I write this column from Zihuatanejo, Mexico where we have been holidaying, a place they call “paradise.”
Believe it or not, it takes a burst of energy and focus to produce even a short article such as this.
Inspiration is the other ingredient necessary for writing.
This topic today has been the subject of several articles over the years.
Farming and ranching are not just calm, peaceful lifestyles. Change has become the watchword of everyday agricultural life.
Food production has been a mainstay and purpose of organized human society from the beginning.
Innovation born of human curiosity has achieved wonders for food production. This same curiosity might just put humans on Mars. Sufficient production has allowed civilization to organize protection of food and its storage and a build the bureaucracies to count, save and distribute it.
But the increase in population that was made possible led to unsustainable growth that seriously challenges the sustainability of populations today, especially with millions being dislocated by crop failure, wars over land, water and resources needed for and increasingly complicated technologies.
With this backdrop, ranchers face reconciliation of Canada’s settlement past with today’s present Indigenous inhabitants. We face uncertainties and opportunities around water allocation, resource conflicts, watershed and landscape level planning; emergency (fire, flood and drought) management; crop adaptation to climate changes; global competition in livestock production.
Succession arrangements for farms and ranches in general is way behind with aging of the farm population. Mental health is emerging as a major concern for those on farms.
Our ranch has recently transitioned ownership to the next generation, leaving my wife and I in a helping role on the place. This continues to give us purpose by assisting children and grandchildren to realize their dreams.
With that comes transitional thoughts and feelings:
Saying “so long” to the place …
Thanks for the 50 good years
Gratitude for the opportunity
Thanks for the shelter and security
Surrounded by family, friends
Too many to do justice to the value they are to oneself.
Unfinished business
Rome not built in a day, or a generation
Change is forever present (technology)
Severity of the challenges
Fragility of the future (health, environment)
We are of this world and this society, including all of humanity.
Life can be seen as a celebration.
Keep the blueprint of natural prosperity (nature), in case technology fails us.
Value citizenship in your community of interest: charity (doing something for others) feels good.
Live and work as if we are living through improving this place we call Earth.
Mental health is “security.”
Everyone can contribute to a better world. The act of doing so feels good and makes us positive.
So many societal counselors say:
Listen, listen ,listen: the best way to learn.
READ MORE: RANCH MUSINGS: The cold chain, and other modest technologies, as a food strategy
READ MORE: RANCH MUSINGS: Spring is crazy busy for ranchers and farmers
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