Twas the night before Solstice when all through the farm,
No livestock were stirring, and all free from harm.
Summer tools were hung in the workshop with care,
And water lines drained ‘fore the cold winter air.
The pigs were nestled all snug in hay beds,
While visions of acorns danced in their heads.
Rachael in her nightgown, and I in my PJ’s,
Had finally slowed down thanks to the short days.
When out in the pasture there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the mudroom I galloped like a goat,
Slid on my muck boots, hat, and a coat.
I opened the door and ran out to the field,
My electric fence tester, in hand, I did wield.
But out in the open the sound faded away,
And off in the distance, pigs asleep in the hay.
I stood in the quiet, cold night and looked ‘round
At the frost that the moonlight made sparkle on the ground.
What could it be that I heard from inside?
Was it for real or had my brain just lied?
So many nights I’ve been yanked from my sleep
By cows, chickens, pigs, turkeys, goats, even sheep.
It’s been 13 years, since we walked on this land,
And at times it’s been more than even I could stand.
We first set out to just grow our own food,
After working for others had dampened my mood
About trying to farm with the highest of ethics,
But seeing the financial side was pathetic.
Farm after farm my vision was jaded.
My dream of food-topia had finally faded.
“I guess that we now just grow food for ourselves,
Fill up our cellar, our freezer, our shelves.
An ethical farm is not fiscally stable.
Let’s grow the best food that we can for OUR table.”
This thought came with sadness, with such great resign.
“Our food system needs a full redesign.”
Our friends and family came over for meals.
We served the best meat, and they all asked for deals.
“It’s just as much work to feed two pigs as three.
Next year please grow just one more for me.”
After hearing this over and over again,
We decided to build a bigger pig pen.
And so we let our guests strongarm
Us into founding Wild Harmony Farm.
We realized the income just didn’t pay
Enough for us to come close to a living.
To the customers, all of this meat we were giving.
Alas, we found out what we knew from the start.
Even though this work was so close to our heart,
We could not grow anymore supreme meat,
If in the end we could not make ends meet.
We shared this with all of our clients with shame.
“We are so sorry. We’ll take all the blame.
The CSA’s over. We’re closing the door.”
But they all said, “You can’t close. We want more.”
I said that we’d have to charge twice as much money.
I thought they would think I was trying to be funny.
One after another they all said, “Ok,”
And I thought, “Wild Harmony Farm’s here to stay.”
This gave me the courage to stay on the path
Of farming with ethics and even with math.
We stand by our mission to keep all things healthy,
And maybe, someday we’ll even get wealthy.
For now I’m just grateful for all your support,
That you didn’t allow us to simply abort.
But instead we stand proud and no longer resigned
To eat food that’s grown on land that is mined
Of all of it’s goodness and sprayed with such poison,
A sand box so toxic, I’d not let our boys in.
So now let’s go forth to a new world ahead,
Where we choose the food that we want instead
Of relying on corporate ag and big-Pharma
For our health. Don’t worry. I’m sure that there’s karma.
To a table with nutrient-dense food to share.
Industrial food will not thrive on my dime.
We choose our future one bite at a time.
- Farmer Ben
