| Author |
Across the Fence:  Farmers? Suicide?  |
|
deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 12:56:07 PM
|
Recently in the Denver Post, an article was posted about the suicide rate going up amongst farmers out there. One person in particular, had the audacity to write the following. All the comments on that post were insensitive, ill-informed and completely out of context. I just wante to share what this one person thinks of us. Yes, us. Anyone that puts a plant in the ground. I don't know about you, but I'd like to take him on a long slow combine ride in the middle of a field. Smother him with honey and cracked corn and let the livestock at him. One long slurp of a sandpapery cow tongue on a sensitive area may change his mind! 
AmaranthArticia wrote:
"I'm sorry, but I just see farming as a hobby that some people consider a "job." I myself am one of those there city slickers who don't know nuthin about the land, but I do have loads of cousins in Nebraska who have operating farms. My cousin Lee told me that anyone with a little bit of video game experience could operate a full-blown combine, it's that easy. Just a few buttons and a joystick, apparently. Meanwhile, farmers are all in hock up to their eyeballs throughout their life and even though they go to college and get buisness degrees, their degrees are useless because all they know is farm business! Essentially all family farms are these days are overpriced, oversize, vegetable gardens! Now seriously, would you kill yourself because your garden isn't doing well?
I'm all for corporate entities buying up the family farms and getting these farm boys out of the middle of nowhere and into real, productive jobs. Maybe when they see that things are more interesting when your next neighbor isn't 5 miles away they'll realise shooting themselves over a farm is one of the dumber ideas around."
Uh, really? Guys, I promise, not all of us city slickers are this ignorant!!
One more thing, this smarty pants should learn to use his high-tech spell check before he goes spoutin!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
|
|
FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 1:04:02 PM
|
I guess this person prefers to buy his meat in those little styrofoam packs with the sealed plastic, like they sell at Biggs and Meijer. Creepy. Sure, cut out the family farm and maybe we can all die of salmonella from more bagged food!!!!
Dawn, not everyone thinks like them...if that was in response to an article in an online newspaper, I find that there are just whack-job lurkers who hang out all day (probably in their underwear) baiting people until someone bites.
Perhaps he means what he says, though, and in that case, I hope he gets a hold of a bad bag of spinach ;)
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
 |
|
|
deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 1:05:18 PM
|
Just to be clear here. I am not in anyway taking a stance on suicide. All I want to do is create a little compassion for a profession...yes a profession that is harder than anything I know. You gotta love the land to do what these men and women do. You have to have faith in something greater than yourself. And you have to have the patience (obviously) to be able to educate others on why farming is so important to our lives.
Another person summed it up perfectly. "Why is it you are looked upon as "grand" to be a nurse, doctor or lawyer and yet to be a farmer, your are treated as if infected."
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
|
|
|
deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 1:06:27 PM
|
Jonni: thats funny (spinach). And way better punishment than a cow tongue.....hahahaha...
And thanks for the underwear visual...ick!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
Edited by - deeredawn on Jun 09 2009 1:08:29 PM |
|
|
|
vintagediva1
True Blue Farmgirl
1251 Posts
Michele
Brighton
Michigan
USA
1251 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 2:30:21 PM
|
it is hard for me to believe that there are really ignoramus' out there that think like this jerk.
But, when you consider some of the tripe that gets spouted all over the radio, I guess it shouldn't surprise me.
I constantly bemoan the lack of civility in our society
Michele
www.2vintagedivas.etsy.com
www.stitchingby2sisters.etsy.com
Love that good ole vintage junk |
|
|
|
Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 3:19:12 PM
|
This guy is an idiot. Sorry, but I don't even own my own farm (which is my dream) and I know he is an idiot. I work mostly with horses but just doing that I know how hard and important farming is. Committing suicide over loosing your family farm is much more understandable than committing suicide over your loses in the stock market. And we all know that has happened. I go for the cow tongues as punishment or maybe we could let him work a farm for a week and see if he thinks it is all that easy. Bet he never gets up before noon to write his tripe.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
|
|
|
Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
|
|
lilwing
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Brooke
Fulshear
Texas
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 3:45:00 PM
|
*jaw drops at the audacity of the person who wrote what you copied and put here*
Oh. my. gosh.
You got to be kidding me!
~~~~
http://www.stevietribute.com |
|
|
|
lilwing
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Brooke
Fulshear
Texas
USA
1403 Posts |
|
|
Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 5:24:27 PM
|
You silly people don't you know there is no need for farms, you can get food in the store!!!! I have been told that one quite often.
People have no clue.
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 6:29:20 PM
|
What corporate entity is going to run this farm if there are no farmers? Who's gonna plant and run all the big machinery? Who's gonna get up before daylight and fix farm equipment and feed the animals and milk the cows and gather the eggs? Won't they be farmers then? Hmmm...
I've got 2 cows that would just love to slime some stupid suited dummy! I had some people come from Atlanta last year to check my poultry and couldn't even find the vent. Now wonder where they went to school? You should have seen these guys with the poor ducks! Now if I weren't so mad that they were even here doing this I would have laughed at them.
