Harrowsmith Fall 2019 | 241a helping hand (or many helping
hands, as it turned out) from
neighbours and fellow farmers.
Access to land for his flock to
pasture was the most pressing
need at the outset of his venture.
MacLean credits his neighbours’
appreciation for good land
stewardship to his successful
negotiations for land access
and leases.
“These folks, they have a love
for the land and have been strong
stewards of their own acreages
over the years. I am humbledthat they’ve entrusted me with
continuing to care for this land,”
says MacLean.
Social capital, which refers to
the value inhered in one’s social
networks and relationships,
has been integral to MacLean’s
ability to survive through these
first cash-lean years of operating
a farm operation. Besides gaining
access to land, he’s relied on
social capital in almost every
aspect of his farming venture.
“There’s such a long list
ADAM MACLEAN of people providing me with