circa early 1950s in North Texas
"John was the type of man that had the gentleness of a mother hen with all her bittie chicks, yet he was a man like a stone monument." (Stimpson Jr., Eddie "Sarge". My Remembers: A Black Sharecroppers's Recollections of the Depression. University of North Texas Press, 1996, p. 141.)
Those were the words used by a neighbor and friend to describe Sarah's father after he died. The picture above captures a bit of the essence of such a man.
John Wells was a good farmer. He was respected for his visionary leadership in soil and water conservation and was sought out for advice by neighbors like Sarge Stimpson. But it could be that what made John such a good farmer were the instincts he inherited from his mama. Truth be told, the same could be said for Sarge which may have helped him to recognize such things. Both of these larger than life men were raised by strong Texas women who didn't have much but made sure no one ever left their homes hungry.
Feeding people, caring for the weak and vulnerable, trusting (without guarantees!) in the miracle and possibility of a seed...having a sense of connection with the natural cycles and seasons...nurturing and tending to small things in hopes that they will grow and contribute in their own unique way: like a mama hen, these are some of the distinctive qualities of a good farmer, especially for those drawn to conservation and sustainability.
There is a new book, The Rise of Women Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture, which takes a close look at two trends happening simultaneously: an increase in the number of women farmers and a growing demand for sustainable/regenerative agriculture. Is there a correlation? What do you think?
We all are a mixture of traits that society has categorized as masculine or feminine – and we need to draw from both in order to be fully integrated human beings. But it is the strength of the feminine that the world might want to embrace as we all become better farmers and participants in our local food systems.
Happy Father's Day!
See you on the farm,
Farmer Rodney and Rev. Sarah
