting like farming?

So, let’s say a couple decides they want to have all their produce grown at home, so the woman (or man in some cases, though I’ll use “her” in this story) decides to quit her job or take a leave, and dedicate her life to helping this happen. She sees gardens all over and figures it would be fulfilling and can’t be too hard since lots of other people are doing it.

So, they take their plot of land and read a book or two, talk to a neighbor who has a little plot of a garden, then one day, bam! they buy seeds and are off. They get the seeds home and realize they need way more books to figure this out and kinda forgot everything they read in the previous book, “what to expect when your expecting to have a farm”.

They get “Everything you need to know about farming the first year.” Some advice, but doesn’t seem to apply to their climate. More books, she tries some things from some books, others from other books and some of the seeds grow. Weeds are growing, bugs appear, more books. She is tending to the plants about 20 hours a day, hubby helps but is generally at work or getting a good night sleep so he can function at work.

She asks other people who have started a family farm in the last year or two, they have a lot of the same problems but give a few bits of helpful advice. Her plants just aren’t growing very well, though she sees others around thriving. Why? Is it the soil? Is it the water? Is it getting too much or too little sun? She’s sleep deprived and very hungry so it’s almost impossible to be very scientific about figuring out what’s wrong. It’s all she can do to water here and there and keep weeds down as she sleep walks around the farm each day for 20 hours.

Some of the plants do grow, but wow(!) is this more time intensive and challenging than they ever thought possible. As they talk to others, they realize most people struggle, but just don’t post the pictures on facebook about the struggle, the weeds and the bugs, just the prized tomatoes at the end of the season.

I see myself as someone who has apprenticed with farmers in many different climates, with all types of fruits and veggies. I’ve seen so many different scenarios of the struggle, the weeds, insects, weather patterns, soil types. I have a good sense of what works 90% of the time on a basic level and how to troubleshoot the unique scenarios with good results. I’m happy to refer out when a specialist is needed for the 5-10% of the time.

In the farming scenario, I could come in and help you focus on exactly what will work for your specific soil, climate, weather so you can easily have an abundance of food, while still getting a full night sleep to be well rested for all the work ahead for the next day.

My techniques work in my own family. It’s not just theory, it’s practices I’ve seen the best “farmers” or parents use over and over with great results. With a little work on the front end, you’ll get great results too.