In the old normal past, when I was still traveling to Europe, I would always seek out the local town markets where the local vendors displayed their own products in side by side stalls. The sourdough bread bakers working through the night proudly selling their crusty, chewy real bread; the fishmongers with their morning catch; colorful, fragrant and ripe produce from the nearby farms; the gorgeous array of cut flowers; fresh and aged cheeses; pickled, cultured, cured, sprouted, raw, fermented choices everywhere. Then we would go back to our rented cottage with a bottle of inexpensive, delicious wine and cook a memorable meal to eat outdoors.
Seems like ages ago now. But new life will spring again after the present corruption has been abolished... forever. It's coming.
I ruminate (like a ruminant) over every morsel of food I am "privileged" to consume. Famine is coming, and it may be a long time before that new life springs. Value today carefully, for it only gets worse from here. We live in a nation of fattened, ungrateful, hateful ideologues, and they will soon gnash their teeth in horror -- but their will be nothing but rocks and bones to gnash upon.
I do pray that your more sanguine vision proves true. But one cannot tear everything down in a day, and rebuild it in time for supper.
Likewise, John. There are still farmers markets near enough for me to find edibles and grass fed meat products that I can (barely) afford, and I stretch them as far as I can, appreciating every bite. Yes, it appears things are going to get much worse. But as I write about, we have a great hope. The God who brought all this into existence, will one day wrap it up, separating the evil from those who have trusted in His redemption... through the death, burial and resurrection of the work of Christ. What went on in eternity past will culminate in victory to those who love the truth and believe in the Word he gave us... the 1611 Authorized King James Bible.
If you have trusted in the gospel of the grace of God, which is of Christ's redemptive work at Calvary found in Paul's epistles, you won't be here during that troubling time, which was foretold by the Scriptures of the Prophets concerning God's covenant with Israel.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." -Eph 2:8-9
We are a new creature, created in Christ Jesus, with a different inheritance from Israel, and are not appointed to wrath. Furthermore, the mystery was revealed to Paul that the church, the Body of Christ, will be removed from the earth prior to that final (prophetic) week of Daniel, literally seven years. And it could happen at any moment! This is the essence of knowing how to "...rightly divide the word of truth," --2 Tim 2:15, KJB
I suppose that may be the case, but I'm not a big fan of rapture doctrine -- it does not prepare believers for the coming tribulation, in which we are to harvest souls. I'm more of a martyr guy, and plan to beat you to heaven. :)
Whatever the case, let Him find us to be busy workers on that day....
John, that's not true according to the Scriptures given to the church. The tribulation period is God's judgement on a world that has rejected him. God can't be longsuffering, offering the world grace today, and pouring out judgement at the same time. Take the grace!
God has his two witnesses and the 144,000 that will preach the message of the kingdom of heaven at that time. We preach JC according to the revelation of the mystery today. Christ took our suffering upon himself and was made sin for us, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. You can't be a martyr if you have the wrong gospel. God only accepts his Son's work in us, and our work of reaching the lost with the gospel of Christ.
I know this thread is running, so I'll end with that. As you've become a new subscriber, you might enjoy my next post re -- The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and why transhumanism is so important to them. Cheers!
Ravens are particularly intelligent, as you likely know. They have their own language. We feed them regularly in our compost -- they stay all winter, and are an awesome blessing to observe hopping around in the snow.... :)
Excellent/poignant commentary (and speaking as a kid who grew up on a farm and many of whose folks are still farmers). The Berry quote is particularly apt. Look forward to working through your writing.
I agree with your take on Vermont, past and present. Unfortunately, you get what you vote for and Vermont has voted liberal for a long time. Liberals today are not the liberals of yesterday.
This is not liberalism. We conservatives now stand for the true liberal values -- free speech, equality, tolerance, respecting others -- that have been abandoned by those who now call themselves "woke" or "enlightened." They are in growing darkness of thought and heart.
The farmers market in Ludlow has this year reduced vender fees for BIPOC “farmers. That doesn’t surprise me but the amount of support for doing this shocks me. Excellent essay.
Reminds me that 5th generation Vermonters with old English names deserve at least some of the attitude. Keep up the writing!
1) That is racist and against existing Constitutional law; 2) They should decide whether they support farmers, or racism -- can't have their cake and eat it too; 3) Fedco has gone similarly woke and so I am buying High Mowing seeds this year -- I don't support racists; 4) Thanks so much for writing!
Perhaps your neighbor feels he is benefitting the earth with allowing growth of trees ascarbon credits. Does he drive an EV? Growth of forest for a future yield of lumber or pulp logs is something that would take some time.
