Saturday, February 11, 2012

Why Farmers MUST Blog



I have been blogging for nearly years. But enough about me. One of my goals this year is to get YOU the farmer to start blogging. Yeah yeah yeah, I hear you. "I'm too busy, I have better things to do with my time, I don't understand computers, I'd rather be pulling calves." The excuses are endless but today I want to tell you why you MUST.

But first a disclaimer. The idea for this post came from another post. A hardworking "Farmerette" in the South East of Ireland has a well done blog that I have been following for some time. Her post Why Farmers Should Blog nails the reasons farmers need to blog in order to save their farms. If you visit her blog you will note that Lorna, the blogs' author, is a busy mom, chef, writer, book reviewer, farmer and business owner, and yet she manages to squeeze in blogging. Be sure to visit her at http://irishfarmerette.com/why-farmers-should-blog/ Tell her I sent you.

But...I am not as sweet as Lorna, which is why the title of this post is Why Farmers MUST Blog.
So, from across the pond, from the viewpoint of a pushy farmer babe in America ,here are my reasons:

1. If you depend on your farm for income, people need to know you exist. Wishing it will not make it so. Ads in newspapers cost big money. Ads on radio cost big money. Billboards cost big big money. Blogging is FREE.

2. Small Farms are nearly extinct. Oh sure we have new small farms cropping up all the time but the likelihood that they will still be around in 5 years is very small. Why? Well besides the financial issues, they get little emotional support and encouragement. Blogging generates feedback and encouragement.

3.Mega farms are worried about farm bloggers. In the past when laws were passed under the table and over our heads because we were buried with work, we had little recourse to affect change. But now we can voice our opinions, challenge the makers of ridiculous laws which benefit the large factory farms but bankrupt the family farm, confront our representatives publicly and inform others of actions that can be taken to protect our farms. Blogging is essential for the building of strong farmer relationships.

4. "Buying Local" is hip and popular yet many farmers complain that their own surrounding community, doesn't even know they exist. Through regular blogging you can tell your neighbor what breed of pig that is they see in your field and why your baby pigs sometimes get loose and end up on the neighbors porch. (Sorry, we are really really sorry) Blogging is informational.

5. Today's children are being rapidly removed from farms. Soon they will not even have grandparents who farmed. Blogging is a cheap and effective way to talk to kids about animals and show them pictures so at least they will know a cow does not have wings. (From time to time though our pigs have been know to fly. Usually on the same day my husband remembers to take out the garbage.)
Blogging is educational.

6. Although our farm is generally all sweetness and light there are days I'd like to load up all the animals in an Ark and send them down the river. With my blog friends I can share my frustrations over broken meat freezers, Boars who would rather sleep than procreate and crabby customers who complain about there being fat (of all things) in their bacon strips. I can post pictures that make us laugh and send words of praise to those who have done great things. Blogging is stress reducing.

7. So there you have it. The reason I feel farmers (or their wives or husbands or paid representative)MUST blog. I also think other professions should blog but I am not here to speak for the whole world...only the whole world of farmers. There are many resources to get you started. Start with any 9 year old in your family. Most of them have more than enough computer skills to help you. If they are too busy helping another geriatric member with basic 21st Century technology then I suggest these web sites. Remember: Blogging is fun.

www.blogger.com
http://wordpress.com/
http://blog.com/

11 comments:

  1. ^^^^^^ HUH?!?!?!

    Anyway.... Great blog! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I totally agree with 'Anonymous'.

    Farming is a funny old business. I can never really understand why a frozen leg of New Zealand lamb, can end up in my French supermarket, at half the price of a French produced one. And NZ farmers don't even receive subsidies. Maybe more international blogging can explain all this!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Spam Anonymous broke the barrier! And I agree with you, blogging brings awareness. That's a good thing.

    Lana

    ReplyDelete
  4. A great post Donna! We have a few really great Irish blogs by farmers. As with yours I enjoy reading them, being from a farming background! Keep up the great work :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julia, yeah the comment before yours ..all spam. Do these folks not have LIVES?! But thanks for the kind words anyway

    Cro, how I wish logic could be applied to farming, or healthcare or...or...but I do know the more we sell direct to customers eliminating the middle man (well, I guess my husband is the (middleman between the hog and the bacon lover)the better it goes for all concerned.

    Lana, awareness is good. GREAT blogs like yours...even better

    Nessa, thank you. With this being the first year in 10 yeasr that I was not able to travel to Ireland (yeah, I know...poor baby) I have come to rely on some of the Irish blogs to help me through my Eire' withdrawal!

    ReplyDelete
  6. GREAT post! Blogging, FB and websites are the key to small farming.

    You said it so very well....... I may have to link this post for a class that I am teaching. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. All good reasons. Especially the idea of buying local and buying organic. This is a major trade that small farms can take huge advantage of.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Miss Effie..go ahead Link to me. Any class of yours is well... a class of yours.

    Ag investments, WHO are you? What is your name? Who is your boss? Do you prefer dark or white chocolate? We want to know more about YOU.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Interesting read, we sell at farmer's markets and we do support our local farmers. Where I live local is big and we know without our support they would not exist. Plus farm veggies/fruits just taste so much better and it's nice knowing you are buying it from someone who has grown it themselves.

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  10. Too True! I'll be sharing your blog with our CSA members, Facebook fans & friends of our farm! I'd be delighted if you'd like to reciprocate. Our website is http://www.cedarvalleysustainable.com and we blog at http://cdrvalleyfarm.blogspot.com/

    Best,
    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well done to you, hope more achievement to you. If you are actually conscious about your health and want to keep yourself fit and healthy than keep in mind that good health absolutely begins from a healthy mouth.

    ReplyDelete