My husband is a gentleman farmer and maintains a hobby farm. This manifests itself by the way he carries himself on our land (it’s only 20 acres, but it’s his). He wears rough-and-tumble farm clothes and drives his tractor around the land tilling dirt, pulling up trees and moving rocks. He loves his chainsaw.
Practically speaking, my husband is more of a gentleman than a farmer. He is a nice guy. The hobby aspect of a hobby farmer is derived from the fact that he maintains another profession to support his farming.
The truth of the matter is that we have only raised two cows – one of which we could not wean. (My fault – I thought it was cute that the kids had to feed a 500 lb. cow a bottle.) We have raised numerous chickens that actually did produce eggs. We have enjoyed lovely gardens that gave us more cutting flowers than produce.
We all thoroughly enjoy our land. It’s given us lovely memories. In exchange, over the years, my husband has given our land a new life. When we originally moved to our home we discovered that the soil had been depleted of many of its nutrients.
This occurs when land is over-grazed or farmed without proper rotation. The effect is somewhat similar to a moonscape – the land appears dead. Trees can continue to grow, as they reach deep down for their nutrition, but the soil is sterile. When we moved in, the land was covered with lichen, which thrives in places lacking decent soil.
My husband did his research and worked with our local extension office. He discovered what our soil was lacking and began a process to replenish it. Over the last 7 or 8 years he has poured tons of lime into the soil to adjust the soil chemistry. He has planted crops to add the much-needed nutrients back into the soil.
The crops he planted were not meant for harvesting. Instead, he waited until the appropriate time and then tilled them back into the land. In the mean time, the deer, turkey and myriad of other wildlife enjoyed the fruits of his labor.
We are enjoying the results of my husband’s and sons’ labor. The land that once cried out for nutrition appears rich and beautiful now. It’s an exciting transformation, one that is full of tremendous spiritual lessons.
“Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.” -Isaiah 32:19-20