Vermont farming was never very profitable because of the short growing season and harsh winters. My great-great-grandfather had a pretty harsh life in aEast Fairfield, and his sons went west, to Texas and the Dakotas. My great grandfather did return when his wife became ill. Though he was able to run a farm, none of his kids stayed for that. He became a self-educated lawyer to make ends meet, living in Franklin County. Recurrent recessions caused the exodus of many people in post-Civil War years and again in the Depression era. Logging jobs for the lumber needs of ship and home-builders brought in the French-Canadians, while Italian and Italians and hardy Irish/Scots workers became the workforce for for quarrying and railroading. Many of these people and the Abenaki were not necessarily able to afford to purchase land for farms. In fact, the trending attitude about some of these people in the 20s and 30s was that they required extensive re-education to turn them into useful workers, and some of those obstinate ones may have been targeted by the Eugenics movement that only gradually was abolished for its inhumanity. Institutions such as Brandon Training School and Weeks School in Vergennes were places some of those young (incorrigible) "mentally defective" ones were sequestered even into the early 60s. I recall such a family in my school district in the 50s and 60s, and looking back on them now, suspect dietary deficiencies may have been a cause for the learning disabilities in those kids...
I am familiar. My family suffered much poverty as well -- very hard place to farm (you forgot mountainous and stoney). But that eugenics tragedy is being repeated today in the name of "Critical Race Theory" -- skin color determines outcome. Same progressive doggerel in new elitist bottles. Only, this time the elites starve to death because they have lost common sense and eliminated those with farming knowledge so they can build hotels, ski chalets and taverns -- to save the climate!
"Let them eat cake." After the last several years of DEI, climate, pandemic tyranny, and legislative hubris, I expect that sentiment to prevail when the SHTF.
I have a couple sets of fairly new neighbors whose first act was to appeal to town governance to complain about traditional and certified farm practices before discussing with us. The town understandably doesn't like to get involved with neighborhood disputes where they have no jurisdiction. Sometimes it's just a matter of educating them, but beyond no trespassing notices, the one time I threatened harassment charges under right-to-farm laws, we experienced a new level of respect and things got a little more peaceful since then. Word got around.
I see it everywhere -- they want to move to the country and ban roosters and chickens, cows and smelly poop. Maybe we should move to the city and ban smog and crime..... :)
During Covid. clueless Putney flatlanders appealed to farmers to "donate" their eggs and produce to people. It is the little Red Hen. They don't share their gold and diamonds, then whimper like terrified babies when the real world visits. Hold on to your hat! (and your farm animals)
We farm in the San Juan Islands, almost the same latitude as you hilly people in Vermont, and we face the same reality of new neighbors seeking the beautiful pastoral landscapes and a local foodie scene, but not wanting “real” farming next door. We were sued by a group of neighbors who didn’t want farming activity on the adjacent private road even though their properties all have ag status - cows and sheep might poop on their scenic residential entry! Totally nuts. No one wants to know what farming really entails as this doesn’t fit these newcomers’ island-life aesthetic, even if the county is a “right to farm” county. And while government entities (so many of them!) send out survey after survey asking what would make farming more viable here, the reality is that these agencies only make work for themselves and do nothing to assist real farmers on the ground. As the old timers park their tractors for the last time and sell off their cows during this crazy cattle market, we wonder who will take their place? We’re in our 50’s and considered “young“ ha! For now we’ll focus on preparing ourselves for the upcoming shit storm, building community where we can, and supporting other small farms and producers. Someone will have to be around to teach the next generation and we hope we’re still here to do it.
"For now we’ll focus on preparing ourselves for the upcoming shit storm, building community where we can, and supporting other small farms and producers. Someone will have to be around to teach the next generation and we hope we’re still here to do it." Thank you so much for your story!! We rented one farm where the neighbors complained about our geese crapping on their lawn, then called the State of Vermont who said they would destroy the geese if we didn't contain them. We gave them to another farmer who put them in his pond, where they were all promptly killed by a fox. Last year we had two beefalo heifers who kept jumping fence into our "let it grow back naturally" neighbor, and he called the do warden and other authorities in fury. Let them eat.... reforested softwoods! People are waking up: the dreamy delusion will end, and the nightmare begin, when they are "woke" up to empty grocery stores. Then they will plead for us to feed them.... Ah, the little Red Hen tale come to America..... Or, we could "Let them eat snake!" :) https://www.libertynation.com/let-them-eat-snake/
Yes, it is hardly just Vermont. But indeed, this culture has already been destroyed in most of America.
