Farm Vision I
Topic: Farm
Part of the reason we bought this farm in 2003 was to produce our own clean food. But the principle reason was to provide the tremendous opportunity for teaching that a farm provides. As home educators, we are always looking for teachable moments, but sometimes (I think) we need teachable lifestyles.
Our farm, if successful, should be able to produce a future for our children and grandchildren. How can 65 acres do that? It starts with contentment. (
1 Timothy 6:6-19) But it also uses the Old Testament model of the family economy. How did God prosper the patriarchs? Did the children strike out on their own with independent households at 18 or 22? What expectations does our culture set, and how should we set our children's expectations?
At first, I thought we should give an enterprise to each of our boys. They would run the business with my help, but it would be theirs. We got a checking account for my oldest when he began running our
broiler operation. But after building a tidy sum in an independent account, God's Word changed our minds.
We want to encourage the children to serve others, not themselves. Certainly we are motivated to feed and clothe ourselves. But do you work even harder as a father to provide for your family than you did when/if you were on your own? Why not foster that spirit of service from childhood?
So now the boys are still operating their enterprises, but to the benefit of the whole family. Each of us contributes to the economy of the family. I'm brining home most of the capital at this point from my outside job. My boys are building up the farm with their work and my management assistance. My wife and daughter contribute to the economy of the household by producing a garden full of vegetables, homemade household goods and clothing, etc.
Perhaps the best way to put what the future might hold is this: A farm where everyone contributes, including adult married children and their families.
More to come...