Eventually this site will house the farming endeavor of my husband Michael. Until that point is upon us, I have decided to take it upon myself to chronicle his journey towards becoming a farmer in his own right, on his terms. Michael was not born into a farm family, so this adventure is all new to him, and he knows that education will be the key to operating a successful farm.
I won't go too much into his biography as I know my husband would like the focus to be on the soil, the animals, and the wonders that nature provides us on a daily basis. I will say this about Michael, he has always been a hard worker, and the notion of waking to a load of work means that he has the high probability of ending his day feeling a sense of accomplishment. The idea of sweat on his brow does not frighten him, but shoots exhilaration through his veins.
Currently, we are looking into schooling options, so that he can gain knowledge in what it takes to cultivate the proper soil, raise healthy plants, and run a successful operation. We have decided to check into Michigan State University for these options as they are a well known higher education institution within the agricultural world. At this point, we are awaiting information on the scheduling of these classes. Seeing as how Michael is a father of four and assistant care giver to my mother with dementia, the classes have to fit into our lives. Still, I pray that Michael will be able to achieve his dream, and that I am help him do so. I am a stay at home mother at this point, a full time caregiver, so our options are slightly limited. Added to this, I am still a student myself. Here I am, on my husband's birthday, creating this cite so that my husband can see how he is supported in his endeavor.
Some things to consider as my husband gets started. Michael has trade skills that will be useful around the farm. He is wonderful with fabrication, and is great with re-purposing various materials to achieve his fabrications goals. The above picture is only part of a pallet trellis that was created for our 2016 garden. Another important aspect is that he is a veteran. Why is this important? For those who are veterans or perhaps not, this cite may give you insight into what it looks like from a veteran's perspective. Will there be more assistance available or not? My husband is a skilled diesel mechanic, so he will be able to work on much of his own equipment. Again, why do I mention this? Well, I want the list of pros and cons to be a true representation of what it takes to start a farm. This is an avenue that can and will likely save money in the future. Lastly, my husband has made the decision that he does not want a large scale farm operation. This is important for many different reasons. One, he wants to know his land and his critters, so having a manageable farm is important. Two, he wants to operate organically. This is not for commercial reasons, but because he believes that this is how farming should be. Three, he is not committed to one avenue of farming. He is passionate about animals (including bees), fruits and vegetables as well as the occasional row crop, but he does not want to commit himself when so many avenues interest him.
Overall, we understand that farming takes a lot of time and dedication. We will have to create a niche, to create a name for ourselves, but we take on this endeavor together as a family with Michael at the helm. Bee Organic Farm is a labor of love. It will be built on integrity, dedication, hard work, and God's grace. First, my husband is going to learn all he can through education, and working our 2.86 acres.
Until the next update.
Bee Amazing!
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