Farming these acres is my job. A job I chose. A job I chose and grew to love. Being a woman farmer is what I am all about. A woman who farms not a farmers wife. I am the farmer. The grower of food. 
And I am still a relatively young woman. In the peak of her working life. This is not my retirement or anything, I am not old enough for that – not by a long shot – this is my job. This is not a hobby or just something to pass the time. This is my job of work. It is a small enterprise on purpose. I like to fly under the radar. My food revolution is spreading by word of mouth. My job has impact. I feed people. I invite people to come and experience farming. This is my job. 
It is not 9 – 5. It is unpaid. I am self employed with horrible pay. But I did not design this work to make money from the outside. That would be another kind of job. I designed my career to create a self sufficient life, to train myself to live within my means, to feed people all summer long and put some away for the winter. And to write about it. To create a lifestyle that feeds itself and feeds me and enables me to save a little for travel and clothes and boots (and the hairdresser though she gets paid with eggs as often as not!). And to document the progression in written and photographic form. The work and the documenting in this blog are my job. I am amazingly lucky to be able to love my job. Though I did not love it at first.
But is a job that makes no cash a lesser job than well paid work? Am I of lesser value to society because of the lifestyle I have chosen? Am I still a force to be reckoned with? 
I start work at 7.45 every day. This is what time I walk out the door dressed in work pants and a warm top and boots. By then I have had my coffee, done the washing, made the beds, planned the dinner, swept the porch, cleaned the kitchen, hung out the laundry and answered my messages. Just like any working woman. By 8am I have arrived at work. List in hand. And we proceed.
At 12 we have lunch, we go on a break, then the unpaid workers take time off until 3pm, while I do paperwork and planning and food (which is part of my job), write the lists on the boards then garden or mow then we reconvene at 3 and work again until 6. Then showers, dinner at 7 and clean-up. I am a farmer so this is my day. (The hard part is being the farmer and managing a house as well – but many working women struggle with that problem.)
In the evening I do the pictures for my blog, catch up on messages, personal or otherwise. Do housework then later in the evening I rest. 
This is not an extraordinarily heavy or hard day. Many, many women have harder days. I am not over working and I do not need to take it easy. Maybe when I am 60 or 70 or something I might take it easy but I am a long way from that. This lifestyle is not something I am doing because I cannot work any longer – this is my job. If I chose to leave the country and go back to my former life I could get another well paid job very easily. So I am not farming because I have nothing else to do. The farming,growing good clean food, hosting/teaching young people, the photography and the text – they are my job. It is intensive for about 10 months of the year and in the other two months I travel and write – travelling is an important part of my learning to farm and live better and this is when I have some downtime. 
I have chosen this job. It was planned and organised though evolving. Sometimes I do overtime, but usually it is only a 9 hour day. And if you factor your job and travel time in I bet most of you work or have worked a 10 hour day too. I am not elderly neither do I need extra rest. I am still young. I do not need to take it easy. I am young enough to work all day at full steam with ease because this is my job. I will not wear myself out. I am fit and healthy. I am peaking physically. I am a woman we peak for a long time. The animals and plants and earth and pasture and I are a team. We work together. We are roaring along – not always easily, the lessons are brutal but always we move forward. I planned it this way. I love it. I thrive on it. We manage a kind of symmetry, creating a small ecosystem of our own. The animals and gardens and I. I am a part of a whole. A pivot, true, but part of a balanced whole. The animals and I, and John on the weekends and our resident workers in the summer all contribute to this whole. We are a team. We have our systems and rhythms.
I determine my net worth by how many people I feed a year – how many meals I grow – how many plates I fill – how many hot dinners from my fields and gardens, how many salads and plates of scrambled eggs, how many days the animals feed from pasture and food raised on the farm – how many smiles they elicit: not on how many dollars I feed into the bank. I feed the people who go out and put dollars in the bank – I am part of their chain – their ecosystem.
Just because it is unpaid on a small farm does not mean that it has lesser value than a paid job off the farm back in Europe. Just because it is unpaid and menial does not mean that I should not work as hard as I can and give value for my presence every day. Just because it is unpaid and not in the news does not mean that it is not a serious and valuable contribution to the clock workings of the earth. And just because it is unpaid on the Plains of Illinois miles from anywhere with not a soul watching does not mean that I can laze about on a Monday. Whether I feel poorly or not. On a Sunday afternoon maybe. But Monday is a work day. Monday to Saturday. Work Days. And oh when the sun comes out late in the afternoon then BAM – Miss C is back on board.
There. Said. Jumbled. But said.
Hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
288 responses to “This is my Job”
Food is currency and these days free range is quite valuable 😉
Agree Mad!
especially when it comes to eggs and chickens! I barter them more often than not. It is great.. c
“Food is currency.” Most certainly, and the most valuable of all currencies. Farmers keep us alive…literally.
