Agrarianism: We Don’t Have All the Answers, But We’re Doing It Anyway
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I have conversations over and over again in my head. I’ve done that for as long as I can remember, trying to think of what I should have said or what I should say if the moment arises. Lately these conversations all come back to our leap to an agrarian way of life, this move across the country coming up, and the hows and whys of our decisions. People want to know why.
I am growing weary.
This conversation is mostly questions like "why?", "but what about…", "it’s not wrong to…", and a look or a phrase that seems to say "good luck" with an undercurrent of "I’ll be here waiting to tell you I told you so when your naive ideas come crashing down."
It doesn’t surprise me anymore and I don’t take offense, but I am growing weary of people thinking that I think this will be a piece of cake and I have it all figured out.
Some days I look around and think "I have electricity now and I can’t get it done, how will I do this off-grid?" And I’m reminded I can’t.
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Some times I think about outhouses, and wood cook stoves, and building a straw bale home and I wonder how we will manage. And I am reminded we won’t.
Some days it hits us that there will be no bi-weekly paycheck soon and we still have to feed and clothe our soon-to-be three children. And we realize we are not the providers.
A huge part of our desire to become agrarians/farmers/homesteaders is giving up the unsustainable safety net that fools us into thinking we can. A safety net that lets us believe that food comes from grocery stores, that provisions come from a paycheck, and that as long as we can "succeed" we should be happy.
But our safety net can only be God, even if we choose to put our faith in man.
We don’t know what the next year or five or ten will bring. We don’t know if we will be thought of as "successful" in our endeavors or if there will be some who say "I told you so."
I am a bit of an idealist, but I am not out of touch with reality. We will have to work harder than we ever have. There will be droughts, there will be struggles, and we will be at His mercy with no safety net in between.
And somehow I know that through the toil and the sweat and the tears it will all be worth it.
My weariness is nothing new and neither is His sovereignty.
Excellent post. I can’t imagine someone actually thinking that you might not yet understand how hard this path could be. It won’t be easy at all, but you will be able to do it.
We are not agrarian, nor do I know if it’s my path to become so (I do dream of farming and off-grid-ing), BUT I think it’s super awesome that you are doing it. I think it’s awesome and thrilling and truly LIVING to do something without having all the answers! Especially when you know your heart is pulling you in that direction. Having the ability and courage to follow that wherever it takes you is something I happen to admire. So in your weariness, please keep in mind, that there are some of us out there NOT questioning you, but excited with you!
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; My God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
And my place of safety.”
~Psalm 18:2~
I am loving watching your adventure! Who cares why? I care more about the doing and living and growing and learning. I’m envious of your spirit and follow through. Of your casting away the safety net for parts unknown. Please remember there are those of us who are cheering you on!
I love this post. I too have conversations in my head all day about the whys of what I do or believe (in many areas) and I often wear myself down with “you can’t possibly do all of this”. It’s exactly right that we put in all we’ve got and then have faith in Him for the rest, even when it doesn’t come when or how we thought/want. There will be sacrifice, but it’s worth the greater goals we’re working toward.
Thank you for sharing.
I love this article. It rings true to me also… and I am weary, so weary… and yet there is so much to do……
Shannon,
Thank God for giving you proper perspective. What a precious gift that is, and will continue to be as you step into the “stuff” of off off-grid life. We’re praying for you and your family as you continue to prepare for this next adventure. You won’t be alone! That’s what community is all about.
Susan
Excited for you! We want to start this journey too next year. I enjoy watching your journey, please post more! What state are y’all heading to? We’re in East Texas…
I too have the conversations: defending my lifestyle, my separatist agrarian beliefs, why I have left the (false) church, etc. It seems it’s all there until someone questions me, then words evade… I admire your courage to step away from the world and serve our Lord with your all! Be so very thankful that your husband is willing to lead you in this endeaver!!
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Never mind the naysayers. I admire you for doing this. It isn’t easy to live a lifestyle that no one else can imagine, but the rest of us are living in a way that is unsustainable. You have to do what your heart is telling you to do. Keep posting. We want to know how you are doing.
So true and wonderfully written. If you truly believe in the depth of your heart that the Lord is leading you on this journey then no one other person thoughts matter. This is between you, your Father in heaven and your family. I hope it works beautifully for you and for those who think it will be too hard to handle, honestly do they think the pressures and stresses of “modern” life are so easy. Having hard work has it’s amazing blessings, doesn’t means it easy, but people have lived the way your are heading for thousand and thousands of years. We’ve lived in this “modern” society since about the industrial revolution or for about that last 200 years and look at how quickly we are destroying this world and ourselves. May you be blessed Shannon!
