Year of the Pig
As we approach the final holidays of 2021, I remember to be grateful for so many simple things. Life is full with work and family, fun, and many challenges. Many, many challenges. I regularly hear myself giving reminders that we can do tough things. The quote “Life is tough, but you are tougher,” or some version of that, resonates with me.
I often reflect on what goes on daily and how we respond to it. I know the key is to RESPOND, not to react. Our emotions around certain situations can jade our ability to see and think clearly, objectively. Overwhelming emotion can darken our days if we are not careful with our thoughts. We must take the time to look at all the little pieces, admire them in the light, or banish them to darker places when we’re through with them. The past is in the past. The present provides opportunities to be grateful, and the future is well, forging ahead, whether we like it or not.
The last “Year of the Pig,” was in 2019, according to Chinese astrology. That was the last time life seemed ‘normal’ to us. We were plugging along, planning and literally plotting our fields for planting, and gaining momentum with our Winter goals. As Spring 2020 slowly approached, we all had our worlds flipped upside down with tales and truths of a pandemic making its way around the globe. And then the world as we knew it shut down and we all went into survival mode.
Life is different now. We understand more than we did previously about the world, about our lives, about the people around us, and about how crucial local goods and services are to our survival on this planet in modern times. The word ‘essential’ took on an entirely new meaning.
Our farm and its people, gleaned a lot from this experience. We are actually still learning as we feel strongly the ripple effect of folks attempting to go back to their ‘normal’ ways. On the farm, we continue to do what we have always done.
We grow food, we care for animals, we gather our children, we connect with our community, we live by the seasons, and we are grateful for all of it.
It is our observation there is now less demand for local products that supported so many folks during the pandemic, in spite of supply issues still circulating and fuel prices still rising. The parking lots of big box stores and grocery store chains are regularly at capacity again, even with the shelves being semi-bare at times. Yet, we’re all still growing and producing, and our shelves are all full.
In all honesty, we as farmers and local producers are a bit disheartened by this, but on many levels, we had braced ourselves for it. We believed it could go either way after the world settled down a bit. We hoped for a solid middle-ground, rather than a decline on local support. To clarify, the support so many farmers and small business owners had during the pandemic has dwindled again. It couldn’t be for lack of products or fuel prices or transportation issues. So then, what has changed?
The feelings of insecurity around access to foods and comforts. The reduction of shock as folks adjust to the times. Increased desire to get back to ‘normal,’ or to move forward regardless. Adaptation to a new way of life with mask-wearing and vaccine boosters, and limitations or differences in the way things are done in schools, at events, or activities. Perhaps the influx of government programs, reassignment of funds, and PPA loans to keep receiving businesses afloat that may have folks thinking everyone’s all taken care of now?
Another theory is when humans experience trauma of some kind, the tendency is to ‘block out’ the bad feelings and associated memories. Could that be what is happening to contribute to this current state of affairs? Perhaps some folks have inadvertently blocked out all the new, good habits of supporting local farmers and producers, makers and artisans, or are not doing so as regularly because now it’s a feel-good want versus a feel-good need to do so?
I do believe folks WANT to support local, even when it’s not always the cheapest way to purchase products. Sometimes it actually is. Especially now, in many cases. The truth is, regardless of want, there is a true NEED TO SUPPORT LOCAL. If we as consumers don’t make this a regular habit, we will witness, or not witness, depending on how closely we’re paying attention, many local farmers, makers, artisans, and producers who were needed during the pandemic, close up shop.
With overhead costs increasing, cost of living climbing with minimum wage rising to try and meet it, and far less consumer support to cover these additional expenses, these small business folks are going to be scrambling to make ends meet, if they aren’t already. The toughest of times may just be beginning for so many of us who are doing the work the ‘hard way,’ without loans and bail outs and grants to cover expenses and losses. And perhaps even those who received funds may be in the same situation again…
How can we combat this? How can we remove the hardships? How can we prevent massive loss of our local farmers, makers, and producers, and keep them thriving in our communities?
‘By giving them our dedicated support. Yes, we can all do this.
‘Not just once, or once a month, or one Summer season every year, but all year-round. Every week or every couple of weeks. We must make supporting local folks part of our mainstream habit. We must make purchasing at their places (physical or online) of business a regular thing. ‘Just like many do by going to the grocery store every week. Frequent their places of business, tell your friends, talk well of the things you love about what they do, say hello, check in, and ask for what you want to buy from them if they don’t already make, produce, or grow it. Help them build demand by voting with your voice and your dollars. Make them part of your world and brag about it.
I want be very clear that I am not writing this to whine and complain. I am writing this to REWIND AND REMIND all of us that this local support is so very vital to so many local folks who you already know and love. And also for some who you don’t.
It is not a matter of “IF” something can be done. It’s a matter of HOW AND WHEN, and when is NOW. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP RIGHT NOW. ‘Not many of these folks in need will ask for your help. ‘And not many of them will be here next year if you don’t. What you do makes a difference. Please know that.
PLEASE GO OUT OR GO ONLINE AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THIS SEASON. The present and the future depend on it for all of us.
Feel free to forward this post, share widely and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to Support Local Now. Thank you in advance for your help.
With love and gratitude, and well-wishes this holiday season,
Jess the Farmer