Bringing food to your family’s table is one of the noblest pursuits in life. Feeding other families is even better. One of the best ways to do that is to become a farmer. As rewarding as the experience is, it can also be difficult. Here are a few ways you can set yourself up for success.
- Study the Environment
You cannot grow anything you want anywhere you want. Factors such as the climate and soil conditions will control the capabilities. Look up the Koppen climate classification to check where your location fits in. For example, people living in Bakersfield, California, face a hot desert classification, while those in Duluth, Minnesota, deal with a humid continental one.
Produce items that fare well in the heat include peppers, melons, spinach, cucumbers, okra and sweet potatoes. On the flip side, kale, turnips, leeks, cauliflower and carrots can withstand cold temperatures quite well. Just make sure you find out how long the frost season lasts.
- Use the Proper Equipment
The days of planting acres of seeds by hand are long over, for the most part. You can now take advantage of big, powerful machines to take the load off your body. Backhoes, cultivators and harrows fit into this category. Someone working in tractor equipment sales Long Prairie MN can help you pick out the best solutions. You will obviously be working outside, so it is also important to outfit yourself with the proper accessories. It is typically a good idea to wear close-toed shoes, sturdy pants, hats and sunscreen.
- Don’t Feel Forced to Work Alone
There is no shame in getting help to work on a farm. Parents throughout history reared multiple children just so they could have extra hands on deck during the growing season. If you hire immigrants, make sure they have the proper identification and documentation. You don’t want to get them or yourself into trouble.
If you don’t want to sit at a desk all day, farming may be the right occupation for you. As long as you are able to work hard, you will reap the benefits of contributing to society.