I’ve been telling my real life aquaintances about your journey- I am so eager to read about it. I’ve never thought, but knowing from personal experience how real life people question my own radical life decisions, it makes sense that you must have a lot of pressure from people you know. I just want to send you my encouragement and blessings- you inspire me!
I think this is how hard it has to be to do something totally different. My husband and I are making steps in the same direction and we are also not naive enough to think that it won’t have it’s rough spots. I have faith that it will have it’s rewards. I am thankful that you posted this and that we are not alone.
Amen! …you know, I have always wanted to homestead, in a sence – not necessarally off-grid, but producing many of our own things, particurly food. But my husband’s heart isn’t in it. ….so we won’t. It definately takes a like-minded couple to acheive off-grid dreams.
As far as success/failure goes. I think you are a failure if you don’t try. Anything beyond that is sucess. Because this is your calling. You know, if you wind up only being out there 18 months or something, you still would have learned so much and undoubtedly will try again, anyway. BUT you will have very useful information to share with the common community on your experiences and how to prepare, etc. in that time in between (and during the experience). Its not over ’till its over!
I love your idealism. And I’m not standing by waiting to watch you try and fail. But to encourage you along the way.
I came across your site through Michael Bunker’s blog and I was so happy because it’s wonderful, and you’re writing is a wonderful inspiration for me.
My husband and I just started living on our land – in Croatia – at the very moment we are in town waiting for the birth of our son due in couple of days, and this post of yours – I can just feel and understand all you’re writing about because I get this all the time, and frankly, I too am getting tired of people asking the same questions over and over again! Especially what you’ve said, they think in my head it’s all flowers and peaches and rose gardens.
Anyway, just wanted to compliment on your web site and say it’s a real thrill to read it 🙂 God bless you.
Sometimes I think that getting out and away from all of the artificial things could be so healing to us, physically and mentally / emotionally / spiritually that maybe we’d be more capable of doing the work… I “hope” with you 🙂
http://www.thoughts.com/Hojasanan/envisioning-a-hope
Shannon,
Thank you for post. I admire you for your commitment, beliefs, and honesty. You are doing the right thing, relying on God. I look forward to hearing about your experiences (you will still blog, correct?) . My choice would be to do so as well, but life’s circumstances will not allow me to do so.
Blessings to you and your family,
Rhonda
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
I wish I were 30 yrs younger as I KNOW we would go…we are thinking of it in our mid 50’s waiting on an answer from God. There are preacher’s needed everywhere why not off the grid!?!
Know that you and your family will always be covered by us in prayers.
Oh and by the way there is nowhere I have ever found in the bible that tells us we need a saftey net…we need only Him.
I think you have a pretty heart. 🙂
Beautiful post Shannon. I think God is leading many of His people in this same direction for a purpose…
We had to face this many years ago. It has been tough, we have had ups and downs and still do.. but so worth it……. God truly is our focus and we pray he always will be!
And a good soul
I seriously want you to succeed because I dream of this way of life and want to know how to do it. My only concern is selfish. I want to read about it and I don’t know how you will be able to blog without electricity!
We’ll be here waiting to tell you YOU CAN DO IT! And you will not be alone. That is what community is about! We are here for you. Whenever you need encouragement we will be here.
Bravo to every person who says “I must get off this merry-go-round” and then does. True freedom. Think about it.
Wonderfully and thoughtfully written. All I can say is AMEN!!
Never stop believing! If you have God first in all you do, you will never fail! He can’t let you it’s not in His character if you are His children He WILL provide! This earth is not our home, we are just passing through. Love your blog and love your dream!
Valery
Excellent post! I’ve been reminded of this lately in my own life – that I can do nothing on my own. I look forward to continuing to read about your journey.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart & do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, & He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
My favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 15:13, which is “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
This was very interesting. Are you familiar with Richard Morris. He was the engineer who lost a significant amount of weight following the Nourishing Traditions principles. He wrote a book called A Life Unburdened. It’s fantastic. In any event, he and his wife and their children eventually left suburbia and now live on a farm in Virginia. However, I do believe they have electricity. He is a delightful man and has a wonderful blog titled the Barefoot Agrarian. It is a wonderful source of information for the type of lifestyle you will be pursuing.
Does this mean you will be leaving your blog behind? If so, you’ll be missed.
