Setting New Year’s “resolutions” for the farm

I’m cringing slightly to even use the '“r” word when we’re so close to the end of 2021 and start of 2022. You know which one I’m talking about - resolutions…eek!

As I battled between whether to use the word “goals” instead, I did a quick search on both just for fun (I’m a writer, my fun might be different than yours). These are courtesy of Oxford Languages:

• Resolution - a firm decision to do or not do something

• Goal - an aim or desired result

This time of year, the farm slows down considerably, and we try to as well. Not that we have any illusion that we’re storing up rest for the busy months of spring/summer/fall. But it is good for us to rest and recharge.

I love the winter. Even though I’m itching to get in the garden or jump into the year and see where it takes us. Winter for us is dreaming season.

Joe and I sit down and talk about plans for the farm. We talk about the big picture and dream big. Then we get into the nitty gritty of things we have to do. We crunch numbers and do a ton of research, all to prepare for the year (or several) ahead.

We usually call it goal setting. But after reading these definitions, I like “resolutions” instead. While some of our plans change, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot, I liked the language “firm decision”. That feels like it mirrors what we’re about for Section 32 Farms. We’re all in. We’ve made a firm decision to go after this dream as hard as we can.

While we’re setting resolutions specifically for our grass-fed beef cattle, pasture-raised chickens, and pastured pork, we will use those to set our family and personal goals. None of these things are separate from each other. We recognize they all have to go hand-in-hand.

Last year, we crushed our goals. We changed some and grew others bigger or faster than we imagined. So this year, we’re stretching our resolutions a little further than we’re comfortable with. We’re not going to start strong and fade. We’ve made a firm decision to do it! And we can’t wait to start.

Wishing you a great 2022!