All those new toys and games and all she want to do is read the latest farming news
things that make you smile
- Thread starter rob1
- Start date
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Soul Food Farm
Over the years I made a deal with myself to stop apologizing for the price of our farm products. It took a long time to develop that frame of mind, but eventually, I understood that hard work needs no defense. End of story. But, yesterday at a Farm to Fork event I had an encounter with a couple that stopped me dead in my tracks.
A couple walked up to our little Soul Food Farm table and so naturally, I expected them to be interested in our olive oil Why else approach the table? Instead, I got this look of suspicion while they picked up a bottle and turned it over and then it came. They looked at me and said, “we don’t want to be rude, but why is it sooooooo expensive.” And then I was face to face with a choice. Try once more to explain what it takes to farm or dismiss the question. The irritation this dilemma caused in the past crashed through my memories and in a moment I decided to answer her question. Deep breath, positive expectation, begin. I started to explain that I prune the trees myself, and we pick the olives by hand, and we pay the mill upfront to press the oil, and as I ’m talking, she waves her hand in my face and says’ yeah, yeah, whatever” and walks off.
Instead of getting mad I was left wondering why is there still this lingering suspicion that farmers are price gauging? Customers would never walk into a grocery store and expect a discount before they bought an item or demand a sample. The utter contempt that’s conveyed not only by demanding to know why farm food is priced the way it is but just the plain rudeness of walking away when someone is speaking to you astounds me. Now, I could brush this off as a one-time occurrence but I know it's not. I have many farmer friends who are up against this everytime they sell at a farmers market. The constant and varied questions about price that always fall just short of an outright accusation of trying to cheat the customer.
As I walked around the farm today putting animals away, collecting eggs, filling water troughs, my frustration started to compound. What is it going to take for us to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers? When are small farmers going to be treated with respect? Not only from folks shopping at farmer’s markets, but the restaurants that buy their food, and the farm to fork dinners, festivals and conferences that are continually popping up. What do I mean by respect? I mean not haggling with farmers at the market over their price per pound. Do folks think farmers are running some racket? A get rich quick scheme with carrots and tomatoes? Restaurants need to start paying farmers at the time of delivery, COD. Farmers already cover the total cost of production; it is simply wrong to expect farmers to wait thirty to sixty days for payment after deliveries. And all those farm to fork events, how about actually having a good representation of local farmers at these events. Better yet, stop asking small farmers to donate food items to events that charge a ticket price.
We have to let go of the imagery that farmers are part of a pastoral fantasy. Farming is not a fable but a job, that's necessary to the very fabric of our existence. Farming is often soul crashing hard work. Long, lonely days in the field. Planting seeds. The sun beating on your back. Nights comforting animals. Cold, early mornings, to harvest, pack and get to market. The burden of the cost of production yours and yours alone. Farming is not only a career it’s a service to the surrounding community. In return, only one thing is asked or expected, that the work is appreciated and treated with respect.
One rude couple, won’t make or break a small farm, but it's a good reminder we have a long way to go.
Photo Credit: Paige Green Photography
Over the years I made a deal with myself to stop apologizing for the price of our farm products. It took a long time to develop that frame of mind, but eventually, I understood that hard work needs no defense. End of story. But, yesterday at a Farm to Fork event I had an encounter with a couple that stopped me dead in my tracks.
A couple walked up to our little Soul Food Farm table and so naturally, I expected them to be interested in our olive oil Why else approach the table? Instead, I got this look of suspicion while they picked up a bottle and turned it over and then it came. They looked at me and said, “we don’t want to be rude, but why is it sooooooo expensive.” And then I was face to face with a choice. Try once more to explain what it takes to farm or dismiss the question. The irritation this dilemma caused in the past crashed through my memories and in a moment I decided to answer her question. Deep breath, positive expectation, begin. I started to explain that I prune the trees myself, and we pick the olives by hand, and we pay the mill upfront to press the oil, and as I ’m talking, she waves her hand in my face and says’ yeah, yeah, whatever” and walks off.
Instead of getting mad I was left wondering why is there still this lingering suspicion that farmers are price gauging? Customers would never walk into a grocery store and expect a discount before they bought an item or demand a sample. The utter contempt that’s conveyed not only by demanding to know why farm food is priced the way it is but just the plain rudeness of walking away when someone is speaking to you astounds me. Now, I could brush this off as a one-time occurrence but I know it's not. I have many farmer friends who are up against this everytime they sell at a farmers market. The constant and varied questions about price that always fall just short of an outright accusation of trying to cheat the customer.
As I walked around the farm today putting animals away, collecting eggs, filling water troughs, my frustration started to compound. What is it going to take for us to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers? When are small farmers going to be treated with respect? Not only from folks shopping at farmer’s markets, but the restaurants that buy their food, and the farm to fork dinners, festivals and conferences that are continually popping up. What do I mean by respect? I mean not haggling with farmers at the market over their price per pound. Do folks think farmers are running some racket? A get rich quick scheme with carrots and tomatoes? Restaurants need to start paying farmers at the time of delivery, COD. Farmers already cover the total cost of production; it is simply wrong to expect farmers to wait thirty to sixty days for payment after deliveries. And all those farm to fork events, how about actually having a good representation of local farmers at these events. Better yet, stop asking small farmers to donate food items to events that charge a ticket price.
