5 Myths About Starting a Farm

Starting a farm can be at once exhilarating and daunting. Vision and adrenaline often come head-to-head with some of our most deep-seated worries.

Addressing common myths about farming, both positive and negative, can help you vet your farming ideas, make sure farming is right for you, and find creative ways to get started.

Myth #1: Farming is a waste of talent.

Many young people genuinely interested in farming are advised against it by well-meaning parents, teachers, and counselors. The young people who are so cautioned often display a high degree of aptitude in other areas, be it English or mathematics, and are warned against throwing away their talent.

To be sure, talent is not something to be thrown away (Matthew 25:14–30). But we may find it helpful to consider what we mean by “farming.” If we mean putting in our days on a tractor following a spray schedule dictated by a chemical manufacturer or the local extension service, there is perhaps some basis for concern.

But there is another type of farming. This type of farming relies and builds upon natural principles. It requires the farmer to observe, to understand, and to make decisions. It involves interacting with a combination of biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and a few other fields of knowledge. It demands skills running the gamut from animal doctoring to equipment repair, with some construction and some small business operation in between.

Far from being a waste of talent, this other type of farming requires just about all of the intelligence and talent a person can muster.

Myth #2: Starting a farm costs a lot of money.

It is a fact that land, machinery, livestock, buildings, and other expenses associated with startup are very costly these days. If we approach starting a farm by collecting and tallying up a list of expenses involving a tractor, an equipment shed, new fences, a barn for animals, and more, we will very likely become discouraged!

However, starting a farm does not have to be so expensive. The first key is to recognize what is truly necessary and what is not. Machinery that will only be used occasionally is often best rented. Dairy cows can be milked in a simple shed or even on pasture rather than a sprawling, state-of-the-art concrete facility. White picket fences are pretty, but barbed wire and hi-tensile electric are generally cheaper, easier to maintain, and more effective.

The second key to keeping the costs down is to start small. New farmers and homesteaders are frequently tempted to dive in and try everything all at once. Not only is this an expensive way to start, but it usually results in burnout as the individual learning curves for each project combine to absorb all the time in the day. Consider starting with one major project and perhaps a second smaller, complementary project for variety and to create a more rounded farm ecosystem. As these two projects become second nature, then it will be time to pick up a third.

And start small. It is both easier and less expensive to learn how to farm 10 acres than 100. Tending one greenhouse is excellent practice for learning how to tend five. Half a dozen sheep will not be lonely enough to necessitate starting out with 50. Master both your skills and your processes before you expand.

Myth #3: There ain’t no money in farming.

Although this adage has fortunately been losing traction over time, it still causes some concern. The system whereby many family farms and ranches have been kept afloat over the past several decades is for the husband to farm and the wife to support the family with a job in town. And often when the next generation is old enough to take part, they are necessarily encouraged to seek a more economically viable occupation. But there is another way.

In more recent years, creative farmers operating at all scales have found alternatives. Many examples could be cited of those who have bucked the commodity system to sell meat, milk, eggs, produce, and fiber in quantities sufficient to provide a very comfortable living for the family. The permutations of this model are numerous. Artisan cheesemakers build their own shops. Ranchers in remote areas sell beef to upscale stores and restaurants in major cities. Flower growers offer bouquets for sale at farmers’ markets. And so on.

Another common approach is to make information the centerpiece. Sometimes farmers bring the public out to the farm to learn how food is grown via tours and festivals. In other cases, farmers help farmers by using their expertise to produce everything from books to courses to workshops.

A third option is to combine farming with other types of work. Rather than trying to generate year-round cash flow solely from farm products, some farmers follow a seasonal schedule that allows them to put their other skills to use in slow times. For example, a farmer with a woodworking bent might use the winter months to build an inventory of cabinets and furniture to sell throughout the year. Alternatively, some flexible farmers may sell farm products on a very small scale to leave time free throughout the week to pick up gigs ranging from painting barns to fixing harvest equipment. And while this model does not rely strictly on the farm itself for income, it may be the perfect choice for those who thrive on variety.

Myth #4: Farming will require my family to become hermits.

Those considering taking up farming are often very concerned about the effect it will have on their spouse and children. Sure, fresh air, fresh food, and plenty of exercise are good for everyone. But what other opportunities will have to be given up in exchange?

This is a conversation each family must have for themselves, as the priorities and balance will be slightly different in every case. However, total isolation is certainly not a necessity. Many farm and homestead families enjoy activities such as inviting their relatives to enjoy a homemade dinner, calling the neighbors out for apple cider day, or even having customers over to see the farm.

Quite a few farm families have also managed to find a healthy balance to their work that enables them to venture afield from time to time. The occasional day trip is within the reach of nearly anyone. Visits and excursions lasting a few days are often possible with a little planning. Even lengthy vacations are doable in slow seasons if good help can be found.

Myth #5: Farming is all about pretty green pastures and cute baby animals.

Every day is not perfect. Catastrophes happen. Tractors break. Ponds dry up. Bugs eat tomatoes. Birds eat berries. Plants die. Animals die.

Fortunately, most days are not catastrophes. Most days fall somewhere in the middle of the continuum between pure bliss and sheer bedlam. An average day on a farm is more of an alternation between good news and bad news. The day starts with a perfect sunrise followed by the discovery that the rabbits dug under the garden fence followed by the first green beans of the season followed by a sudden escape of chickens followed by a successful repair job on the truck followed by stepping on a rusty nail.

Life on a farm has a way of keeping us both humble and thankful. While idyllic dreams typically do not match the reality, neither do our fears and limiting beliefs. Grasping this reality allows us to break through the myths surrounding starting a farm and to seek creative solutions.