Courage of a Mediocre Farmer

After finishing the second half of the book I felt that the “Butchering” and “The Slaughter” chapters were a little off in structure. There was a lot of repetition in Kurt describing the butchering process mentioned preciously in the book. His thoughts seemed less cohesive and harder to follow in comparison to the rest of the book. It was a little difficult to follow his thoughts and feelings during this new chapter of farming life, I suppose this is a result of the act of killing a living thing being so emotionally charged and difficult to explain. Sure the animals can’t talk and let you know how their day is going but there is still life there. Even Kurt stated that looking into the eyes of pigs is most difficult, as they seem to be the most human-like.

As Kurt reflected on all that he had accomplished towards the end of the book I realized how much I enjoyed being a part of the writer’s journey in defining himself as a farmer. The journey wasn’t perfect and it definitely wasn’t easy.  The journey was a humbling yet rewarding experience that seems to have brought him true happiness driven by the sense self-sufficiency and pride that his farm provides. But the journey is not over, a 50-year plan for the farm is now in the works. This may not be something that Kurt expected to have to do but it is what will keep him motivated and constantly improving. I never realized how much problem solving and creative thinking were required in the farming world. The nature of nature is unpredictable. You have to learn to react and adapt to nature as it will definitely not adapt to your wants and needs. Golden raspberries out beat blackberries and red raspberries on the Kurtwood Farm. Kurt may like red raspberry pancakes or blackberry pies but in the end nature made his decision of what to grow, golden raspberries. In a sense nature acts as a boss for Kurt, keeping him in check and constantly challenging him. By the end of the book I think Kurt has definitely accepted that he is no longer in charge of himself as he was with his own bakery/ restaurant.

To reflect on the book as a whole it definitely opened my eyes to another world that I knew very little about. I hope that one day I get as inspired by somethingas Kurt has and have the courage to put all I have into it (even if that does mean quitting my job). I admire what Kurt has done and would really like to take a trip to Kurtwood Farms if I ever get the chance and maybe even grab a meal at “The Table.”