Hungry People
December 30th, 2005 by Northern FarmerTaking a break from some corn shelling in the house for a bit. We received about seven inches of snow in the last twenty four hours, plus it’s still warm outside. Shelling corn like so many other things gives a person an opportunity to think or just plain dream. I guess that’s one thing nice about the long winter nights, where a person can just be around the family and fool around doing little jobs, not rushing, just generally enjoying it all. Bluegrass music playing in the back round, you get the idea. I was thinking about what I could do to get the sound running on this clunk of a computer, then just decided that it’s so low of a priority, falling behind practicing banjo, reading, checking out seed catalogs, and just some general fooling around, that I’ll forget it.
It’s been covered many times on this blog and many other ones in the group about the negative reactions that we sometimes get from family and friends because of our desire to simplify and live a more Christian Agrarian life. And I think it’s time to put some of the positive reactions on print. I don’t know if it’s only me but I sure do see changes in so many people’s hearts on this issue. Life is getting exciting every direction that I turn. Take this Christmas season for example, most of the time I dread it, because it’s so much the modern world bull. But this year was such a different attitude in our extended family I’m still in wonder. Talk about people that are cutting back, simplifying, going back to some of the older homestead style ways. Not all, mind you, but enough to keep me busy and happy shooting the bull all day. I’ve discovered that many people want to, but will be silent until the subject is brought up on a positive note. And that’s where the fun begins. A person can learn so many things in these conversations and help people also.
I believe more folks than we think are truly searching this path. And I also realize that I’ve been guilty of not spreading the word as I should have been for a long time. People are hungry for God, for a simpler life, to get out of the rat race. So many people. One thing that’s been on this blog quite a few times since it started is my dream of seeing folks working together on jobs like they did years ago. Boy, I was reading Foxfire 2 last evening and it never ceases to amaze me how those folks years ago had such a strong faith in God and how they all worked together ALL the time helping each other on their farms. And they were so happy! That’s just the natural way that things work out in a God fearing and loving agrarian society. Everyone was an individual and everyone helped their neighbors. The joy these people had during those days is so apparent that it leaps from the pages. To be honest, it’s hard to find agrarian literature that’s so powerful. Where all this is leading is that in the conversations with family, church members, friends and such lately on these subjects the most striking thing is that it almost always comes out that we should get together and help do some jobs like they used to. Butchering, a group canning, some wood making, etc. Bring the kids, have a big meal, when the jobs done stick around and have a good time. Wow, that’s how it used to be, even I caught the tail end of them days. And I’ll never forget them either. And when you’re a kid, what a wonderful way to be brought up. Totally the opposite of the soccer mom lifestyle. Kids can have fun like kids are supposed to, not this modern hell they’re pushed into where they’re not allowed to be a kid.
We ourselves have a long way to go in this family, but one thing I promise, we’re getting there. And it’ll sure be great not going it alone.
December 30th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
It might be worth it getting the sound going on that old computer — so you can listen to the podcasts from Good Farmer John.
And about working together … we had a grand old time at the Bechard Family Farm when we processed chickens the first week of November. Nothing beat the fellowship. The last part of this post describes the work party where we processed their final 100+ turkeys. It was, again, incredible.
I join you in hoping that God’s people will return to being satisfied with godliness and contentment, instead of striving after the world’s trinkets and baubles.
December 30th, 2005 at 10:18 pm
Tom,
Save some time on that computer… Good Farmer John will just put you to sleep anyway! Thanks JFC.
By the way, how interesting that you practice the banjo… Hmmmmm, I have no musical talent, but have often thought of picking up the banjo. My wife tinkers with the guitar a bit and our kids would love to play some as well..
We have always thought about our family playing music together, just for us really, to enjoy each other, and to worship the Lord together.
How very interesting that you of all people, in a little corner of Minnesota play the banjo..
Tom, this is amazing, it really is. God is good, so good,
I can’t agree more with your post, as usual. I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but the community you describe and what JFC describes is essential. God’s people can affect a real change in the world, all the rest is secular humanism…
JM
December 31st, 2005 at 1:17 am
Tom:
Another wonderful post. I wanted to say I enjoyed hearing your voice on the clips on Rick’s website. I still have yet to order my copies. I am so glad you did these recordings. You have so much to offer. I listened to the clips and knew through and through you were genunine. I am failing to express myself here. But, I simply can’t wait. I have tremendous respect for you.
The topic of this post was brought up in my conversation with Rick. We love spending time together as a family working together. We have the greatest time and learn so much about God during those times. On the recording I mentioned JFC’s post on the processing and how inspired I was that working can be socializing and praising God. Today we create contrived programs to get together with people in church. We have a pizza party and sit and chat. Ultimately the effort to bring lives together fails. Even getting together to rake leaves for a shut in doesn’t bring a sustained result of people getting together. BUT, We always have to have food, shelter etc. If we would just go back to the 90 perecent of people farming we would have less reason to create psuedo social activities to bring our lives together. We just sit back and watch t.v. and let corporate ag kill us physically while t.v. kills us spiritually. We do this all for the sake of “progress”. I am sorry. Please lets go back to primitive work for the true progress.
December 31st, 2005 at 9:31 am
I am new to your blog and just wanted to say that I enjoy it. As an intermediate agrarian and a novice Mandolin player and blogger I look forward to more of your thoughts.
December 31st, 2005 at 12:38 pm
JFC,
I remember reading the links you have here and thought they were great, that’s what I enjoy seeing.
If I get sound then I’d have to listen to me! That could be rough
JM,
I figure the banjo with me playing it should do wonders keeping the coons out of the sweet corn patch if nothing else. Really, I’m just a beginer and am slowly learning some bluegrass picking, very slow at that.
KSMM,
I know what your saying about creating programs for people to get together, well said by the way. In the Christian Agrarian culture that I am reading about there were no programs, the lifestyle of helping came as naturally as breathing. There could be no other way than the one described when a community is following the Lord. And these people didn’t have one modern distraction to tear apart these close communities like nowadays. I just dream about this way of life returning.
Brother Dan,
Welcome!! I used to play Mandolin in my younger days. I was going to buy one last year but they sure are pricy nowadays. Maybe I’ll get another one when we hit oil on the farm. I see on your blog we’re darn near neighbors. Glad you found this group.