Last year, the same landowner (who has cameras to watch his "wild" land all the time) called the town dog warden on us when some cows went on his fields -- which he then mowed, to "let them grow back naturally." Then the cows wanted his second cut.... :)
That's just . . . well, I wish I could say it was unreal but that's just what folks deal with. My sister/brother in law are farmers in a Southern state (the family's been on that land for 200 something years), near a town that's been completely overrun by hipsters and wealthy types - cultureless vagabonds that want to reshape the town into some globalist 24-hour glamping+craft beer+shopping.
I'm sad that's happening to y'all. When I've gone to (rural) New England, I found it jaw-droopingly beautiful and the people very nice. (Bit too cold for me, though, lol).) Shame about our brawl back in the 1860s, but looks like now the same "thing" is after both of us, and looks like this time we'll be shoulder to shoulder! I'll enjoy reading your work. Best regards.
The attack on rural culture and Americans has always ignored the North-South division. Wendell Berry's "The Unsettling of America" is seminal. (I wrote to Wendell last week, expressing my Northern dismay at the same forces that destroyed and still gnaw at his native Kentucky). It is not a North-South divide, but a shared refuge for unity and sanity. However, the climate still divides us, without change -- it was 9 degrees here last night and we just got nearly two feet of fresh snow. It is wise not to plant our gardens until after June 1, unless we want to replant.... :)
Yes, Berry is great. I heard him speak and read Unsettling when I was younger and it made a profound impression. I also greatly enjoy the Agrarians. Are there New Englanders (besides you) who write about these issues?
BTW, I loved the phrase "cultureless vagabonds." I hope you don't mind if I borrow that accurate characterization..... It is sad.
"“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”
A heartfelt read.
In the old normal past, when I was still traveling to Europe, I would always seek out the local town markets where the local vendors displayed their own products in side by side stalls. The sourdough bread bakers working through the night proudly selling their crusty, chewy real bread; the fishmongers with their morning catch; colorful, fragrant and ripe produce from the nearby farms; the gorgeous array of cut flowers; fresh and aged cheeses; pickled, cultured, cured, sprouted, raw, fermented choices everywhere. Then we would go back to our rented cottage with a bottle of inexpensive, delicious wine and cook a memorable meal to eat outdoors.
Seems like ages ago now. But new life will spring again after the present corruption has been abolished... forever. It's coming.
I ruminate (like a ruminant) over every morsel of food I am "privileged" to consume. Famine is coming, and it may be a long time before that new life springs. Value today carefully, for it only gets worse from here. We live in a nation of fattened, ungrateful, hateful ideologues, and they will soon gnash their teeth in horror -- but their will be nothing but rocks and bones to gnash upon.
I do pray that your more sanguine vision proves true. But one cannot tear everything down in a day, and rebuild it in time for supper.
Likewise, John. There are still farmers markets near enough for me to find edibles and grass fed meat products that I can (barely) afford, and I stretch them as far as I can, appreciating every bite. Yes, it appears things are going to get much worse. But as I write about, we have a great hope. The God who brought all this into existence, will one day wrap it up, separating the evil from those who have trusted in His redemption... through the death, burial and resurrection of the work of Christ. What went on in eternity past will culminate in victory to those who love the truth and believe in the Word he gave us... the 1611 Authorized King James Bible.
Amen!! But in the process we are told of the famine that precedes Christ's return..... Let us be the Watchmen.... :)
If you have trusted in the gospel of the grace of God, which is of Christ's redemptive work at Calvary found in Paul's epistles, you won't be here during that troubling time, which was foretold by the Scriptures of the Prophets concerning God's covenant with Israel.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." -Eph 2:8-9
We are a new creature, created in Christ Jesus, with a different inheritance from Israel, and are not appointed to wrath. Furthermore, the mystery was revealed to Paul that the church, the Body of Christ, will be removed from the earth prior to that final (prophetic) week of Daniel, literally seven years. And it could happen at any moment! This is the essence of knowing how to "...rightly divide the word of truth," --2 Tim 2:15, KJB
I suppose that may be the case, but I'm not a big fan of rapture doctrine -- it does not prepare believers for the coming tribulation, in which we are to harvest souls. I'm more of a martyr guy, and plan to beat you to heaven. :)
Whatever the case, let Him find us to be busy workers on that day....
John, that's not true according to the Scriptures given to the church. The tribulation period is God's judgement on a world that has rejected him. God can't be longsuffering, offering the world grace today, and pouring out judgement at the same time. Take the grace!
