January 28th, 2010 
Zan Yep! I got it bad, folks…a bad case of the fever, Farm Fever. It afflicts a few of us. Those without proper acreage. Urban farmers are most likely to get this pandemic. The cure involves SOME sort of land, any sort of land, that is theirs.
I envy farmers. There is no denying this. I’m sure most people who properly farm will get a chuckle out of it. Because farming is hard, I know. And they know. They’ll say: “kid, farming ain’t for sissies. It ain’t for pansies.” And they’ll probably wonder how a lifestyle like theirs, with so much work, and sometimes such little profitability, could be envied.
All I can say is I’m a dirt under the nails kinda girl. Even in the middle of this massive concrete city, I’ll run around looking for that one uncovered plot of earth…and dream about bigger plots of earth and gardens. And animals. And muck boots. Yep, this fever has permeated everything. I suspect even some people WITH farms have a love affair type fever with their farm, they just can’t get enough of it!
Do you have the fever? Are you an urban or suburban farmer?
Here’s how I KNOW (and maybe YOU know) that you have the fever:
1. You think farm all day, every day.
2. You practically drool yourself into a slather every time a seed or chicken catalog comes to the house.
3. You have an entire schematic drawing of your dream farm tacked to your wall.
4. If you have a farm, every time you go to your “off farm” job, all you do is think about your farm.
5. You have signed up to take classes on “handling sheep,” and “beekeeping 101″ and you LIVE nowhere near farm country.
6. You have begun to buy farm oriented goods–such as muckboots, animal veterinary equipment, and fencing materials–and you keep these stowed in your city apartment.
7. You obsess over farmalls. Heck, you even know what farmalls means.
8. You start dressing in aprons. Or cowboy hats. Or both.
9. Your “civilized” friends’ eyes glaze over quite often when you talk about your plans and goals for the future.
10.You run a radio show AND a site dedicated to Renegade Farming…umm…but enough about YOU!
Alrighty folks! Just a swift update! I’ve attached our radio show to the right side of this site! I am not sure that you can get the shows LIVE as they happen, but you can listen to our past shows–just click the PLAY arrow.
If you’d like to listen to our next guest–Storey Publishing’s author Heather Thomas Smith, who has 35 years of cattle and horse experience–talk about all of that and her two books “Storey’s Guide to Raising Beef Cattle” and “Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses”—then please subscribe to be a member and I’ll send you the direct link!
Many thanks! Zan
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I have the ache…and my hubby has it real bad…one day one day….
Zan, have you been in my head? LOL I got the farm fever real bad, have had it for years. I even have a blog for my farm that states it won’t be established until 2013 LOL;) Do I qualify for the fever?
Reggie
Sonia! I know what you mean!
Regina, I SAW that on your blog. Is it wishful thinking or is it a hardcore happening goal? I guess if you put it out in the Universe, it’s bound to happen! Hmmm…maybe I need to put a date for a farm somewhere up on here!
Oh definately a hardcore happening. Just waiting for my husband to finish his active duty service and then it’s home to the Ozarks and our farm. It’s always good to have goals;) Go for it!
sigh… we have it bad. So bad we are hatching eggs in our laundry room.
Lisa…yeah, that’s pretty bad. I apparently need a laundry room!
Yep it all starts in the laundry room.:) well I just bought five dairy calves that I race home each night as I have been training to become a teamster with my team of oxen. I bought a Storey guidebook and I am on a roll. The only problem I don’t have any land to unearth besides a raised garden bed or two. Me an my team will have to settle for a parade or two and leveling the driveway and pasture.
Ooooh, a team of oxen for driving? I love the idea! Need an apprentice?
[...] since I’ve mentioned the whos, whats, wheres, whens, and whys on both my radio show, and in THIS POST. And, I would hope people aren’t such purists about the farming life that they are [...]
Oh yea! Finally some like minded people. I grew up on a farm and moved to the city for work. Now I want to go back – full time. Not sure how I will support myself right now…been thinking outside the box and looking forward for trends….which I think is the simple life for all…. Will be losing my desk job in the city in March, so I’ll coming to that fork in the road and hopefully the best path for me will the the one that I end up following. I still have family in the country and start seeds on my windowwill and then sell the produce at the farmer’s market on Saturdays. I love animals and can’t wait to have chickens (again). Oh, and miss one of my best friends…my horse!