As I write stories and adventures in Sweetwater Diaries, you will read a lot about Nate, Ollie and me. That is to be expected since I am journaling about our experiences farming and raising a toddler in today’s time and culture. But the truth is, our successes and growth have not always been or will not always be done by the 2 1/2 of us alone. We have come this far because we have been very lucky to have each other, the support of our families and some really great neighbors.

Throughout the centuries farming has relied on community – from barn raisings, bartering, and getting in the field to help a neighbor harvest a crop before something threatens its success. Often the only reward being a good home cooked meal and the knowledge that the neighbor you are helping will be there to help you when you need it. Certainly, payment is still a standard part farm help, but most farmers are happy to pay good reliable help (within their means of course because small scale farming is a slow growth business).

Every hay season, I am reminded of how lucky we have been to find great neighbors, who are always ready to work for us and help us load and stack square bale hay. Let me be clear, this is HARD work. Lifting 400+ itchy square bales that weigh around 50 to 80 lb each out of the field and stacking it in the barns during 100+ heat is not easy, even for the strongest folks.  Although we have a Stackliner that helps pull bales out of the field, sometimes it needs maintenance or we are working against a pop up storm and have to get bales out of the field quickly. It is such hard work, that turnover in hay help is pretty common. This is where we have been lucky because we have two families that have always been ready and willing to help throughout the summer (if they are available). They know what to do, work hard and boy we sure appreciate it. (I’m looking at you “P. Family” and “M&M”).

But it doesn’t stop with just them, we have a great community of neighbors (including the ones mentioned above) that help each other.  Of course, Nate and I help where we can, whether it be providing small farm jobs to help during financial/job changes, equipment/auto/electrical suggestions, helping with fields when equipment is down, watching critters, providing supplies and water, just to name a few.  And they help us and each other finding lost or loose critters (or returning naughty goats who sneak out of fences), checking on each other during crazy weather, coming together to deal with dumped animals, trash and automobiles.  And even helping during times of personal need, like when we lost our pregnancy or when Ollie decided to make his arrival a month early.  It is a great community of neighbors that makes those curve balls that life throws a lot easier to handle.  Farming can be hard and extremely frustrating.  Some days you feel like every step forward and all the hard work you put in to a project or animal was all for nothing.  So having good support, not only in your partner, but your community and family is such a wonderful asset.

Ollie – One month early and cute as a 5 lb button.

I cannot end this post without mentioning our families.  It was a leap of faith on both Nate and my part to start our farm and we definitely have had days we wanted to throw in the towel and call it a day.  It’s hard work and can be a lot of strain on anyone.  It is full of great moments and successes, but it is also full of a good many failures and disappointments.  We have faced things we never expected, wouldn’t wish on anyone and losses we will carry always, and yet here we are still standing.  A good portion of the strength we needed to carry on we found in each other and our families.  Our families have been physical, emotional, financial and positive pillars ready to hold us steady when we looked like we needed it.  They have been there for us physically cutting down trees, painting, building, pouring concrete, helping with hay, building structures and caring for critters.  They have been there for us emotionally, providing advice, moral support, an ear to listen to problems, hugs and lots of laughs.  We are truly grateful for all their love and support.   Ollie is so lucky to be surrounded by so much love and support both near and far.

With each year we live here our community has widened and we have met so many wonderful and interesting people.  So thanks for being part of our community, supporting and following us along this journey.