Farmer Boy

I grew up on athat has been in my family for over 350 years and spent a big chunk of my childhood working in the farm market. This means I have had the fortunate opportunity to enjoy amazing fruits and veggies at the peak of perfection. My favorite was a warm strawberry picked and then transported a short distance, directly into my mouth. My husband Ed’s family raises their own pigs, turkeys and chickens, and also operates a shellfishing business. 

It is incredibly important to us that our son Joshua knows where his food comes from. My philosophy of education is one of place-based, experiential learning, and this is exactly how we teach Joshua about his food. We bring him along, visit our families, let him get dirty, eat the apples and pet the piglets. Farm kids are not isolated from the work that their parents do and though we don’t live on a farm anymore, we plan to keep Joshua involved with where his food comes from throughout his life. Even a small child can help to raise his own food, and his responsibilities will grow along with him. 

We started early. About two weeks before Joshua was born, I joined my family for a walk around their 60-acre farm as they tapped trees in sugaring season. This year, I brought an almost one-year-old Joshua along. Next year, he’ll get to participate in some small way.

As Joshua grows up, he’ll learn to plant seeds, weed, fertilize and harvest. He’ll be expected to work, learn and play along with the adults. He’ll learn to drive a tractor at a young age, when we think he’s ready. He’ll grow pumpkins, berries and squash and climb up the dwarf tree to get a juicy peach.

He’ll help take care of animals and grow to love them like we do. He’ll help to package meat, learn to cut it up and maybe even learn to slaughter our meat animals, though I think we’ll let him make that choice for himself. He’ll learn to fish in fresh and salt water, too. We believe that if you choose to eat animals, you had better know where those animals came from and how they lived.

We also spend time in our own kitchen so that Joshua can learn to cook what he grows and raises. Family meals are important to us, too, and he will get to help in an age-appropriate way. Right now, Joshua plays with wooden spoons, measuring cups and pots while I cook.  Soon he’ll get to help stir, strain and wash. Maybe someday he’ll even cook a whole meal while I put my feet up. A girl can dream.