Growing a Farmer 2.0

How the Land Taught the Farmer to Live

A look at the considerations of how our actions shape the world around us versus how the world shapes and defines our decisions.

Kurt Timmermeister's attitude throughout Growing a Farmer is defined by change, risk, and acceptance of results. In nearly every chapter, Kurt is faced with a new challenge toward the future of his farm as well as himself. The author uses this book as an expanded metaphor showing how growing yourself as a person is much like that of growing crops on a farm, changes will be made as they are needed. This is shown in the decisions our farmer made with every life experience. Kurt spent a large portion of time both managing and working in a restaurant. Little by little, the process and quality of the foods pushed him to supply himself with more natural and traditional alternatives for his own meals. So, Kurt started a farm to produce his meats and vegetables more naturally. After enough of those meals, he decided to share his love of higher quality and homemade foods with as many loved ones (and eventually customers) as he could. We must refine ourselves as people to grow into the greatest yield possible--just as day to day decisions are made to crops, such as the amount of water to give them.

Nothing is consistent and each product differs week by week on a farm. Therefor, Timmermeister is required to make risky decisions in order to maintain his farm and livelihood. When a product turns out differently than expected, the farmer is forced to accept the fruits of his labor. Kurt would never see his products as any better or worse than store bought ones. Rather, he noted that each set of bacon and every tub of butter was different, spotlighting the unique characteristics. I really enjoyed the "Butchering" chapter for this reason. He talks about how "we all want to create industrial butter, industrial bacon, industrial pork. That is our reality." But true bacon will not always be 7x1 inch slices with alternating stripes of fats and lean meats. And butter will not have the perfect consistency to spread over toast. The farmer matures and grows in his love for the exciting uniqueness of each week's supply. He finds motivation to get out of bed every morning to take on a new challenge and to care for the flora and fauna of his farm. I believe that this is what allowed Kurt to understand the difference of how the farm grows the farmer when the farmer believes he is the one growing the farm. I believe this love and motivation is what led to the sharing of his experience in this book.