Where do these ignorant people come from? Who are they? Are people really that stupid? Palease!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 7:27:42 PM
|
Dawn:
I'm sorry there are ignorant, stupid people in this world. I agree with you totally. I'd love to see this chap lost on a country road!!!!!!!!
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
|
|
|
deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 04:50:52 AM
|
I'm sitting here like the cat that ate the canary. This is good to know...because I firmly believe that when we have nothing left....no BIG farms, no cars, no paper money, it will be the hobby farmers that support the country. I mean, think about it. If the gov't is dictating where all the money goes to, and who is gonna drive what, but no one is policing the hobbyist, then we're in a pretty good place right? I mean, over all....
And yes, even if it was someone sitting in their underwear just posting something lame to get a rise outta the general public...they had these "thoughts". So it still boggles my mind that people even think this way.
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
|
|
|
Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 06:04:09 AM
|
I am afraid some people do think this way. My mother once made a comment to me that people who farm are just cop-outs, not wanting to get a real job. I was flabbergasted to say the least. She also implied they were just ignorant people with no life or social skills and it was their way of hiding from the world. I think I must have looked at her like she was from another planet. Well, I guess needless to say, my Mom and I really weren't close.
Dawn, I am soooo disapointed in you, I mean, come on, punishment in the form of a cow licking you? I can think of many much better punishments, like, have the guy in the pen with the cow so the cow can do that wonderful kick/step move they make. You know, it starts as a quick little kick that slides down your shin, to come to a grating rest of all her massive cow poundage on your five toes, that are ground into your boot. You better be wearing your boots and not those flipflop....wait, make the guy wear flipflops, yea, that's even better...mmwwauuhahahaha. The real revenge will be when we ignorant dirt farmers can grow our own food while the cs(city slicker)is starving. If you have ever read THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE books, do you remember in the one book that is about Laura's husband, Alonzo? Remember how surprised they were that their other son wanted to be a store keeper (he didn't like the labor of the farm). Alonzo's mom made the comment, that the shopkeepers serve the farmers, not the other way around and why would you want to be a shopkeeper when you could be free farming your own land and answered to no one. That is my favorite book of the series, probably for that sentiment.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
Planting Zone 4
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
Edited by - Contrary Wife on Jun 10 2009 06:14:01 AM |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 06:29:04 AM
|
I just do not understand where people think food in general is going to come from. I honestly believe farmers are the backbone of this country. I just got my book "Pasture Perfect" out the other night and read the comments on the first few pages. One from Willie Nelson caught my eye. He says " We have to go back to Mother Nature's way of doing things and until we do that we're going to continue to go down in every way possible. In farming, if it's not sustainable, we shouldn't be doing it." And that was written 5 years ago. Now we are having to listen to people who have no clue what they are saying or doing. This country is a mess and until people open their eyes and see whay's going on up on the "hill" we will continue on the downward spiral faster than we think possible.
And all these crazy new laws written by people who have no idea what they even could possibly mean are doing more harm that good to the small farmers like some of us. And I do consider myself a small farmer. So when things are said and done by ignorant people who have no clue, I take it personal.
I just hope that some day things will get back to be simpler and things aren't taken so literal. And I wish people would stop saying things like farmers have no skills and are hiding from the real world. Well, farming takes a whole lot more skills than putting on an expensive suit to go to an office on Capital Hill and sit all day on their good-for-nothing *** all day! I'd love to see one of them in a field in the heat all dirty with sweat pouring down into their beady eyes planting their own food. Might make them appreciate where it came from then.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 06:31:24 AM
|
It's not just here, Dawn...my friend in England, Sarah, has 3 girls, and when they were younger, the smallest, Miriam, made friends with a little gal who'd moved to Cornwall from London. Don't know if you've been, but Cornwall to London is like rural Alabama to NYC...so this little gals' mum invited Miriam out for a daytrip to Exeter to go shopping. Sarah was soooo excited that Miriam had made a friend, because there just aren't many children in these areas, and being that they have a working dairy farm, and she makes her own GLORIOUS farmhouse cheddar, yogurt and breads, she thought it would be a lovely "thank you" to make send some cheese, yogurt and bread for the trip, and for the family for later. Miriam came home near evening with all of the package unopened...Sarah asked her if she'd forgotten to give it to them, and she said that the mother told her "I only buy my food items from Waitrose (Kroger) because I know where it comes from, darling, but do thank your mother very kindly."....and then, the friendship was over as quickly as it started because the little girl told all the other little girls at school that Miriam herself, "smelled of cow" the whole trip to Exeter and they had to fumigate the car.
I've never forgotten that idiocy, not because it was directed at my friends, but because this idiot woman didn't understand just WHERE food DOES come from! There are cheeses in Britain right now, dubbed as the original, ancient recipes, that aren't the "real" thing, because factory farms and producers have "dumbed" down the production for the masses. That we are so far removed from our food origins frightens me....my Great Grandmother killed her own chickens for supper--now we buy it precut, prepackaged and we're happier that way because we trust that it's safe and we "know" where it comes from (a cramped factory farm where they SAY the animals are treated humanely, then slaughtered, cleaned, processed, frozen, shipped, partially thawed, frozen again and served to your family--YUM!!!)
