Are there any farmers at DU?

[bluestateguy]

Just curious.

Are any DUers currently farmers?

[HereSince1628]

1. Yes, but it's more a bad habit than a contribution to my earnings

[candy]

2. Farmers work so hard they probably don't have time for DU.

[HereSince1628]

3. I'm sure that's true. Many of them farm and have a second job.

For most that I know it's a lifestyle choice more than a good business decision to be farming.

[Historic NY]

4. My family were.....

my Uncle who passed away in Dec. at 91 was the last of them who could make stuff grow. I know the how to and have a small garden in the back of my house. We all learned the tricks of planting when growing up and even learned how to can & pack produce. From 1909 to 1955 we had a couple hundred acres, mostly truck farm produce; tomatoes, peppers, corn, etc, they had cows for milk and other farms animals. A large family of eight with all the cousins & other relatives helping. My uncle sold off most of the farm after the war as it got to be too much and family were marrying and moving away. My grandfather his father started it but died just before WWII started. From 1955 to 1987 he kept up the homestead site planting enough for family and to supply some local produce stands. From 1988-2004 a downsized garden patch that produced enough to keep family, friends & a small restaurant supplied. We planted some things this year mostly to keep up his memory, next year I will plant some more.

Farming is hard work for little pay....some years I know he barely broke even for the time he expended. When the tractors went he had his trusty hoe. I know he would have been contented to have kept the farm, but he had family considerations and took on a regular job too, besides being a local politician. One other family here where I live held out until this past spring and sold off the last portion of their truck farm too. I heard they plan on putting up a free standing Starbucks and other stores where some beautiful vegetables used to grow.