Now as a full time farmer ...
...a windless and sunny morning before work calls.
A month ago, I finally decided to give up my office job in favour of a job under the open sky. The dream of a life as an independent gardener had been lurking under the surface for several years and my personal values and desires no longer really matched the office job.
The decision is the result of a very basic desire to "contribute positively to the world" - It sounds silly, but I have a basic need for my job and my life to be meaningful to more people than myself, and by growing good healthy vegetables in a sensible way and with a focus on the environment, animal welfare, disseminating information and inspiring others to grow a little themselves, I hope to make a positive impact on the world around me.
In particular, it has been difficult to say goodbye to a secure salary which is now being replaced with a deficit (at least the first year), to say goodbye to a working life surrounded by colleagues to the worry of whether I will be lonely, to say goodbye to a job I know I am good at in favour of one where I lack both experience, training and network - It is really scary but also uplifting and liberating. I simply couldn't wait any longer to live out my dream.
I don't know what the future will bring, but if I'm lucky and skilled, Lindelyst will be a huge success, growing bigger and bigger, and I'll eventually be able to hire local staff and contribute to local health and education. If I'm not as lucky and talented, the job as a farmer may lose its flair in a few years and we'll have to transition back to focusing solely on being self-sufficient, which is where this whole adventure started.
Now spring has finally arrived and it is sprouting and blooming everywhere - giving renewed energy and go-getter spirit. With spring also came the Corona crisis (you've heard of that, right? :) ) Unfortunately, with a 1-year-old in tow, there's only so much you can accomplish in a day and many of the activities I would have taken up have been temporarily shelved so I can get to preplanting, seeding and planting what I'd like to harvest later in the season. Fortunately, I have made a structured and detailed planting plan (I am a project manager after all :) ?). However, due to the crisis, the weather and the establishment of a new 600sqm vegetable garden, I'm a bit behind, but never mind - the vegetables will come up tasty anyway. On the other hand, there is room to continue with some small experiments here and there and a lot of self-made and self-built :)
My next challenge will be to find some local buyers for my vegetables - institutions, restaurants, inns, nursing homes, businesses, etc. - If you have any good ideas, contacts or other suggestions, I'd love to hear from you :)
