A FARMER'S GIFT

 

 

This time of year is not only for giving and receiving gifts, but also for stepping back and realizing what gifts we already have every day. Farmers, ranchers and gardeners have a special gift to be thankful for….the land itself.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of reaping the rewards of the land is the harvest. After all, a farmer basically gets paid once a year, when the crops come in. Everything else he does all year is in preparation for those few weeks in the fall.

This is a real gift, a necessary gift of the partnership between you and the land. Even though all years are different, it all evens out that you get back what you put into it. Feed the land, feed your rewards; neglect the land, your profits will suffer.

But, the land offers more gifts than just the obvious. I learned a few years ago that one question that you do not ask farmers is how many acres they own. A friend declined to answer that question when someone nonchalantly asked him. Later, I asked him why the question was taboo to him. He explained that the price of farmland in any given area is common knowledge and, by asking him the number of acres he owned, it was like asking what his worth was since his number of acres could easily be multiplied by the price per acre.

As it turns out, many farmers feel the same way. I have to admit, this scenario never crossed my mind although it does make sense.

When you look at the bigger picture though, something else comes to mind. I always feel sad when I go by land that is neglected, where you see very poor crops being raised for lack of putting any nutrients back in to the soil. No one owns any land…ever. Oh, it may state on paper that we are owners of certain parcels, but when it comes down to it, we are only stewards of the land. No matter if we have one acre or a million acres, God entrusted only a certain portion of His earth to our care.

 

PRESERVING THE HERITAGE.

 

We are stewards of those parcels while we are here. By “owning” land, we choose to be the steward and take care of it the best we can.  If nothing more, we at least need to respect it and what our predecessors have put into it. The lucky ones are those who live on family farms that have been passed down for generations. For them, there is a certain pride that comes from expanding on what their grandparents and their grandparents before them have done to the land to make it better.

 

I am often reminded of this with one of Ron’s favorite sayings. He bought his grandparents’ farm and mentions over and over, “I have only tried to make it better.”

This has involved taking out fence rows to make larger fields to make it easier for larger equipment to farm it, tiling wet areas and adding nutrients from year to year to make the soil the best it can be. It rewards him in return with higher yields but also with the satisfaction that he carries on with what his grandfather started.

 

FREEDOM OF THE RESOURCE.

There aren’t many resources that we have that we can choose to do with whatever we want. Many of our homes have zoning restrictions of what we can and cannot do, where we can put the well and drainfield, where we can build new structures, etc.

But, if we own land, we make the decisions what to plant, if to plant, what chemicals to use or not to use, etc. It is one of the last freedoms that we have. Many farmers in my area exercise that right by planting specialty crops. If they try kale this year and it doesn’t fare well, next year they can try cabbage, carrots or whatever they choose.  

 

If I chose to plant 20 acres of parsnips, I could…not saying it would be a good idea, but the mere fact that I could, speaks volumes of land freedoms.

 

 

 

LAND GENEALOGY.

Folks keep track of family history, record dates of births, deaths, marriages and other information that helps future generations keep in touch with their past.

In a way, land has legacies too, especially if it has been in the same family for generations. In keeping with the “making it better” way of thinking, it is important to keep copies of deeds, past owners and improvements for future stewards.

You know what fields you tiled and what year and where you had it laid, but recording these facts for future generations can save lots of headaches. Simple maps where tile is laid saves a lot of guess work, not to mention time and money in locating it in future years.

The same goes for what crops were raised in what years, which ones did well and which were not so good. A good record of what nutrients/chemicals were used, quantities and what years also provides and invaluable record for future generations to have a good partnership with the land that they are entrusted to care for.

The value of land is not only measured in terms of how much an acre it is worth, but also what it is worth to you and what you have put into it. That’s why, during this season of remembering all the things that we are thankful for, I count the little piece of earth that God has entrusted to my care for a little while as a blessing. Among all the other gifts of the season that I am so blessed with, the gift of the land is an extra blessing for those of us who are stewards of the land.

 

 

GENEALOGY IS ABOUT MORE THAN FAMILY ROOTS

 

Finding your roots and where you came from is part of what makes you who you are. It’s one of those things that when you start digging, one fact leads to two more and so on and so on. A lot of it is the  history of your past but, at some point, it becomes more about where you are now and for all those that come after you because of you.

It takes dedication to do the digging, not to mention time and patience. I have the time but not the patience. I am so fortunate to have Sarah and Jayne, two dear friends who love digging into the past, help me uncover mine. They have made great strides this past year, re-connecting me to a nephew. It has been great.

