broadforks fight too

Farming is both a marathon and a sprint. There is such a speed and immediacy required to farming. If there is rain, I have to push prep beds in time. On a harvest morning, I must move quickly to get everything harvested, washed, and packed to bring wherever needed. If a transplant job takes longer than expected, I must hoop and cover vegetables to keep the pests off. The work of a farm involves lots of big pushes, and it is hard to pause in between since I am always working to some deadline, like a storm coming in, a market to attend, or getting inside for dinner.  

There is very little relief during the sprint since the vegetable season is a multi-month endeavor that requires stamina. A farmer must sustain this insanity to work through the marathon that is vegetable farming. I like to think of farmers as the front runners in the New York City marathon because, by my standard, they are full-on sprinting the whole way. 

Maybe you are thinking now, ‘Why put yourself through that?’ That is how I often think about the front runners in the New York City Marathon. I love that the marathon contains many sprints. A farming season is a crazy, winding journey that is addictive. All the hard work and big pushes bring a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment. 

Sometimes, through the season, things happen that force me to stop. This week, I was working into the 10th working hour of the day, broad forking a bed. I love my broad fork; I got a beautiful new one this year from Treadlite Broadforks. (A broad fork is a large digging fork that helps break up compaction)  As I took my broad fork and forcibly pushed it into the soil, the tool ricocheted off of a rock and knocked me in the face. I was knocked to the ground, and I quickly realized just above my eye was bleeding a lot. Quickly, my partner Andy helped me with ice and towels, and everything was ok. Instead of finishing the task I wanted to do, I went inside and rested. 

I share this story to show how even a beloved tool can unexpectedly punch you in the face. But I mainly share this story about the importance of taking deep breaths and practicing rest, even in marathons and sprints. Things can change fast; recognizing when a push is good versus when it hurts is hard, but it is an essential practice for me to do my best.