Yesterday, Devin and I visited the farm for the third time, the farm that we are super-close to making an offer on and on which we dream dream dream of raising chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, turkeys, geese, bees, fish, and children. The local Catholic parish has purchased land just one mile from this farm, with the intention of building a new church there. We delight at the prospect of walking to Holy Mass and having everyone over to our place after for a picnic.
We are part of that young post-modern crowd that longs to rediscover what it means to be fully human through agrarian living. We want to be manual and get dirty and husband our land (as in “animal husbandry”). Amidst this journey toward homesteading, I have been increasingly delighted to discover that the doctrines of the Catholic Church encourage this life. Not only does the Church warn against the dangers of unbridled capitalism, as well as socialism, but She lauds the ancient goods of agrarian life centered around the liturgy and shared with other families. At this point, Devin and I have the agrarian life well underway and the Sacred Liturgy will be within walking distance. Now, we just need other families to move nearby, families who are interested in betrothing their children to ours (kidding) and making cheese together and having barn dances together and becoming saints side by side. And, we might smoke pipes of fragrant tobacco and pray the Rosary and eat really good chocolate. Oh, I simply cannot wait! Jesus, it’s in Your hands through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Harvest and St Joseph and St Benedict.
Books for your further reading: Flee To The Fields, Apostolic Farming, My Russian Yesterdays, Catholic Social Documents (Laborem Exercens, Populorum Progressio)
Enjoy this artsy little video which demonstrates what I dream of doing with my future pig.
On The Anatomy Of Thrift: Fat & Salt from farmrun on Vimeo.
Wash The Dishes. . . Comment on This Post!
If you enjoyed this post, please let me know. Also, feel free to spread the wealth of knowledge by using your favorite social media to share. Come find us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Pinterest. Can’t wait to hear what you think.