There are usually two camps when it comes to family history; either folks are eager to find out more or they are content to let sleeping dogs lie, as they say, and leave the past in the past. There is no right nor wrong, it’s all a matter of how you feel.

Even if you are on the side of those that prefer to let it be, there are a couple of reasons why you may still want to have a record of past generations.

 

GENETICS. There have been a lot of strides lately in studying genetics and how they relate to our health. Many of our diseases can be traced back through generations. By following family health trends, we can monitor our health more closely. Some illnesses can be detected early, providing a better quality of life.

For this reason, when going back through records, it’s important to not only record the dates of death, but also the cause of death. Any other health records that are found should be part of a person’s genealogical record.

 

FUTURE GENERATIONS. No matter how connected we are to family, everyone is an individual with his/her own thoughts and ideas. This goes for knowing the past too. Even though you may not care about your past, it doesn’t mean that future generations won’t. Think of your kids and grandkids, they may want to know and, with each generation where nothing is recorded, it becomes harder and harder to put the pieces together.

Usually every family has a historian, someone who likes history and thinks it’s cool. It may be a niece/nephew or a second or third generation member. Whoever shows the slightest interest in preserving family history, be sure they get that little nudge they need to pursue it. Someone down the line will thank you for it.

 

LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS. I can’t count the times that my dad would talk about living on a riverboat when he was little and his parents worked on the boat that dredged the river or later spending summers on the farm with his Amish grandparents. I would listen to the stories but never thought to pin him down as to what river they dredged or where exactly the farm was located. I always thought I would get the details later but I ran out of later.

The point is to listen when your elders tell their life stories. You may not care at the moment, but later on those stories become treasured bits of family history.

Ask questions. Know where your parents/grandparents were born, where they worked, how many siblings they had and anything else you can think of.

 

DON’T LEAVE INFORMATION TO CHANCE. You always think that you have time for questions like this but time has a way of slipping away. Then, when family members are older, sometimes it’s touchy to bring up subjects like their past life because you don’t want them to think they haven’t much time left.

 

Then too, time has a way of robbing memories. Bits and pieces are forgotten or, worse yet, facts get twisted as people age.

 

HOW TO GET STARTED. Holidays and family gatherings are great opportunities to get information. Not only do you have more than one family member there usually, but once someone gets remembering, it creates a snowball effect and aunts, uncles and others chime in with their stories.

Just ask. Maybe after dinner, ask Uncle Clyde how he started playing guitar. If you play horseshoes, ask if it has always been a family tradition. Ask Aunt Mary how she started making her famous butterscotch pie if the recipe is a secret. Any question will get the ball rolling.

A little pocket recorder is great for recording information. Sometimes it is hard to take notes, especially when everyone gets on the band wagon and starts contributing all at once. You can listen to recordings over and over.

Memory books are also great tools also. There are literally dozens of them that can be purchased online. Most are especially tailored for certain family members like mothers, fathers, etc. They have prompts for certain questions and then the recipient records the answers. Questions like “what is your favorite childhood memory” or “how did you and Grandpa meet?”

Once the person completes the book, it is to be returned to the giver. Thus, it becomes a gift twice!

If you are really creative and ambitious, a simple notebook will do. You make up the questions and design the book how you want. Questions can be individually tailored this way.

The important thing is to get the information recorded. In this day of technology, there are countless ways to share the information. Of course, there are programs like Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com but It can also be as simple as putting the info on thumb drives and sharing them with all or e-mailing it to family members.

 

Get all the information you can, even little tidbits that seem unimportant at the time, and save it for posterity. In that way, a piece of you will always live on and your story will never end.

 

 

GIFTS FROM THE HEART

 

I, like many others, have been torn over the last few holiday seasons. It’s the same old feeling that Christmas has become too commercialized. Most of my generation can remember getting a couple toys and the rest of our gifts were shoes, socks, pajamas and other things we needed.

Things sure have changed. Anymore, kids seem to get so many gifts that will end up at Goodwill or in the garbage before the year passes. This is not even to mention the quantity. More is not always better. I have watched kids tear open a package and barely look at what the gift was before tossing it aside and going on to the next one.

I’m not just picking on kids here, many times we adults are no better. Too many times we feel that we have to give a gift and our hearts are not into it. So, it’s a mad rush to the store to pick up anything that’s available with no heart put into it. After all, most people on our list have everything that they want or need so it’s hard to pick a heartfelt gift. This shows when they open it with the forced smile on their face.

