Fortune & Folly of a Female Farmer

Please support family farms

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My husband and I are the third generation to work on his family farm. My father-in-law detailed income and expenses out on a piece of paper at the kitchen table when we talked about taking over, but it has taken us 15 years to get to a comfortable spot in our farm finances and will take us years more to create something that we want to hand down to our kids. 

When we took over the farm, our goal was to have the farm “pay for itself.” My husband had the off-farm job that would support our family expenses.

What’s for supper?

Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet

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When I was a kid, I was not a fan of leftovers but even though my mom was a fantastic cook, even she didn’t want to cook every night. As an adult I now understand the importance of leftovers and how they save you time.

NOT WANTED

Invasive of the Month: Multiflora Rose (Rosa Multiflora)

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Multiflora Rose is an extremely vigorous shrub that is nearly impossible for humans to control because of its super-sharp thorns borne on long, arching branches that can grow six feet a year in every direction. It thrives best in full sun but persists in partial shade, in a wide range of soil, as long as it has adequate draining.

NOT WANTED

Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

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Bittersweet is an extremely vigorous woody vine that can grow dozens of feet, smothering the tops of small trees, strangling them, and pulling them down, similar to the southern kudzu vine. In large mature trees, bittersweet can wrap around the trunk, climb 60 feet or more and follow branches out in search of sun.