"If I ever had to live off of the farm, I'd die," Ben Byler said with a wide smile. "It's the only life for me." I admired his strength of heart and dedication, but as I stood in the dusty driveway sweating after only 5-minutes without air conditioning, I realized I couldn't relate in the slightest. Something tells me he knew it, too.
It was my week to pick up milk for our co-op. I wake up early on those Saturdays, excited to pack my car full of willing friends who share my enthusiasm for trips to Amish country. I'm sure the Byler family is every bit as interested in us as we are in them when we arrive. Even the horses give us a good once-over as we meander down the driveway to the milking barn.
Ben's family moved to Cadiz, Kentucky from Maryland 18 months ago. The farm that they purchased has nutrient depleted soil from generations of commercial farming and run-down out buildings that have all required repairs in order to function properly. In six short months, Ben and his countless children (I literally cannot count them all) raised three new barns and began organically infusing the soil with necessary nutrients. Their outlook is as positive as west-bound pioneers; their faces gleaming with accomplishment that only comes from working the land.
With the recent wave of green living and responsible agriculture, the Byler family seems very trendy; hipsters of the Amish community, if you will. Ben explained how their free-range chickens not only aerate the soil, but also fertilize it with their perfectly designed feet and the delicate (yet refreshingly simple) balance of the farm's ecological system. "The animals do the work for you if you know when to move them in the pastures and you pay attention to the seasons. It takes about five years to replenish the land when it's been over-worked like this." Ben's wife Lydia nodded in agreement, completely accepting of their reality.
As we were talking, a horse drawn flat-bed wagon passed through the field, obedient children (again, countless) on their way to late-morning chores waved at us.
I think about the time-tested farming practices that the Amish have mastered (sans technology and search engines) and realize why they're successful stewards of the land: Patience. Honesty. Fairness. Ben doesn't call his style of farming "organic farming;" he just calls it farming. Ben farms primarily for the benefit of his family; he's not greedy with what he takes from the land (they also eat venison exclusively from their property) and he doesn't rush the process.
My TV Network Executive friend Tammi usually joins me on the 2 hour drive to Amish country. After her third trip with me, Ben asked, "Do you drink the milk, too?" Tammi explained that she travels too much for work to commit to a gallon of milk every week. Ben replied matter-of-fact, "So you need a different job then."
Everything should be as simple as that. For now I'll glean what knowledge I can from the Byler's simple, rewarding life of patience, honesty and fairness.
love y'all!
bunny
Ben's family moved to Cadiz, Kentucky from Maryland 18 months ago. The farm that they purchased has nutrient depleted soil from generations of commercial farming and run-down out buildings that have all required repairs in order to function properly. In six short months, Ben and his countless children (I literally cannot count them all) raised three new barns and began organically infusing the soil with necessary nutrients. Their outlook is as positive as west-bound pioneers; their faces gleaming with accomplishment that only comes from working the land.
As we were talking, a horse drawn flat-bed wagon passed through the field, obedient children (again, countless) on their way to late-morning chores waved at us.
I think about the time-tested farming practices that the Amish have mastered (sans technology and search engines) and realize why they're successful stewards of the land: Patience. Honesty. Fairness. Ben doesn't call his style of farming "organic farming;" he just calls it farming. Ben farms primarily for the benefit of his family; he's not greedy with what he takes from the land (they also eat venison exclusively from their property) and he doesn't rush the process.
My TV Network Executive friend Tammi usually joins me on the 2 hour drive to Amish country. After her third trip with me, Ben asked, "Do you drink the milk, too?" Tammi explained that she travels too much for work to commit to a gallon of milk every week. Ben replied matter-of-fact, "So you need a different job then."
Everything should be as simple as that. For now I'll glean what knowledge I can from the Byler's simple, rewarding life of patience, honesty and fairness.
love y'all!
bunny
