About that career thing...

[403]

Back in February 2010, I realized that I didn't want to do chemistry or math for a living. That was my first senior year of undergrad, and the realization didn't come with a package of "what I want to do instead".

I don't normally get clear telegraphs from my (Meyers-Briggs) Feeling function, but over the last six months or so I've been sidling up to the idea that maybe I want to farm. Not just hobby-farming, but as a primary source of income. (And then I think, isn't that a job reserved for other, more special people than I? This is clearly bullshit when taken at face value, but also an indicator that I might've struck gold. After all, I wouldn't think such things about work I didn't value.)

I've also been hesitant to say anything to most of you readers, because the perception of farming among Americans is that it's as glamorous as shoveling manure, and often doesn't pay beans on top of that. With a good business plan, appropriate insurance, and the advice of people who're more experienced at it than I, I expect to be able to avoid the debt slavery* that plagues the profession. Can't do much about the manure-shoveling part, though. Animals are where the profit margin is.

And then about two weeks ago, with the stress of trying to find an apartment weighing on me heavily, I got one of those rare crystal-clear imperatives from myself. It can be roughly put into words as "Go farm. As soon as possible. You will forever regret not trying." And that last sentence I know to be true.

I'm not planning to abandon undergrad; I'm staying with zeighyfiv, which means staying in the greater Boston area for some years yet. (Also, I may need a day job someday.) But it does inform what direction I ought to be taking.

Here goes nothing?




* There's a joke among farmers in the U.S.: "What would you do if you won the lottery?", "Oh, probably keep farming until the money ran out."

Comments

[milkymoon]

Personally? I think it's an awesome idea, especially since there's such a need/demand for ethical farming out there. It seems to fit with your personality and interests, honestly. :)

[http://starkindler.us/blog/]

That is most excellent.

One of my very dear friends made the switch from office-job-in-NYC to farming full time a couple of years ago, if you'd like to ask her questions or such I'd be happy to introduce you via e-mail - she's Good People.

[403]

Please do! Use my .edu e-mail rather than my yahoo one; I check the former more often these days.

[siderea]

And then I think, isn't that a job reserved for other, more special people than I? This is clearly bullshit when taken at face value, but also an indicator that I might've struck gold. After all, I wouldn't think such things about work I didn't value.

That's it! Finding yourself irrationally thinking, "Oh, I'm not special enough to do that," is the Great Sign that you've found your calling and are pointed in the right direction.

[403]

Huh. It's really that universal?

[siderea]

AFAICT, pretty much, yeah.

[siderea]

Which is to say, I don't know that everyone goes through that who finds something they call a calling, but rather it is a very reliable indicator.

[ewt]

I think it's pretty neat.

[403]

Visit me someday, there will be baby goats. :)

[solarbird]

Good luck. I seriously hope this works out for you. Ethical/land reclamation farming is a hell of a calling; I hope you can make it work.

[403]

Thanks. :)

The land reclamation part (which I have to assume I'll be doing, given the way agricultural land is typically treated in this country) is likely to be easier for me than the business aspects.