MONEY FOR FARMING.

Farming has never been about money for me. When I think back on to the guy I was when I started farming, I remember thinking very vaguely about money, like it wasn't really something I did, or really could, care much about. As long as I was farming, and had everything I needed to do that, I was going to be happy. And for the most part I wasn't entirely wrong.But there are so many projects on the farm we would love to be able to afford to do, or afford to finish. We still need to skirt our house. We need to build a cellar, a springhouse, a shed, an intern shelter. We just simply don't have the time or money. And I go out into the woods, after a long day's work and try and clear the forest so we can have more garden space, so we can make more money, so we can do more farming, but it's slow going, and a silly, tiring cycle of fatigue.So we've recently decided to pay someone to clear it. This is a big step for us. It could mean that here in a few weeks we would have another half-acre of garden space on our property. It could mean a fair bit more food to sell, thus more money for farming.Hannah and I are trying to build our dream homestead here, and we're not doing it on our current budget. And although a half acre is a laughable amount of ground to most farmers, we think we'll be able to double, but potentially triple, our income on it. Which would mean we could afford more of what we love to do––farm. It's a bit of a concession, deciding to no longer clear it all ourselves––and ultimately deciding to invest in some light machinery––but it's also a little bit of relief. I will soon feel like I can save some of that energy I spend felling trees and hauling logs to play with our son at night––to be able to actually hold him without wincing in pain. That alone, is worth hiring out the work.- Jesse.