Copyright: Al Forbes 2014
People say that I should have moved that pile of mechanical wreckage away from the ‘For Sale’ sign. That it ‘sends out the wrong message’.
To be honest, there was a time when I didn’t know if I’d rather sell the farm, or have the bank take it off me. I’d had it with farming, despite that being all I’d ever known.
That pile of rust was my father’s pride and joy. The first plough he was able to buy from new. When the time came, he handed it down to me. But then our contracts kept reducing in value, year on year. We’d have been better off taking European subsidies to not grow certain crops. You couldn’t make it up!
But now I’ve found a better way. I’ve got myself an even bigger government grant to start a Living Farm Museum. Some of it will show how some farms have gone to the wall. Other parts will form a working enterprise, selling straight to the public. No expensive middlemen taking their cut.
I’m sure Dad would have been proud.
This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, 27 April 2014, hosted by Al Forbes. If you’d like to know more, click the logo.
If you’d like to read the other stories, click the blue frog!
Great story Steve. There is a museum around here somewhere dealing with the history of farming 🙂
Thanks, Al. It was originally going to be more downbeat, but I felt he deserved a positive ending.
I liked the way you ended it 🙂
Nice story and a good solution to the problem. This is similar to my wife’s family, where they have a farm that’s been in the family for generations but no one wants to keep farming it.
I know it’s tough for many farmers these days.
If I wasn’t a student, I’d be more conscientious about supporting farmers. As it is, I have to stick the supermarket own brands.
We sometimes have local farmers’ markets, but generally I tend to buy from the supermarkets, as they’re the cheapest.
Ooh, reminds me of Acton Scott Farm Museum, Avoncroft Museum, Ironbridge… My family were/are big on social history! Great story! 😀
I’ve never been to a Farm Museum. Maybe I should look out for one!
They are very interesting places to visit, I think.