{"id":2270,"date":"2018-06-28T15:54:33","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T19:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cvcrops\/?p=2270"},"modified":"2018-06-28T15:54:33","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T19:54:33","slug":"putting-a-public-face-on-the-pursuits-of-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cvcrops\/putting-a-public-face-on-the-pursuits-of-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting a Public Face on the Pursuits of Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kirsten Workman, Agronomy Outreach Professional<\/em><\/p>\n

As seen in our Summer 2018 Newsletter – but including additional links below.<\/em><\/p>\n

Farming is often a solitary pursuit. While it takes a team to make a farm\u00a0 succeed, daily activities often happen in solitude. Whether it is in the milk house, greenhouse, fields, tractor, shop or office, very few people will
\never \u201csee\u201d you at work. While that is often viewed as a positive, it also leads to a disconnect between farmers and neighbors.<\/p>\n

Why does this matter? Try to remember the last negative interaction with someone outside the farming industry. Was this a result of lack of knowledge and understanding? Misinformation? Perhaps partially your responsibility for not considering how farming endeavors impact a neighbor? Regardless, I have found that when the farming community
\nopens up to the nonfarming community, the results can be powerful.<\/p>\n

Many neighbors have no idea what you do and may be too uncomfortable to ask. I have been at public farm tours where neighbors came into a dairy barn and said, \u201cI drive by here every day and never knew there were cows in\u00a0 these buildings.\u201d People who drive by your farm often think bunker
\nsilos are compost bins. Gone are the days when everyone\u2019s grandparents or aunts and uncles were farmers. Folks no longer spend summer weekends helping family or neighbor bring in hay or crops. Seeing a tractor in
\nfront of them on a state highway only makes them think about being late to an important appointment. Landlords who own your rented fields don\u2019t always understand that manure is an organic fertilizer which makes their
\nhay field greener, replenishes nutrients, and builds soil health. Herbicides and insecticides, regardless of their form, are as taboo a topic as politics
\nor religion.<\/p>\n

It is difficult to make time to share farming information and justify the hours away from \u201cproductive\u201d pursuits. However, I argue that putting a face on farming is a worthwhile endeavor. It isn\u2019t always comfortable or easy. Without a personal connection to a farm it is easy to lump you in with all the negative press and assume all farms are the problem. However, when these folks are invited to visit your farm, they learn just how much goes into
\nyour daily farming pursuits and hopefully that will have a lasting effect.<\/p>\n

Looking For Ways To Get Involved With The Public? Here Are A Few Examples:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Breakfast on the Farm<\/a> – <\/strong>Don\u2019t be intimidated by the scale of this event.\u00a0 It is well-organized and supported by hundreds of volunteers and experts who are there to represent you and the farming community well.\u00a0 Want to learn more?\u00a0 Volunteer on July 28 and see what it\u2019s all about.<\/p>\n

Social Media – <\/strong>A low impact way to share your farming endeavors.\u00a0 Here are some great local examples:<\/p>\n