Good Day Members and Friends!!
- Gordon Ellison
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
Things have continued to be busy around the farm. No complaints here, just identifying it seems like days are packed with things to do and the days seem to reach 9pm quickly. I was recently thinking of my late father who passed in 2021. Reflecting on the time that I spent with him, I wish I would've shared more "life" with him. He asked me one time,
"Do you just ever sit down"?
I replied "There's just always things to do". On one hand I had the mentality of that's what I "should" be doing, but now I look back and realize that my Dad was probably asking me to spend some time with him.
I think about the busyness of parents and kids now a days and wonder if they ever really spend time together. Or if they are in the "always things to do" mentality. I understand that there are many things to do, but if our conversations consist of sports games, the latest Tik Tok craze, and how we're too old to understand, we may be missing the precious time we will wish we could back when we're older and they have families of their own.
Elizabeth put the last 3 turkeys we hatched on pasture last night. I mended some poultry netting. Afterwards, we took a drive around the property (something we hadn't done in a while). Along the way we heard a racket from the bed of the side x side. We were on a hill and didn't want to trust the parking brake, so we pulled to a flatter spot and discovered that a tool had fallen off. On the way to the flatter spot, Elizabeth noticed some plants we don't usually see and we got distracted enjoying the newly discovered species. We went along looking at passion flowers and some other things on the way back to the barn. Once back at the barn, I saw the empty spot where the tool hung. I told her I was going back to look for it as she took the eggs we collected earlier that evening to the house.
As I walked around where we heard the noise, I found nothing. Becoming discouraged and thinking about the tool...I recalled it was one that my Dad had purchased for me some 30 years ago. I prayed and asked God to direct me to it. Now you can think what you want to, but through calming myself and asking our Creator for help, He brought a memory to mind of a time when I walked with my Dad...
We were at a soccer game for my older brother when I was a child. Bored and wanting to "play" my Dad noticed a construction site nearby, so we walked over to it. On the walk, I gave my Dad my Tarzan action figure to hold, which he placed in his back pocket. I was intrigued by the digging machines and dirt that had been moved and so on. Dad was pleased to tell me all he knew about the equipment and what the machines did. We were enjoying the time spent together. Me being a child, I knew little, Dad being my elder by 45 years, had a wealth of knowledge in my opinion. I'm sure he was delighted to share what he knew as most parents are, after all that's what parents should do...is teach the little ones. Despite the aggravation that can be associated with overly inquisitive children...
Time came when we needed to head back. We walked and talked along the way, discussing what we had just looked at. How things are accomplished, the planning that goes into it, machines that are used and so. When we got back to the game my older brother was playing, my attention went back to my Tarzan action figure. I asked my Dad for it, but it was gone!!! Me being a little fella, I started to panic. Dad calmed me down and said, "We'll find it." I said "How"?!?!? He said "We'll just retrace our steps". We just needed to recall the path we took and re-walk it and be observant. So he walked with me. Asking me to recall which way we had taken, correcting me when needed, reminding me to be observant.
So that's what I did last night. I practiced a lesson I learned some 40 plus years ago and found the tool I had lost. It was a nice time of reflection...remembering what Dad had taught me and finding the tool he had purchased for me. What I realize is that there was two tools that Dad gave me. One was a hand tool and the other was the lesson that I learned from the time we spent walking, talking, and looking for the Tarzan action figure.
That was still on my mind as I walked back to the barn. Along the way I stopped and took pictures of some of plant species Elizabeth had noticed. As I took the pictures, I thought this is what it must have been like for Adam and God in the garden. God was teaching Adam about the species that He created to fill the needs of His creation. Nutritionally and otherwise.
So I ask myself...
Am I taking the time with those younger than me to walk with and talk with?
To teach them the little bit that I know?
Am I praying for those that want to learn and develop relationship, to be directed to people that will invest in them by sharing their knowledge and wisdom?
Do we, as a people, identify that it takes both parties? To be willing? To be sacrificial in our time and attention?
Do we understand that us older folks have some experience that can teach a younger lad or lady a lesson that can last 40 + years?
There is so much more to life than just accomplishing tasks. I encourage you and myself to take on the perspective that tasks can turn into investment opportunities. It just takes being intentional... a perspective shift. Shifting from the immediately gratifying position of "Task Accomplished" to gratification deferred investment of "Investment Made". Understand that there are lessons to be learned in the labor. I recall both of my parents taking me to games and being at games, but what has impacted me more is the life lessons that they tirelessly taught me... even when I didn't want to hear them.
Can I make the choice of sacrifice as Scripture calls me to be a living sacrifice? To direct my resources to a pay off that I may never see? To be obedient and invest where I can, when I can and leave the outcome to God?
Farm News
We're still managing just over 100 birds and all are doing well and healthy. Egg production has been decent, the meaties are growing and are on schedule for Sept.4th processing.
Below is the link for preordering.
We will be at the
Saluda Farmers Market 8/15/2025 from 4-6 pm
Columbus Farmers Market 8/16/2025 from 8am-12pm
Please consider coming out and saying hello. I'll have some other thought provoking handouts from Joel Salatin available if you're interested.
Great!