A Piece of Land
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, America was primarily an agrarian culture and economy. Rural families would own a small acreage where they would raise up a family and work the land. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, "agrarian" and "acre" both come from the same word, "ager", which means "a piece of land". This was a large part of the American dream for many families. Family farms usually had pigs which were used for meat and lard, cows for milk, butter, cheese, tallow and meat, chickens, ducks and geese for eggs and meat, and possibly some sheep and goats for meat, milk, and cheese. A large garden would have been on the farm too, which combined with the animals made these families nearly 100% food self-sufficient, and provided a means for income. Families had a daily routine that involved early mornings and late evenings. Children who grew up on these farms were expected to help with chores from the time they were able.
Times have changed, but there are still small family farms that dot the rural landscape. Homesteading practices, once a normal part of everyday life and a survival skillset, are making a resurgence. While inflation has hit pretty hard over the last few years, some folks have turned the lemons into lemonade by learning money saving crafts, cooking more at home, and planting gardens. These are frugal skills that pay serious dividends over the long haul.
We're now hearing reports out of Europe and other parts of the world from farm families who are feeling threatened by their governments and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) for simply growing food and maintaining their homesteads. The United Nations is pushing member states to adopt rigid rules from their Agenda 2030. Someone offering a charitable account of the situation might infer that sometimes the best intentions from regulatory bodies can lead to the worst consequences. It's been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. In this case, ever increasing tax burdens on diesel fuel for tractors, stricter regulations, and more onerous "green" policies are sending hundreds of farmers to the streets in protest. Farming has never been an easy business. It's fraught with all sorts of challenges from Mother Nature, prices on equipment, land, fuel, and supplies, plus a nearly impossible-to-forecast commodities market. Add to that an over zealous regulatory body and it's a recipe for trouble. While we whole heartedly support true sustainable farming practices, these policies are rife with heavy handed attempts to force the issue. We stand with our European farm brethren as they try to bring some common sense back to the situation, and we hope for peaceful resolution.
Well Wishes, Team USWM
