Great Joy!
The small scale farming we started in the summer of 2016 brought our family great joy! As we worked alongside one another, we were brought together in ways that we had never experienced before. We began learning, wondering, discovering all sorts of new things together. The kids involvement and commitment to daily chores was impressive. I’m not sure why (perhaps it was the Little House on the Prairie series I read to them), but as soon as we got the animals, they were getting up early each morning to feed and water them. They were convinced that we were farmers now, and that this was their responsibility. I didn’t argue. It was so sweet to watch them so confidently take on their tasks. William would lead the goats out to the field each day. Eden would feed the chickens. Tobin fed the cats and dog. Even 2 year old Micah would help by feeding the rabbit or help carry his cage when we put Reglisse out in the grass.
What I saw in Nic brought me the greatest happiness of all. When it came to our farming projects there was a new spark in him. He was happy and motivated. He had energy to do things after work and on weekends like never before. We started dreaming about when he might be able to work full time from home, farming and woodworking.
Permaculture
Just as we were transitioning into farming, we discovered permaculture. At first all we really understood of permaculture was that it sought to recreate ecosystems, taking it’s inspiration from what can be observed in nature. We came to see it as a model of farming based on God’s design. We learned that the ethics of permaculture are “care for the earth, care for people, redistribution of surplus.” This resonated deeply in our hearts. It sounded like our vision. As I’ve already shared, we felt that our property and home was to become a place of rest and refuge, a place of physical and spiritual nourishment. We had begun to understand, through our own experience, that God’s love would be shown through the abundance of his provision, and in a particular way through his provision for our most fundamental need: food. But not just any kind of food. Delicious food. Nutrient dense food. A wide diversity of food.
We spent our fall learning more about permaculture. At the beginning of October we visited an orchard called Miracle Farm. We decided to plant our own orchard: 142 apple, pear, plum, nut and nitrogen stabilizing trees. 40 different cultivars were planted with the help of family and friends.
Choosing a Name
We chose to name our farm FIAT FARM, inspired by the words of Mary at the Annunciation: “Let it be done to me according to your word”. Her yes. Her fiat. God promised Mary something that was by all human understanding impossible. With faith and humility she accepted. We feel like our coming to this place was little bit the same. In so many ways, impossible… Yet we felt that God had made us a promise. It was when we were able to say in faith, “Let it be done according to your word,” that things began to unfold. We also feel that these words apply to permaculture. We want to work with this land following God’s design, bringing forth what God desires for this place.
Learning More
In the winter of 2017, Nic signed up for Geoff Lawton’s Permaculture Design Course. He has spent most of this year delving into the material of this course. This past summer we raised 300 chickens for meat, and introduced 5 English Big Black pigs into the mix. We also increased our laying hens to 25, and raised a half dozen turkeys.
Plans for the Future…
We have plotted out a 100 x 100 foot vegetable garden for next spring, with the help of our friend Dan. We also would like to partner with a bee keeper, and introduce some black angus cattle, and some sheep.
FIAT FARM is just getting started. The possibilities seem endless to us right now! We are very excited!!
We look forward to continuing to share our journey with you, as well as all the abundance we are experiencing.
0 comments