God has his two witnesses and the 144,000 that will preach the message of the kingdom of heaven at that time. We preach JC according to the revelation of the mystery today. Christ took our suffering upon himself and was made sin for us, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. You can't be a martyr if you have the wrong gospel. God only accepts his Son's work in us, and our work of reaching the lost with the gospel of Christ.
I know this thread is running, so I'll end with that. As you've become a new subscriber, you might enjoy my next post re -- The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and why transhumanism is so important to them. Cheers!
Great writing about a necessary subject, thank you. Please folks show this Substacker some love.
Very kind, Mr. Raven. :)
Ravens are particularly intelligent, as you likely know. They have their own language. We feed them regularly in our compost -- they stay all winter, and are an awesome blessing to observe hopping around in the snow.... :)
Excellent/poignant commentary (and speaking as a kid who grew up on a farm and many of whose folks are still farmers). The Berry quote is particularly apt. Look forward to working through your writing.
I agree with your take on Vermont, past and present. Unfortunately, you get what you vote for and Vermont has voted liberal for a long time. Liberals today are not the liberals of yesterday.
This is not liberalism. We conservatives now stand for the true liberal values -- free speech, equality, tolerance, respecting others -- that have been abandoned by those who now call themselves "woke" or "enlightened." They are in growing darkness of thought and heart.
The farmers market in Ludlow has this year reduced vender fees for BIPOC “farmers. That doesn’t surprise me but the amount of support for doing this shocks me. Excellent essay.
Reminds me that 5th generation Vermonters with old English names deserve at least some of the attitude. Keep up the writing!
1) That is racist and against existing Constitutional law; 2) They should decide whether they support farmers, or racism -- can't have their cake and eat it too; 3) Fedco has gone similarly woke and so I am buying High Mowing seeds this year -- I don't support racists; 4) Thanks so much for writing!
Perhaps your neighbor feels he is benefitting the earth with allowing growth of trees ascarbon credits. Does he drive an EV? Growth of forest for a future yield of lumber or pulp logs is something that would take some time.
Vermont farming was never very profitable because of the short growing season and harsh winters. My great-great-grandfather had a pretty harsh life in aEast Fairfield, and his sons went west, to Texas and the Dakotas. My great grandfather did return when his wife became ill. Though he was able to run a farm, none of his kids stayed for that. He became a self-educated lawyer to make ends meet, living in Franklin County. Recurrent recessions caused the exodus of many people in post-Civil War years and again in the Depression era. Logging jobs for the lumber needs of ship and home-builders brought in the French-Canadians, while Italian and Italians and hardy Irish/Scots workers became the workforce for for quarrying and railroading. Many of these people and the Abenaki were not necessarily able to afford to purchase land for farms. In fact, the trending attitude about some of these people in the 20s and 30s was that they required extensive re-education to turn them into useful workers, and some of those obstinate ones may have been targeted by the Eugenics movement that only gradually was abolished for its inhumanity. Institutions such as Brandon Training School and Weeks School in Vergennes were places some of those young (incorrigible) "mentally defective" ones were sequestered even into the early 60s. I recall such a family in my school district in the 50s and 60s, and looking back on them now, suspect dietary deficiencies may have been a cause for the learning disabilities in those kids...
I am familiar. My family suffered much poverty as well -- very hard place to farm (you forgot mountainous and stoney). But that eugenics tragedy is being repeated today in the name of "Critical Race Theory" -- skin color determines outcome. Same progressive doggerel in new elitist bottles. Only, this time the elites starve to death because they have lost common sense and eliminated those with farming knowledge so they can build hotels, ski chalets and taverns -- to save the climate!
Are you in VT?? Idk anyone there except in Arlington, there’s a gravely-misinformed indoctrinating groomer that should never be around any child.
Any help in the direction for getting this sick f out of any school (even though VT is doomed anyway), I’d greatly appreciate it!
I am, and I fight that battle. Please email me with details at farmerjohnklar@gmail.com
"Let them eat cake." After the last several years of DEI, climate, pandemic tyranny, and legislative hubris, I expect that sentiment to prevail when the SHTF.
I have a couple sets of fairly new neighbors whose first act was to appeal to town governance to complain about traditional and certified farm practices before discussing with us. The town understandably doesn't like to get involved with neighborhood disputes where they have no jurisdiction. Sometimes it's just a matter of educating them, but beyond no trespassing notices, the one time I threatened harassment charges under right-to-farm laws, we experienced a new level of respect and things got a little more peaceful since then. Word got around.
