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The Old MacDonald Syndrome

Over the weekend, I received word from friends (who watch these things) that our little etsy shop was getting some attention. You might be able to read the article and see the items that Etsy Administration picked for their "Ode to a Farm" theme. Quite honestly, I was surprised that I made the cut. (And before I get to the point of this blog post, I have to say that getting noticed on etsy is a very good thing. My mailbox is stuffed with outgoing packages this morning.)

Anyhoo, if you remember Sesame Street from the 70s (am I dating myself?), you might remember a game and song that went "One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn't belong..." and then we sweet little TV-watchers were supposed to choose which thing didn't match the others. I feel like my yarn is the thing that doesn't belong in the collection "Ode to a Farm."

You see, Admin had picked mostly vintage, primitive, nostalgic farm-related items for the collection. Go look, and tell me if I'm right. Then read all the gushing comments about how sweet and peaceful life on the farm is. Makes you want to roll up your Wranglers and go running off into the meadow with flowers in your hair...

Well, if that isn't a case of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, then I'm an enamel coffee pot. I truly don't want to be a scrooge, but farmers have begun paying the price for not correcting this mistaken concept of what farming is. We have a whole slice of America that is shocked when they see a real farm, when they are presented with agriculture as a business (as though wanting to earn a living is somehow evil), and when they read the latest op-ed piece by someone who has maybe never even set foot on a modern farm.

Enjoy the lovely vintage items listed on etsy. I do. But don't make the mistake of thinking that these vintage items are anything more than memories of bygone days.
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Comments

  1. Mackin-ArtJanuary 25, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    I 100% agree with you, but people most often want to buy the fantasy, not reality. I feel the same way when folks start cooing about "you're so lucky to live on Mackinac", not realizing that luck has nothing to do with it - it's due to our unending hard work that we can have the unique lifestyle we currently enjoy, despite the downsides.

    Congrats on being featured!

    ReplyDelete
  2. KathleenJanuary 26, 2010 at 12:04 AM

    Yep - I agree with Mackin-Art - I think people are all caught up with a fantasy even when they look at the bygone days. Most people have no idea of what 'farming' means now or what it meant a hundred years ago.

    ReplyDelete

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