Underpaid and Overworked

Tonight I'm thinking about the economics of small farms.

I recieved an excellent email recently that, among other things, brought up a public fight that occured between Joel Salatin and Chris Newman.

The interaction started with Newman challenging the validity of the economics behind the models Salatin promotes. Unfortunately, that particular "discussion" could serve as a model of quickly devolving public discourse.

I'd rather not get into the nature of what went down. The main thing I'm thinking about is the original charges.

Newman poses many interesting and insightful questions, but the main one that interests me is:

How sustainable are agricultural models that are supported by undervalued labor and overworked people?

I don't think the fact that there is a lot of undervalued labor going on in farming can be disputed.

Within the regenerative farming movement, there are many farmers who are being underpaid and overworked. This includes both individual owners and hired help.

This is not a problem that is unique to small, regenerative farms though.

Farm work is undervalued in general.

How do you fix this?

There are farmers out there who promote the idea that earning a good living is possible.

Part of Newman's observations include the fact that many of the people claiming to make a good living are doing so on inherited land and many are also earning the majority of their living off teaching about their models.

Is this something that a regular person can actually do without starting with land and without becoming overworked and underpaid?

Richard Perkins stood out to me as a shining public example of how you can make a small farm work for a long time.

Last year he decided that it was too much work and took a break from running the farm on a commercial basis.

I have met many farmers who are currently making a living from farming. I have also heard most of them comment on how much they work and how little time they have off.

On the flip side, the data suggests that small farms actually survive at a higher rate than new business ventures in many other industries.

Starting any type of business is hard.

How much of the struggle that we are observing in farming is something that is inherent to starting any type of business?

Are we focusing on the wrong end of the stick if we look to the people who are struggling?

Are there examples of small farmers producing good food at a reasonable price while earning a nice living that allows time off and regenerating their land?

Let's list out those criteria and define them for easier review:

• Small scale - Accessible to other people who want to try, even without inherited land.
• Good food - We'll define good food as nutritious food that people want to eat.
• A reasonable price - The market can support it beyond the niche that the example farmer is serving.
• Earning a nice living - Time invested in the farm by all parties is appropriately valued.
• Allowing time off - The farmers are not overworked.
• Regenerating the land - Soil is increasing, biodiversity is increasing, etc...

Tonight I'm mainly reaching out wondering what farms and farming models best address these goals.

If you are a small farmer, are you happy with your current income and time freedom?

Who do you admire most when it comes to the economic model behind farming?

If you have any thoughts, please share!

Life is good.

Reply here: rewildling@proton.me