Trigger warning! This is a post that represents my adamant feminism that I warned you about over there. >>>>>>
My husband and I own and live on a small farm. We are farmers. Therefor I am married to a farmer, which technically makes me a farmer's wife. I am also a farmer. And he is a farmer's husband. Hey wait! Have you ever actually heard of someone being referred to as a farmer's husband??! Well now you have! Yes, the fact is that John is a farmer's husband and I am a farmer's wife. But you know what, why can't we both simply be called farmers?! I love getting books about farms for babies and little ones. Not only do most kids love the thought of farms, but I believe it helps them to learn where their food comes from. Even in the small town which I am from, there are adults and children alike that do not fully understand where there food comes from. So I love to share my experiences as a farmer with those around me, but especially young children. I believe a great way to share this knowledge is to buy books about farms for the little ones. But I am regularly disappointed when I pick up a book to read to a little one and find that there is a man in the book called a 'Farmer', and a woman, often holding a pie, called 'The Farmer's Wife'. I am sure that there are some households where this is the norm. Actually as I typed that I changed my mind. All of the females that live on farms that I know are either fully engaged in the farming activities, or work off the farm, and many do both! It may have been the norm for women 100 years ago to do the cooking, cleaning, and child rearing on a farm while the husband cared for the animals and did the field work, but I would be willing to bet that even then, those women did their part caring for the farm animals. While spreading my love of farming and healthy eating, I was invited to visit a kindergarten classroom. My sister-in-law is a teacher and invited me to speak with her class. We talked about farm animals, where eggs come from and more farm stuff (including poop). I read them a couple books about farms and farm animals and then my SIL suggested we play a game of 'The Farmer in the Dell'. You remember this one right!? I specifically remember playing this when I was in kindergarten. The game starts with a student chosen to be the farmer in the center of a circle of friends. While singing along, the game goes down the hierarchy of farm residents each choosing the next from the circle of friends to join them in the center. Farmer-Wife-Dog-Cat-Mouse-Cheese until at the end, the cheese stands alone. At this point please note that the Farmer comes first and then 'picks' a wife, as the song goes. I am not sure what children are expected to learn from this game besides a bit of institutional sexism, but I remember it being fun when I was 5. So we start out the game and Mrs SIL suggests that it only makes sense that I be the 'Farmer'. Perfect. Then comes 'The farmer picks a wife' line. She quickly changes it to 'Spouse', working quickly on her feet! So now I am to choose a spouse. Being a parental adult, I was looking for a child who really wanted to be a part of this game. One who maybe didn't often get chosen by their peers. Not at all considering the sex of said child, because that is how I think, I see a girl with big, longing eyes. One who so desperately wants to be a part of this game. One who listened well during story time and, as I see it, is looking up to me as someone she could some day emulate. So of course I chose her! So here we are; A female farmer and her female spouse! Changing the world, one kindergartener at a time!
1 Comment
1/30/2020 06:30:15 am
It is hard to be a farmer's wife, that is for sure. Life is not about lucrative items, at least for me it isn't. I know that there are lots of people who will try to go and talk me out of this, and that is fine. I will need to go and think about what I have to do in this life, that is for sure. Please just let me think about the stuff that I want to do.
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AuthorHi! I am Lori Lundell and I am the Country Girl Gardener at Lundell Farms. Together with my husband, John, we have a small, farm focused on natural, healthy living. We raise produce, animals for meat and eggs, and love spending time together working on projects! Archives
November 2016
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