While surfing the internet searching for a topic for today's blog, I came across an article about the changing face of farming—and farmers—about a trend in one of Canada's provinces. I don't know how far it extends across North America, but I found the article intriguing.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1241115--young-city-born-women-buck-ontario-s-aging-farmer-trend
You can guess by the url what the topic is. Young, urban, educated women are choosing to leave cities to buy farms. They are actively choosing organic farming as a career.
I've always respected farmers. They are a hard-working breed who don't receive as much respect as they deserve, in my opinion. They work long hours under often-tough conditions. Look at the state of this summer's growing conditions. There just hasn't been enough rain to produce substantial crops. It will be a tight harvest for Canadian and American farmers.
So, why are so many young women in Ontario turning to farming? Why choose such a difficult career? I think it might come down to a quote from one of the women who made the choice.
“When you work on a farm that respects the environment, you see your impact on the earth in a very real way.”
So, in a very real way, she gets to control a piece of the world at a time when so much of that world could feel very much out of her control. Given this summer's drought, that seems a bit of a stretch and yet, in a very real way, she gets to, in her small corner, direct the future of our planet. One mentioned doing 'something positive for our earth.' A couple of the women talk about 'principles' and 'conscience.'
One woman makes the point that women have always pulled their weight on farms. They were just never called farmers. They were called farmer's wives, but they worked every bit as hard as their farmer husbands.
Wow, I have to admire the sheer guts of buying and starting a farm. It's a risky proposition at the best of times. One thing that I didn't read in the article was anything about regret. Not one woman said a word about regretting the decision to farm. Of course, I don't know how many have tried and given up. These women persevere, though.
Kudos to them! My hat goes off to them! I hope their farms survive our often hostile world.
I would love to know how far this phenomenon stretches. Is there any sign of this trend in your corner of the world?
13 comments:
Sounds like a romance heroine to me
Yes, Rogenna! Exactly what I was thinking. I would find the research fascinating.
I was thinking the same thing! I live in a rural area where farming is the main industry. Haven't seen this trend here, but I'll sure be watching closely. Fascinating!
I know of older women who have left professional careers in favor of moving to the country and buying/working a farm. Mary, this is definitely romance heroine material. Go for it! :-)
This is so interesting, Mary. Not something I've seen personally, but what a commitment to make! An incredibly satifying one, I imagine. And something I'm sure most of us would like to do--become our own boss! Though I'd probably be too stingy to give myself a raise.
-Kathy :-)
Pamela, I wonder if it's only a matter of time before the trend reaches your area.
Cathryn, I'm not sure there's any way I can hold myself back ;-)
I live within driving distance of the women in the article. Research would be easy-peasy. I would know where to start!
Kathy, I can't imagine the commitment it would take. Farmers work sun-up until sunset. I'm not sure I want to give up my reading in the evenings ;-)
My dad was a farmer and my mom and us kids worked hard. I know women farmers that were farming from way back an others that have not necessarily left the corporate world, but were city kids that are now farming. Mostly it's subsistence and farmer's markets where they sell there produce. But most that are doing it have made the choice to grow as much of their own food as they can. Most have part-time outside jobs or a parterner with an outside job.
Snookie, I think you are right about it being subsistence living. It's a hard life, a really tough way to make a living.
As far as I know it’s the complete opposite in Australia. Outback areas are drying up and young people want nothing to do with the land.
Of course, in Australia we have a few cities on or near the coast, and then a whole lot of nothing in the centre. In a country that’s around the same size as the US, that means there’s nothing in any direction for days for people living on the land. Farming is probably a less attractive prospect here than in any other country because of the isolation.
There is still an element of romance attached to farming though (with lots of television shows and books romanticising it). But I don’t think it’s translating to reality here!
Sonya, thanks for the Australian perspective. Yes, it does sound very different. Farming sounds like an even tougher choice than in North America. I can't imagine how one would live with the isolation.
Didn't know about the trend. There are still some farms here in my hometown but not sure if they are organic.
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