In late June our Mastermind group met at the farm home of Jolene and Keith Brown in West Branch, Iowa. Even though I had grown up in a small town in Iowa and had many friends who lived on farms, I had never spent several days actually living on a farm. The experience was an eye-opener for each of us “city folks” and taught us some important lessons about hard work, community, and values.
1. Rise early and work late. Every morning Keith was out in the fields at the crack of dawn, using every daylight hour possible, and he often did not come in until late at night after cleaning all the equipment and preparing for the next day’s work. How many hours of our day do we waste?
2. Do it NOW! Jolene was up early, too, caring for her huge garden. We learned that if you do not pick the vegetables within a certain time frame, they become too mature so use, so she goes out immediately each day and picks what is ripe and ready. Then they eat some fresh, and she freezes and cans the rest. We were privileged to share in that fresh and delightful produce many times during our visit. It has been hard to go back to “store bought” veggies! How often do we let important things go too long and then we lose the fruit they might bear?
Jolene in her huge garden
The Mastermind Gals
3. Use every RESOURCE you have. We were amazed at how Jolene and Keith found ways to use everything around them and their creativity in finding solutions to problems that occurred. Keith shared how chemistry related to agronomy, how finance related to marketing, how weather related to production, how politics and regulations related to the farm’s bottom line. We had no idea that farming is such an expensive venture! Just climbing on the huge combine which cost thousands of dollars was an awesome experience, and we left with the utmost respect for the knowledge and expertise these two precious people possess. One of the things that tickled me most was how Jolene uses the huge multi-sized wooden spools that formerly held electrical wire. For her grandchildren, they become tables for tea parties, obstacle courses for bikes and trikes, pyramids to build and more. What resources are you neglecting to use in your life?
4. DEPENDENCE on Mother Nature. I think we hear this often, but until you visit a farm and talk with the farmers, you have no idea how dependent they are on the weather. One storm can cause the loss of an entire year’s income. It made me realize how overly dependent most of us have become on our own abilities. When we are faced with situations like the economic downturn or health issues or losing our jobs, we often are not prepared to have the courage and the faith to get through those difficult times, yet farmers face that lack of control every day, and, most of the time, they have learned to survive. Are you prepared and do you have a faith system to sustain you when times are difficult?
Another expensive piece of machinery
5. A return to SIMPLICITY. We were struck by how few material things we REALLY need to live happily in this world. The nearest grocery store is over an hour away from the farm, for example. Instead of being dependent on “paid for” entertainment or shopping, we enjoyed the beauty of the land, the sky, and the stars more than we ever had before. Fireflies shot up from the corn, and the moon became a breathtaking globe of light. Have you taken time to think about what is truly important in your life and what you could live without? I came home wanting to simplify my life and enjoy my beach much more!
John sitting on the Front Porch
6 They have a worthy MISSION, and to achieve it, the work is never done. I will never again complain about having to work hard after spending time with Jolene and Keith! After learning just a tiny bit about what goes into running a farm and working the land, we all left with an immense appreciation and an expanded outlook for all those in our world who grow our food. It is truly their mission to provide food, clothing, and renewal fuel for a needy world. Do you have a mission in your work?
7. The importance of COMMUNITY. I loved hearing how these country people support not only one another but anyone who needs help. Jolene shared how they had many times taken in complete strangers when the highways were closed because of snowstorms. Neighbors share equipment, food, and other necessities when the need is there. Do you even KNOW all your neighbors?
Our Mastermind group -- Jolene, John, Bev, and me
8. Necessity of “PERIODS OF REST.” Jolene has an additional career as a speaker in the winter when the needs on the land are not so great. You’ll find her presenting to audiences around the world when she’s not in the fields planting and harvesting. I thought of the Bible verse that “to everything there is a season.” We all need periods of rest time, just as the land needs to lie fallow in order to regenerate itself for the next season. Sometimes I find myself fighting these “plateau” times, especially because they are often out of my control, and yet we all need them to regroup and recharge. Do you appreciate these times in your own life or do you fight them?
I loved the tree swing in the front yard!
I am so grateful to have had the experience of learning more about the daily lives of these two precious people and the gifts they are giving back to the world. I came back to my comfortable life with a new appreciation for how really easy my life is and the deepest respect for those who love the land. I encourage you to visit a farm and learn some of these lessons for yourself. You will never feel the same way about your life again!
