Making Do

Not many people want to be farmers. Many want to but don't think they can. Why can't they? They"need" something they don't have. Here's a list of excuses:

"When I get that new John Deere"

"If somebody gives me some free bottomland"

"When I get a new tiller"

"I need a new truck"

"When I get around to it"

"When I have Wi-Fi in the barn"

"I’d start tomorrow, but I’m still researching heirloom seed astrology."

The list goes on. There will always be excuses. City folks with small properties have more excuse than anybody. Sure, the backyard is only 400 square feet. Well, a lot can be done in 400 square feet. If you focus all your attention on that 400 square feet, you will have one of the most fertile, productive gardens in the world. I admit, I'm glad I have acres of pasture to work with, but if we all used what we had instead of waiting for more, fertility would be prevalent. 

At the Okie Homesteading Expo in Pryor, Oklahoma (by the way, it's extremely educational and highly recommended), Joel Salatin told us a very intriguing story that captures the essence of what I mean. There was a lady that lived in a big city apartment on an upper floor. She wanted to quit her city job and be a farmer. No money, no land, no equipment. No excuses either. She asked her friend who had a small lawn if she could put a vegetable garden in the corner. Her friend gladly obliged, and she was in business... but not enough to make a good income. But after awhile, the neighbors looked over the fence and noticed the nice little vegetable garden. They asked if she could put gardens in their yards too. She did, and she was really in business. She now farms full time in the big city. She has a bicycle that she totes around her garden tools with. That is just one example of the overlooked possibilities of doing what you can with what you have.