Yes Unathi – you have it exactly right. And when we eat good food our energy levels sky rocket.. I love good food! Take care.. c
Of course it’s a worthwhile job. More worthwhile than I lot of others I can think of. Salt of the earth – and think how many people take pleasure in following this blog! X
Also you all feed me emotionally which is wonderful.. c
I like what you do i think horrible first because you get paid less but you chose that and you are helpiing animal
It is usually a mistake, I think, to value anything in terms of money. The world poverty index is set according to monetary income, and anyone living on less than $1.25 a day is living in poverty. But a person with land to grow food or a goat that can be milked will get by a lot better on that (admittedly very small amount of) money than someone in an urban environment. Because there are some things the figures can’t express. In the account book, your job may not be valuable, but that is because the value of what you do cannot be enumerated in dollars and cents. When you build soil and raise animals and follow the seasons, you are adding wealth to the land we live on, and this is something with incredible value. Add to this that we are coming up on the one day in the year when people take a moment to acknowledge the most arduous unpaid job there is – being a mother, a job that you also do! Well, it’s all intangible money in the bank!
Well said! Amen to that!
I love how you mention building soil (and I know you do a lot of that in your hillside garden in Turkey) and the soil should be THE most important component in any farming enterprise that grows food. Nurturing it in a way – protecting it. Being a mother of five I know what you mean about unpaid – but WELL paid in value terms.. c
Not jumbled at all and I am (and always have been) full of admiration for you, verging on awe! Even though I too am on a farm, it isn’t a working farm anymore and the birds are simply a hobby. My own job now is being at the nursing home for long afternoons of joyful companionship with Ants. I am gradually getting myself into a more regular routine (I tend to be haphazard and a bit up and down with clinical depression but people like you both inspire and support me and I love you for that.
I wrote this straight from the top of my head to my fingertips without pause. So I am surprised it is not jumbled.. my thought process is not normally very linear! Morning Joy.. c
I hear what you say. I respect your work enormously and appreciate your commitment. You probably don’t welcome the concern the Fellowship has for your health but iIf you itnore your body when it’s telling you it’s poorly, the whole fragile ecosystem-cum-house of cards could come tumbling down.
and now I’ll shut up,
sending love and hugs
ViV xox
PS Lady A looks like an overstuffed pincushion and ready to pop!
Oh I do welcome your concern Viv. really I do. But i think I have always been a bit prickly when I am told to Take it Easy. A However it is said with love and care and i ignore it with equal amounts of love and care!! ha ha .. c
Well said! And treating your animals well ,as well as you do, should be valued highly. In my book you are extremely valuable. As my daughter once said “Mommy, Miss C must be rich”!
You are rich with the important things.😘
Your daughter is indeed a wise young lady!
Yes – I am also very fond of your daughter – wish you were both not so far away – she would love it here on the farm knowing as much as she does from following the blog with you.. c
Ditto, this is my definition of rich too.
Very well said. Living in the country after 49 years in big cities, I now truely appreciate the work and effort and hours that all my farmer neighbours endure. It is a tough life but they like you, would not want to do anything else, they love it.
I honestly do not think it is physically tough – mentally though it is pretty hard yacka sometimes.. c
O Miss C. you made me cry this morning.. you also made me first pump the air and GO YES!!!
That was beautiful and I understand.. I truly do.. I am amazed at the things people say over the years.. I said to a friend last night.. I just love that I added an extra two hours to my day with the new calf (which is already dropped down to about 20 min per feeding and as I am feeding four time a day, only a hour and 20) and I said it with joy.. I meant it.. I am so happy with the new..
and before I could finish the tease of the added joy of another milking momma as well, now milking sheep and a nanny goat.. she sighed and said in a sad voice, You are a glutton for punishment.. I would tell you to slow down and rest but I know you won’t..
I stopped.. breathed and quietly said.. its spring.. its full of new babies, and new plants and I choose this life.. I love it..
Her reply was I know, I know.. but I still think you overwork..
I took a deep breath and said, I am sorry that you find my choices to be more then what you would choose but I like to be busy.. and lets move on.
Its not the first or the last time , I will hear it.. but I will tell you something funny, because I know you will get a laugh or snort.. I have a certain SIL that has been known to say, that she wishes she could just stay home and have fun like me..
I just raise my eyebrow, and snort.. I like my farm, I love my life, I am proud of what I do.. but I do not stay home.. I am a farmer! its a never ending job.. its a wonderful never ending job..
PS, I am so glad you included how very important it is to get that time off the farm.. because its true! Hugs Farmgal
Ha ha – YES I did laugh out loud!! Luckily we have fun too – but we work a proper day. I know that many people think (who have never been here) that I am just puddling about with animals so i should be able to do other things with them and FOR them but if I were a man they would automatically think I was a farmer! And busy with my job. Well you and i know this is our Job! c
And you have the bonus of your work being close by. So many people these days have to drive through heavy traffic or stand in crowded trains for hours every day just to get to their work.