All those things that the center aisles in stores are promoting just don’t have that warm and fuzzy feeling attached to them. Maybe I have found a better way to give a gift from the heart that can be easier on our pocketbook and, hopefully, cherished for years to come.

I’m talking about homemade gifts. They are gifts that give both ways. Recipients know you put thought (and sometimes, elbow grease!) into it and you feel accomplished by making something. Most of the times you have whatever you need around the house and don’t need to purchase anything.

The great part is that anybody can make something without being especially talented in any given area. Look to your strengths first, if you are a talented seamstress, woodworker or are skilled in other crafts, so much the better.

 

FOR THE NEIGHBOR OR CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE.

Your neighbors, your hairdresser, the mailman and other people who are in your life that you want to remember that you are sort of friends with, but on a professional basis. Remember, they are still working and during this busy season, anything that makes their life simpler will be greatly appreciated.

*Think hot chocolate or cookie mix in a jar tied with a pretty bow. All they need to do is add the liquid ingredients for some warm comfort food.

*Greenery. If you have pine trees, cut a few boughs and make swags or wreaths. They don’t have to be elaborate, a little wire and a big red bow can turn a few branches into something special.

*If you have a special plant like a Christmas cactus or others, a start off one of yours will be the gift that keeps on giving. At the very least, a poinsettia adds a splash of color and cheer to any home.

 

PHOTOS FOR FAMILY.

There is always something special about pictures, they capture moments in time that will last a lifetime. No, you don’t have to be a photographer because everyone has special photos, it just may take a little time digging them out.

*If you can arrange for a family picture, they are always welcomed…and you can kill two or more birds with one stone. A family photo can be one gift that parents, siblings, aunts and uncles and others will enjoy. It’s like one gift fits all.

If you can’t get the whole crew together for one big photo, find individual photos and with a few clicks of a mouse you can put them all in a collage for a unique family picture. If you really want something special, plan ahead for next year and arrange for an aerial photo of a person’s farm or property to be taken.

For a unique look and a twist on traditional photos, try modge podging pictures on wood. You can see the photo while also having the grain of the wood show through.

 

*PERSONALIZATION. Ordinary becomes extraordinary when names and dates are added. Cutting boards, Bible covers, cookbook holders and other everyday items become unique when personalized.

*Don’t forget about kids. Laptops, jewelry boxes, phone cases and other items are easily personalized with today’s laser printers. You don’t even have to invest in a printer. There are usually some individuals who have one and are willing to make a few extra bucks doing custom work.

 

WOOD PROJECTS. If you happen to know even a little bit about woodworking, you can make some awesome gifts. Even if you don’t, many wood crafts are available for purchase in the “raw” and are ready to be finished however you like.

*Perpetual calendars can be cut in many designs…or purchased. You can decoupage any design on them, paint on them or customize in many different ways. It’s a gift that will give year after year.

*Game boards. In spite of technology, sometimes it brings a family together to sit down and play games together. Years back I made a checker board for my dad with his name on it. The sky is the limit on this one, Chinese checkers, Monopoly and other games lend themselves well to customizing the boards.

*Cut blocks from scrap wood. One side could spell “Merry Christmas” while other sides could be “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Happy Easter.” They add extra charm to homes setting on windowsills.

 

SEWING AND NEEDLECRAFTS.

 

*Winter scarves can be crocheted or knitted in no time at all and make personal gifts.

 

*Holiday pillow covers can really add a festive touch to a room.

*Crocheted angels and other ornaments add a personal touch to Christmas trees.

 

FOOD. If you like to hang out in the kitchen, you probably have a specialty. Do family and friends rave over your jams, homemade candies, caramel corn, beef jerky or other specialties? They would make nice gifts.

*If you raise your own beef, pork or chicken. Everyone eats and farm-raised meats are so much tastier than out of the store.

 

GIFTS OF SELF. If you absolutely can’t think of anything to make, cook, bake or sew, a gift of yourself from the heart can really say you care.

*Time is a commodity and it really does have a value. Offer “coupons” to family and friends for services like babysitting, yard work, time to relieve a caregiver, etc. It will be appreciated more than you know!

*This is one where you could give a “family coupon” where the whole family helps out another. Not only will you be helping another family out, but yours will enjoy together time while giving it.

There are many ways to give from the heart and to put the true meaning of Christmas back into Christmas. I love this two-way giving, it warms the hearts of not only the person receiving but also of the person giving. It doesn’t get any better than this!