28 Mother earth News December 2016/January 2017For one, Sarah has learned that homesteading is not a hobby but
a way of life. “Homesteading requires a thoughtful slowing down
in all areas of life — and this sometimes is a challenge when we
have been trained to stay busy,” Sarah says.
She continues: “I live in two worlds. I have a foot in one and
a foot in the other. One is, I’m planning for the harvest, asking,
‘Are we growing enough food?’ and thinking about keeping the
animals fed. And the other foot is in the 21st century ... trying to
live in a world that’s busy and expects you to do so many things.”
Lynn sees that her kids have gained appreciation for how food
is grown and how it should taste. Even though the kids may oc-
casionally grumble about garden work, they’ve taken ownership
and proudly talk to people who stop and ask about the garden.
Her oldest daughter wants to raise rabbits and to change city
ordinances to permit goats, and she wrote a letter to her school
principal to help start a school garden.
Most of all, Lynn says, prioritizing these choices, even when
it would be easier not to, has been worthwhile because of the
connection that has grown within her family and with others in
the community.Besides busy schedules, the families also face the reality of
limited funds, but Sarah says it’s actually been a joy to figure out
how to use celery leaves if the crop fails, or to make something
delicious from all the bacon fat they have if they can’t afford to
buy half a hog — just as her grandparents would have. Lynn says
they’ve figured out how to use free, repurposed, or borrowed
items; have bartered; and have learned the value of patience,
persistence, and delayed gratification.
Overall, the response has been positive. Heather, who lives on
a busier downtown street on the corner, talks to people about the
garden all the time. Passersby ask, “Are you allowed to turn your
lawn into a garden?”; “How much does that cost to water?”; or
they simply say, “It’s beautiful!”
Lynn adds that Plenty Farms has “sparked and rekindled a desire
in our town to reconnect with food, land, and community.”
“People look at it and think, ‘I could never do that,’ ” Lynn says.
“But you could. I’m doing it, and I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t had
that one conversation.”
See more about Plenty Heirloom Farms at http://www.PlentyFarms.com,
or visit the Plenty Heirloom Farms Facebook page.Clockwise from top left: Sarah has found that one of the best ways to learn is to reach out; she found someone on Facebook for advice on growing
winter greens locally. Maintaining the gardens takes teamwork and commitment amid busy schedules. CSA program members meet to harvest. The
Sailers’ yard contains rows of greens. Neighbors begin turning lawn to garden, which requires no permits in the historic neighborhood.p 24-28 Plenty Farms.indd 28 10/11/16 2:01 PM