Sorry..I think I might need another cup of coffee to calm myself down!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 07:09:34 AM
|
You couldn't have said it better Jonni. Like I said city people think that groceries just appear in the store. Maybe Keebler Elves bring them :-)
I have never known such hard workers as farmers. I know when I talk about what we are doing at work and it is our retirement people look at me like I am crazy. I like knowing where my food comes from and more so what is in it. Nothing tastes better than fresh right from the farm food.
Rae
Think I'll go have that other cup of coffee too!
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 07:55:09 AM
|
This is like when a hundred people tell you you're beautiful and one person tells you you're ugly and all you can do is fixate on the ugly comment. For this one guy to be so ignorant, (ugly) there are thousands of farmers and gardeners and back-to-the landers that will take his place. (beautiful)
I've always been a firm believer that what you sew, you reap. He'll get a good case of food poisoning some day.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 08:02:52 AM
|
It's too early to ponder such ignorance...I need more coffee too!
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 08:13:34 AM
|
Oh...it's really silly, actually. I have to be honest--I don't go to our Farmer's Market anymore because I grow most of what we eat myself, but I also get so irritated by all the yuppies who don't "get it"...one gal at our market makes jams and jellies, but she also sells hormone and antibiotic free grass fed beef, which is why I go to her. While waiting for her to finish up telling these two ladies in their tennis hats about the items for sale (they scoffed at the beef because, um...well, they're just not sure...), they ask her about her jams and jellies...and for 20 minutes they pick her brain and "marvel" at how "amazing" it is, and how they never would have thought about it..."and so you just make the jelly?" I had to walk away...
Our Farmers Market is dead center of what used to be large family farms and is now cris-crossed with wealthy McMansion subdivisions, and "town centers" where they've made the small farming towns that were already "quaint" MORESO with shops and cafes that alienate what local population is left because they're too "ritzy". The marketing director of the farmers market has definitely geared things toward this economic section...which is great for the farmers coming to sell their wares. They have cooking demonstrations to show you how to use fresh tomates (???) and little giveaways and facepainting for the kids--in some regards, it's a good tool to introduce otherwise ignorant people to the "field to table" way of eating, in other ways, it's annoying for people who never knew any different :)
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 08:21:40 AM
|
LOL...I got a new egg customer who bought his first dozen of farm fresh eggs from me. I saw him a few weeks later and asked him how did he like the eggs, he scrunched up his nose and said, They tasted funny, not like store bought eggs". I thought I was gonna die laughing.....
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 09:18:41 AM
|
Contrary Wife: You should know me better than that. I only wrote what I thought would be allowed on the forum. My original thought is to flank him like a bull and hit him somewhere special with a hotshot. Well, maybe a little worse than that.... I thought since I'm known for speaking my mind so well, I'd tone it down...
Debbie: I recently had...and I am not exagerrating here....a 30 m,inute convo with a guy about pulled pork. When I explained that its from a pork butt roast he started snickering and giggling. He's like "really? the butt?" Then I had to explain what PULLED means, like, you cook it until you can pull it apart. He just threw his hands up at me and said he'd get his in the freezer section....I'm still shaking my head at that one.
And dont get me started on explaining to my customers everyday at the hatchery, that hens will lay an egg without a rooster, BUT.... if you want a FERTILE egg, you need a rooster. I swear I'm a chicken sex-ed teacher!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 2:05:44 PM
|
When did people get so STUPID about where their food comes from? I mean we are not that far removed from a generation whose only way to get fresh food was from their own gardens and animals. What happened?
My DH and I rarely, if ever, eat out. We have lots of home canned food, a massive garden coming on, a huge farmer's market we can go to, lots of friends with lots of extra produce, a grocery store that always has lots of specials that we stock up on, a massive freezer etc. We cook everything from scratch. It tastes soooo much better and when we do succumb to the prepackaged products that heat up in minutes, we pay for it dearly the next day with all kinds of "problems". If you know what I mean.
I wonder how long it would take for our contry to collapse if all the farmers quit for a year?
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 2:26:55 PM
|
Debbie
Boy do I know what you mean, even sometimes eating out will do it!!! Made from scratch from those that work so hard to provide it is what makes my body feel best :-)
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
|
|
|
mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
|
|
Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2009 : 03:47:18 AM
|
I'd like to see this guy try and till a gareen or run a combine or 8 foot bushog for that matter...all while trying not to crush the veggies and ruin what's already in the rows.
It's not easy at all!
This would make for a fun challenge just to see this guy make a fool of himself on national t.v.
People are just plain ignornat.
I too sometimes get (good) comments about the eggs I sell and how great they taste. Some even say I charge too little. Or the one about my jams and jellies. "Did you make all these yourself?" Well DUH! What'd ya think??
Give me a farmer ANY day who busts his/her butt for their family and for our nation.
Best be careful or we WILL be pressing a button like on the Jetson's and getting who knows what for something that passes for food. |
|
|
|
Across the Fence: Farmers? Suicide? |
|
Farmers? Suicide?
