Skip to main content

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.
Labels:

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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bloggy Giveaway--Now Closed

**This bloggy giveaway is now closed** Thanks to all who participated and gave such great comments. Janette is the winner of the $15 gift certificate to our etsy store . I'm participating in the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival . Click the link to go to the carnival where you can enter to win literally hundreds of things. The good news is that even if you have no time to play on the computer trying to win hundreds of things, you can still enter to win one thing right here. This week, I will be giving away a $15 gift certificate to be used toward the purchase of an item in my etsy shop . This contest is open to residents of the United States or Canada only. The winner will receive free shipping on whatever item they choose. Items in my etsy shop include handwoven rugs, wool yarns and roving from our farm, and the ever-popular cotton dishcloth! To be entered in this wonderful drawing, you must go to the etsy shop and look around a bit. Then come back here and type a comment that ...
132 comments
Read more

This Giveaway Is Now Closed!

Today starts a giveaway at Farming in the Shade! I am happy to contribute this complete hat kit (needles not included) to someone who has a knitting obsession and a small person in their life. Here are the rules (contest open to US or Canada residents only): Giveaway ends May 1 at 9 p.m. EST. Winner will be announced by Sunday, May 3. Enter by posting a comment on this blog post. Tell me something about your knitting--who taught you to knit, your favorite yarn, the coolest thing you ever knitted. Make sure you leave contact information! Earn extra entries by: 1) Following me on twitter. (If you don't know what twitter is, don't worry. It's another way to waste your time on the computer.)  Add a comment here so I will count it as one entry. 2) Tweeting this giveaway (no more than once daily). Add a comment here so I know you did it. 3) Blog about this giveaway. Add a comment (with link) here so I can go visit your blog. 4) Follow or subscribe to this blog (or tell me if have...
45 comments
Read more

Lambing Jugs

We usually let ewes begin lambing in the large pen, with the other expectant ewes. After the first lamb is born, The Farmer will let her care for it for a few minutes. Then he will go in and pick up the lamb (or lambs, if he's arrived after multiple births) and move slowly out of the large pen. In this case, the lamb is the bait that makes the ewe move, too. She is very concerned about her lamb, and will follow closely, calling out the whole time.  The ewe and her lamb(s) are placed in a small lambing pen, called a jug. I have no idea why they are called jugs. If anyone knows the origin of that term, I'd love to know. They are kept there for 1-3 days to ensure that they bond, and that the ewe is caring for her lambs well. No distractions. We set up a whole row of temporary jugs during lambing time. This is one of our hay storage areas, so we need to be sure that we've used most of this hay up before lambing begins. After their time in the lambing jugs, the ewe...
2 comments
Read more