The Opposite of Rancor
- By Ryan and Karly Lind, CopperHawk Farms
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- 28 May, 2019
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That's how it goes with bitterness. To cure it, one must play a long game of honest observation, short-term work-arounds, and long-term solutions, which are built over seasons, not days.
The Facebook algorithm shows the individual user content that is curated to upset the
user. The angrier you are, the more you will return to the site to interact with your enemies,
the more ads you see, the more money Facebook earns by your repeated time investment
and your anger. We've been subtly trained to find delight in our dissatisfaction. And so, we
practice bitterness without awareness. The bitterness does not alter the behavior of those
with whom we disagree; bitterness changes us.
Last season I grew some red romaine in our hilltop garden. It looked gorgeous, but it
tasted like milkweed. The plant protected itself from its climate. It was our first season. I didn't
realize how quickly the warm southwest wind was wicking moisture from the soil, even in
early season cool weather. I know now. I have to irrigate more than most of my gardening
peers to prevent bitterness in my lettuces. Berms and other windbreaks need to be built or
grown to maximize the potential of our growing spaces.
And that's how it goes with bitterness. To cure it, one must play a long game of honest
observation, short-term work-arounds, and long-term solutions, which are built over seasons,
not days. It seems more of us are willing to be dishonest in observation, or perhaps that's the
algorithmic message Facebook uses to target me to arouse my own fomenting discontent.
We are, perhaps, too willing to accept bitter lettuce. Too willing to electronically cloister
ourselves with the sour who share our brand of indignation.
The Garrettsville Farmers' Market was our garden's first exposure to the public. We
were well-received, not because we were experts but because the market itself was a
miniature triumph. A community agreed to meet at a specific time in a specific location to
support its members and spend a nice evening together. The market is the opposite of
electronic communication. (Can anyone get cell service in Garrettsville?)
The market is not a homogeneous affair, but folks of every kind of political persuasion
agree: laughing children, good music, and quality food are the products of our collective better
natures. I am inclined to use the word “joy” to describe the Garrettsville Farmers' Market.
Happiness happens to everyone every once in a while, but joy is something one cultivates.
While I have no clue how to solve the larger global and national problems Facebook wants us
to argue about, I have a hunch that participating in community events without sect or creed is
the opposite of rancor.
The rouge diver romaine tastes milder and sweeter this season. That's because we
practiced growing what we desired to share with our customers. We look forward to seeing
you in a couple weeks.
Ryan and Karly Lind
CopperHawk Farms
At Birdsong Farm we are really excited for the upcoming third season of the Garrettsville Farmers market. Sara and the rest of the group have done an amazing job of putting together a quality weekly market in a great downtown location. We’re proud to join with some of our fellow local foods producers to bring you the best our area has to offer.
For a small farm like ours direct sales at farmers markets are really the key to our survival. We strive to offer varieties of produce that you can’t find easily other places, and we love to educate our customers about our organic and regenerative growing practices. It’s the opportunity to build a relationship with the customer and the community that makes a farmer’s market so important. In the case of our farm, we love the idea of planting, tending, and harvesting our crops and taking them LESS THAN ONE MILE to the Garrettsville market to share with the town. What could be more local?
As the owner of Birdsong Farm I want to thank the folks who make it a habit to come out to the market every Thursday. Your interest and support make it possible to continue to push the boundaries of what I can accomplish as an organic farmer. In 2019 I completed my transition to a no till farming operation while maintaining my USDA organic certification. We are adding berry crops and more perennials to our offerings and constructing more high tunnels for cool weather production. I can spend the time and money that these efforts require knowing that I have great support from all my farmer’s market communities. It’s so important for us to work together to improve our food system, our environment and our town and we couldn’t do it without you. I look forward to seeing you all again Thursday evenings this summer, and please consider bringing a friend along with you!
Matt Herbruck
Owner
Birdsong Farm