We have to let go of the imagery that farmers are part of a pastoral fantasy. Farming is not a fable but a job, that's necessary to the very fabric of our existence. Farming is often soul crashing hard work. Long, lonely days in the field. Planting seeds. The sun beating on your back. Nights comforting animals. Cold, early mornings, to harvest, pack and get to market. The burden of the cost of production yours and yours alone. Farming is not only a career it’s a service to the surrounding community. In return, only one thing is asked or expected, that the work is appreciated and treated with respect.
One rude couple, won’t make or break a small farm, but it's a good reminder we have a long way to go.
Photo Credit: Paige Green Photography
YorkshireAndrew
Member
- Location
- West / North Yorks border
One of our liveries left this in her stable this morning . [emoji85]
Luckily it turned out to be a brush [emoji849]
RushesToo
Member
- Location
- Fingringhoe
@JP1 "They looked at me and said, “we don’t want to be rude, but why is it sooooooo expensive.”" The only answer is to tell them that they can't ask this question of a supermarket, and that is the beginning of the cost. The quality and cost associated come after this.Reading people is difficult - but some need the cold hard truth. Being able to ask the question is why it is expensive - you are given the choice to buy or not on hearing the answer.
Sometimes the best form of defence is attack.
Boohoo
Member
- Location
- Newtownabbey
KMA
Member
- Location
- Dumfriesshire
Spending the morning on the driving range with my son and 2 of my grandsons with the golf clubs I got them for Christmas, surprised at just how focused they were and how much they absorbed. they start lessons on the 14th.
84yr old dad still shows my son and I how it's done in what has become a regular Friday 3 ball, long may it continue.
84yr old dad still shows my son and I how it's done in what has become a regular Friday 3 ball, long may it continue.
smcapstick
Member
- Location
- Kirkby Lonsdale
Today, I actually got around to attempting to start the project bike. It fired up on the second kick! James Cadet is a runner! 
This evening I refit the seat and side covers and took it for a spin. Three miles covered and only two breakdowns - one snapped clutch cable... well, the ferrule[?] end on the handlebars came off but I was within striking distance of a blowlamp, solder and some flux so I had it fettled in a jiffy.
The other was a heat seizure at the top of a long hill. The poor old girl could barely manage to haul my chiselled, muscular bulk up there and go so hot it nipped, stopping it dead... but as the weather is a bit chilly, it frapped right up again after a minute A little more oil in the fuel, next time!
Well pleased
This evening I refit the seat and side covers and took it for a spin. Three miles covered and only two breakdowns - one snapped clutch cable... well, the ferrule[?] end on the handlebars came off but I was within striking distance of a blowlamp, solder and some flux so I had it fettled in a jiffy.
The other was a heat seizure at the top of a long hill. The poor old girl could barely manage to haul my chiselled, muscular bulk up there and go so hot it nipped, stopping it dead... but as the weather is a bit chilly, it frapped right up again after a minute
A little more oil in the fuel, next time!Well pleased
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
A very welcome dogblues tonic. My mate Serry from Woodborough down with his Fiancee (as of Christmas Day). Congratulations Steve and Karen (after 13 years)
- Location
- Hereford
Yesterday in the local shop..... I was getting a loaf of bread and was in my 'working gear' complete with a not too clean pair of wellies. A man in the queue taps me on the shoulder and says ..."you look like a farmer,is that correct? I cautiously ,knowing I can't deny it,answer yes . He then goes on to say.." then myself and my 2 children want to thank you and all your fellow farmers for the lovely Christmas dinner we had which was all locally produced and quickly devoured . We appreciate all the hard work that's done by farmers " . After a small conversation he has been invited to come and gave a look around and see what goes on throughout the year. They are Londoners moved into the area and have never had any association with agriculture. His parting shot was ....I hope you farmers are fighting the Vegan onslaught as hard as you can because we are !
Shovelhands
Member
- Location
- Sunny Essex
Times like this when we need a SuperLike button!
- Location
- Hereford
I had better tidy the farm up a bit !!!
- Location
- S E Glos
The feed from the security cameras turns back to colour when there's enough light. This happened before 8am this morning.
(This time of year I'm always looking for any sign that the days are lengthening again).
(This time of year I'm always looking for any sign that the days are lengthening again).
smcapstick
Member
- Location
- Kirkby Lonsdale
The local motorbike fixer having one 415 Regina split link left in a tin on top of a cupboard.
The chap said to me 'that was lucky - I haven't seen a chain like that for 30 years!'.
The chap said to me 'that was lucky - I haven't seen a chain like that for 30 years!'.
My new boots make me very happy
- Location
- Dorset/Wiltshire
I’ve got new socks on!My new boots make me very happy
I’ve got new socks on!
All is good in the world!
- Location
- East Essexshire
My sat-nav changed colour at 7.54 this morning, and it's only going to get better for the next five and a half months
Paddington
Member
- Location
- Soggy Shropshire
- Location
- Penzance
Finding a new hardbass playlist