I see it everywhere -- they want to move to the country and ban roosters and chickens, cows and smelly poop. Maybe we should move to the city and ban smog and crime..... :)
During Covid. clueless Putney flatlanders appealed to farmers to "donate" their eggs and produce to people. It is the little Red Hen. They don't share their gold and diamonds, then whimper like terrified babies when the real world visits. Hold on to your hat! (and your farm animals)
We farm in the San Juan Islands, almost the same latitude as you hilly people in Vermont, and we face the same reality of new neighbors seeking the beautiful pastoral landscapes and a local foodie scene, but not wanting “real” farming next door. We were sued by a group of neighbors who didn’t want farming activity on the adjacent private road even though their properties all have ag status - cows and sheep might poop on their scenic residential entry! Totally nuts. No one wants to know what farming really entails as this doesn’t fit these newcomers’ island-life aesthetic, even if the county is a “right to farm” county. And while government entities (so many of them!) send out survey after survey asking what would make farming more viable here, the reality is that these agencies only make work for themselves and do nothing to assist real farmers on the ground. As the old timers park their tractors for the last time and sell off their cows during this crazy cattle market, we wonder who will take their place? We’re in our 50’s and considered “young“ ha! For now we’ll focus on preparing ourselves for the upcoming shit storm, building community where we can, and supporting other small farms and producers. Someone will have to be around to teach the next generation and we hope we’re still here to do it.
"For now we’ll focus on preparing ourselves for the upcoming shit storm, building community where we can, and supporting other small farms and producers. Someone will have to be around to teach the next generation and we hope we’re still here to do it." Thank you so much for your story!! We rented one farm where the neighbors complained about our geese crapping on their lawn, then called the State of Vermont who said they would destroy the geese if we didn't contain them. We gave them to another farmer who put them in his pond, where they were all promptly killed by a fox. Last year we had two beefalo heifers who kept jumping fence into our "let it grow back naturally" neighbor, and he called the do warden and other authorities in fury. Let them eat.... reforested softwoods! People are waking up: the dreamy delusion will end, and the nightmare begin, when they are "woke" up to empty grocery stores. Then they will plead for us to feed them.... Ah, the little Red Hen tale come to America..... Or, we could "Let them eat snake!" :) https://www.libertynation.com/let-them-eat-snake/
Well said...
We have some Trask genetics in our miniature Herefords!
That's awesome! :)
Damn man. Sorry about that. This was done to my folks in the South so I know how it sucks.
Yes, it is hardly just Vermont. But indeed, this culture has already been destroyed in most of America.
Last year, the same landowner (who has cameras to watch his "wild" land all the time) called the town dog warden on us when some cows went on his fields -- which he then mowed, to "let them grow back naturally." Then the cows wanted his second cut.... :)
That's just . . . well, I wish I could say it was unreal but that's just what folks deal with. My sister/brother in law are farmers in a Southern state (the family's been on that land for 200 something years), near a town that's been completely overrun by hipsters and wealthy types - cultureless vagabonds that want to reshape the town into some globalist 24-hour glamping+craft beer+shopping.
I'm sad that's happening to y'all. When I've gone to (rural) New England, I found it jaw-droopingly beautiful and the people very nice. (Bit too cold for me, though, lol).) Shame about our brawl back in the 1860s, but looks like now the same "thing" is after both of us, and looks like this time we'll be shoulder to shoulder! I'll enjoy reading your work. Best regards.
The attack on rural culture and Americans has always ignored the North-South division. Wendell Berry's "The Unsettling of America" is seminal. (I wrote to Wendell last week, expressing my Northern dismay at the same forces that destroyed and still gnaw at his native Kentucky). It is not a North-South divide, but a shared refuge for unity and sanity. However, the climate still divides us, without change -- it was 9 degrees here last night and we just got nearly two feet of fresh snow. It is wise not to plant our gardens until after June 1, unless we want to replant.... :)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3GQv5UxqG6k
Yes, Berry is great. I heard him speak and read Unsettling when I was younger and it made a profound impression. I also greatly enjoy the Agrarians. Are there New Englanders (besides you) who write about these issues?
I am not aware of any, though I am sure I'm not alone. Vermont has Bill McKibben and Bernie Sanders in lieu.... :(
BTW, I loved the phrase "cultureless vagabonds." I hope you don't mind if I borrow that accurate characterization..... It is sad.
"“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”
— Malcolm X
Please do! I likely “liberated” it from someone else.
Deluded hypocrisy is central to their blinders-on self-righteousness. :) Thanks for sharing.....!
Satan knows we are souls, and uses the materialist greed of those who self-worship to devour in the name of a false religion....
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/biden-proclaims-easter-sunday-trans-day-of-visibility/?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=article