All the best,
Mary
Excellent post! I love reading about the direction you are going. We are experiencing many of the same “roadblocks” too. I hope you are finding encouragement in all of the comments, you are following the path that you are ment to walk!
Okay, I have to admit, the first thing that popped into my head was
“Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!”
😉
After that, of course, my babies and I knelt down to lift you before the Lord. There are so many of us who are encouraged and blessed through your life (as if you couldn’t tell that from the previous comments!), and we continue to keep you and your family in our prayers, whether you’re in a snug little strawbale home, or an apartment in the city. Many blessings to you as you head towards a life that we would love to follow. 🙂
have you ever seen this blog: http://eclecticculturefarm.blogspot.com/
She has a great story. I think you have lots in common.
Hi 🙂
I want to let you know that I think your blog is great! I really enjoy reading it and ‘meeting’ you. I also want to share that my husband and I have recently begun the change to self-sustainability as well. We still both work out of the home (and have 2 littles with one on the way). We farm our 7 acres the ‘hard’ way, and people think we are crazy! We are…and I’m used to it. In fact, there’s part of us that feels very strong and proud for doing what we are doing…teaching our children there are other ways of living that does not involve depleting our world, is more wholesome and much more rewarding. What I did not expect, and I fully admit to at the end of the gardening season, is exactly how hard it was going to be. I ‘knew’ it would be challenging, but I did romanticize it. At the beginning, I never would have admitted that…but…when my littles ask me why my hands are “always dirty” and remind me “you should wash them” (lol) the hard, labour intensive work seems a distant memory, and I do smile outside and in!
We aren’t ready yet to jump in with both feet to be completely off-grid…but I believe that day will come. Everybody moves at a different pace because God calls us differently. You would be doing yourself a disservice to listen to the naysayers, and the romantics (like I was). Listen to your calling and the rest will fall into place….not without a few beads of sweat, tears, smiles, laughs and…dirty hands!!
God bless you on your jouney!
Tammy
Well, it is official and the “plans” are set! we will be joining the “off-grid, with 3 kids” (maybe one more by then 😉 by next year…yayayay! we r unsure, as u are where we are going to end up, but we plan to enjoy the journey. just a quick lagistics question…did you find an inexpensive camper or are u just drivin and campin? we r praying about it, and tryin to desifer how we will be making our “one way road trip” so i am curious what u guys are doing.
Blessing and many prayers for you on your journey!!!!!!! 🙂
Thank you, Shannon for this post! (So sorry my response is so long… please bear with me!) I have enjoyed reading your blog since I discovered it a couple months ago and have been encouraged. Your thoughts resonate strongly with me. Although we are not making plans to go off grid or live a completely agrarian lifestyle, we ARE preparing to move our family in the next month to an Indian Reservation as missionaries with a small ministry organization. (While we won’t be able to live off-grid without hindering our ministry, we do plan on being as off-grid as is compatible with our ministry. If we weren’t called to such an intense and time-consuming lifestyle, we would probably be following the same path you are on)
-So here we are, moving our children to one of the darkest areas of the country, away from the the steady paychecks to living on support from other believers and churches, all in order to follow the call of Christ to bring His gospel to others – and this is foolishness to the world! I get the same reaction you describe in this post, especially from close family and friends. I love your comment that you KNOW it will be hard! I loved your honesty here.
And I just love that your transition is happening at the same time as ours – we also have waited and worked for this move for over two years now and we don’t yet have a house or place for sure lined up to move into, but we’re moving out of our apartment, putting our stuff in storage and doing a little (already scheduled) traveling and training in the meantime, hoping the Lord finishes opening the doors to the house we’re trying to buy.
I really hope you continue to chronicle your adventure and life because I keep learning, feeling inspired and challenged, and just encouraged.
i love this. i shared it w/ a dear friend, who is dreaming of embarking on an agrarian, ‘off grid’ life.
i’ve thought of your words many times since reading them and they resonate: i can totally relate. 2 years ago, my hubby and i both left our “stable” jobs and embarked on a journey we knew GOD was calling us to: me at home, homeschooling; my hubby pursuing creative endeavors/entrepreneurship. we heard plenty of well-meaning questions.
we laugh and stand amazed today, 2 years later, at how faithfully GOD has provided. it is radical and wonderful and scary, to live in COMPLETE dependence on His provision, every month, for every need. the predictability of a steady paycheck is definitely appealing at times. but i wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
blessings to you!!
emily