The Start of a New Year!

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What Does It Mean to Be A Farmer? 


"Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit I told you not to eat, I have placed a curse on the ground.  All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.  It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.  All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. 
Genesis 3:17-19


If you ever have had a garden, you know that making something grow is not the easiest task.  You have so many components that are all involved in growing that seed.  Will the seed itself germinate, did you plant it at the right time, deep enough, did the birds eat the seed, rabbits eat the sprout, is there enough rain, too much rain, food in the soil, and so much more! Farmers are always fighting something to make that seed grow.  Last season, it felt like we were fighting so much all the time to get those crops to grow and as I was reading Genesis the other day I realized that God intended us to battle the earth in order to produce food.  He wanted it that way because let's face it as farmers we find ourselves turning to him in prayer in order to get that crop to grow.  My dad often refers to growing things as playing the lottery.  We win some and we lose some! Me, however, I like to refer to farming as FAITH! If we don't have faith that what we are doing is right then the seed isn't going to grow regardless.  I don't think the lottery is built on Faith, but more luck; so without faith and some luck you probably aren't getting much to grow in your garden.  

Maybe your wondering why so much talk about seeds this week?  Well this is where we are in our farming year.  Sure the seeds don't go in the ground till May/June, BUT we just put our faith out there and invested in the seeds needed for next year.  We planned together, made decisions on what we wanted to grow, what we didn't, and change seed types based on weather.  We learned one type of spinach is not good for our climate here in PA during the summer so we are trying a new one this year to see if we can get more greens throughout July.  So we once again have decided to put our faith into something new, and hope that it will grow.  Not only are we thinking about what we will plant and grow, but I am also a mother and teacher to our three boys here on the farm and the above verses  remind me that I have to sow seeds within in them as well.  Whether that is instilling faith, the love of family, or a passion for farming I am reminded that the seeds I sow are everywhere on this farm.  

Being a woman in agriculture the jobs are many and times are not always easy. I was reminded this week that God intended it this way.  God wanted the ground to be hard to produce our food, God wanted the farmers to turn to him daily (several times a day), God wanted his land to be preserved and the animals cared for, God intended his most faithful servants to be the farmers.  This life is truly one you develop a passion for because it is tireless, not exactly profitable, and above all EXTREMELY HARD somedays! But this week we thanked God for the finances to once again invest in products that we can in turn plant into this ground and hopefully feed our local community some fresh goodies once again this year.  So just as everyone is getting their new year started, so are we and we went big on our hopes that the Lord will once again bless the seeds we purchased. 


 Farm with Faith & Family! 
God Bless, 
Amanda 

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