Yes – I am just a short stroll.. lucky really
You are an inspiration to me and probably to a lot of others! Your job of sharing your experiences on this blog is much more valuable than you are likely aware of. Thanks for doing such a fantastic job of it. I look forward to reading about your farm every morning.
Oh Thank you Margaret and thank you for being a reader every morning too.. just wonderful.. c
Food is not the only thing you grow. You raise a crop of a new and aware generation of small farmers. You feed the minds and imaginations of hundreds of people who read your blog posts. Your work is not menial, it is the most important work you can do (sorry, all the mothers out there, but you just can’t raise babies without food…). You grow awareness in vigorous adult women everywhere that farming, feeding not just your family just some of the time, but a whole load of people all the time is not only possible, but satisfying, and that you don’t need to be a man to do it. You grow friendships, support networks, information exchanges and an opened awareness of possibility. Menial my arse. Unpaid? Well, there’s no formal salary, no pension fund and no medical plan, but I bet you’re a whole lot more satisfied in your work than the average city-bound office worker. Stay strong and well, Miss C, and long may you prosper.
Amen!
Yes to this!
Well written summary. Totally agree.
I agree – AMEN TO THAT!!
BRAVO! Kate. Add to that she’s educating people to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies and leading them to read the labels and stand up and insist on the quality of what they buy and also teaching the importance of rebuilding soil to raise that quality food. I know, that’s a really long sentence!
But a great sentence! And yes thank you Kate .. c
Yupe 🙂
How are your ovens – I hope your spring has finally arrived.. c
Reblogged this on bridgesburning and commented:
This is a life. Thank you Celi!
Thank you Chris and many thanks to you! c
I’m glad you’ve found (and made) a job you love. Did someone poke you about your work or something? This reads like a response to someone’s misunderstanding of what you do.
I felt that, but we have all recently been saying Whoa, slow down a bit, take a bit of rest now and again.
Ah. I can see that.
And because all my readers – in fact thousands a day, understand me enough to let me stomp about and rattle the pots in the sink every now and then – aye Viv! The fact is if I were a man I would not have to say any of this out loud.. c
Damn it! Sexism is still so rampant. And some big contributors are WOMEN!! My hackles flare when women ignore subtle insinuations that women are a minority. There is NO nation that can ever call itself “evolved” until women are equal. Not made/allowed/seen as equal. ARE equal.
I’m “older”, Celi and still cannot believe humanity’s numbskull attitudes toward woemn.
One day a friend who is lost without a man in her life called to see if I wanted to go for lunch. I told her I would love to, but needed a shower ’cause I just changed the oil in the lawn mower. “Honestly, Amy! No man would ever feel needed around you.” I choked on that one.
I also choke over “And what are you doing with all your free time now that you are retired”
I work at keeping my tone in check. “Oh, I write, study courses at Harvard, go to yoga, aquafit, keep on top of my prolifically productive 1/2 acre, clean my eaves, haul/chop/stack wood, hike, manage my three different roles with the Emergency Program, support the retired business person’s club, mentor women, look after business and strive to be a good neighbour. ”
I purposely don’t mention domesticity or all the invisible challenges arising out of living solo.
By this time, their eyes are usually glazed …
Ah, a woman after my own heart! I do have a man around but ya know, sometimes it’s just easier (and faster) to do it yourself. Not that I don’t appreciate him and all he does but I did survive on acreage, with animals, with an outside business to run all by myself for quite a long time before he shined around and I haven’t lost those skills just because I got married!
It’s never ending the things that “must be done because…” (because we’re women, because we’re X or Y or Z.) I’m all for pot rattling.
Oh Soul dipper you are such a star. That is exactly right. Had to laugh at the “man not feeling needed!” My Dad TAUGHT us how to do all those things – his daughters and sons equally – without thinking about it – so I just don’t think about it. And I am sure no man worth his salt would be bothered by his partner changing the oil in the mower.. c
I have always thought your job is far more satisfying and much more rewarding than any high paying job I ‘ve ever had. I certainly don’t underestimate your ability or your contribution – I wouldn’t dare. I’m with Viv, because many of us have been sharing the ups and downs over the many years of reading, we consider you a friend, whether we have actually met you or not and will occasionally express concern for you, that is what friends do. Glad to hear the sun is out again. Laura
And you are good friends.. c
You are a modern day pioneer and have all the right values. Kudos to you for your philosophy as well as all you do for your animals and others. I have not been here very long, and am curious as to how you ended up in Illinois.
Oh https://thekitchensgarden.com/2012/10/19/do-you-want-to-hear-how-john-and-i-met/ Here you are! c