Bravo! Intensive farming is intense. I believe that I can tell the difference between "doers" and "thinkers" by the way they write about things. You're definitely a doer.
I grow for a 30 family CSA in 1/4 acre on 4 1/2 acres. The rest is woods, meadows and farmstead. Talk about intense. I'm at a point this time of year when adrenaline can't be called on anymore. It's a lot of labor to drag myself out each morning and and start in. And a lot of "wannado's" get left out each year, like fruit trees, berry expansion...
I've seen one of the big disillusionments for most people attempting or dreaming about farming is the financial reality. It's not the "American middle class lifestyle". You can't afford the latest in auto fashion each year. (Is it mini vans, Beamers or SUVs- known affectionately around here as suburban assault vehicles?) One must live sustainably to farm sustainably.
Farming is too often portrayed as a lovely way of living with no stress and lots of leisure. (Kind of reminds me of the clean, smiling couples doing home remodeling in DIY mags of the 70's & 80's.) I too am ready for some months off in November & December before the marketing and planning begins for the next year.
It was a refreshing to read the truth from someone out there doing & living it.
Keep on posting,
Alex
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