Cubicles were never going to be a good job fit for Josh. He always enjoyed physical labor more. Being in nature was necessary, and he wanted to make a living working outside. It came naturally and felt right. He eventually found himself doing turf management in the golf course industry.
Working in turf management was fine for a while but became increasingly unfulfilling. He had become more environmentally conscious over the years. “Golf courses use many chemicals. Most do their best and follow labels, but perfect green turf isn’t a natural occurrence. I began to think more about the legacy I was leaving,” he remembers. “Spending my life growing nice grass for people to chase a ball around is nice, but it began to feel empty for me.” In an impulsive moment, he left his job.
Josh says this led to him wandering through life for a few years, eventually struggling with substance abuse. “I fell into some hard times and basically lost everything.” Even during his worst times, though, Josh always maintained a garden. It provided solace and kept him going. “Some of my earliest and best memories are of working in the garden with my grandmother. I wanted to return to those roots, so I clung to them as I tried to put my life back together. I still wanted to use my green thumb and work outside, but this time for something more beneficial and fulfilling.” He started working in residential landscaping and thinking about the next direction.
Josh had grown more concerned about the amount of chemicals used in growing our food. He wanted to keep everything natural in his garden. He ran across the CAFF Farm School program and found something he’d been looking for. Learning to farm properly would bring his interests and convictions together profitably. The program had significant positives. “First off, the cost of this program for what you get is incredible. And secondly, I grew up in Bentonville, and I think many of us in the NWA region are behind this kind of movement. There is a growing desire for regenerative farming and preserving what we always had here.” To make the program schedule work, Josh gave up some landscaping hours and started mowing yards on the side to make up the difference in income.
Once in the program, he discovered that some of his turf grass knowledge was applicable, especially in the soil science and nutrition segments. But it offers a crucial difference, making it a better fit for him. “I find more purpose and meaning in farming, which was missing from my previous work. The drive is to contribute something valuable to the community; food is innately valuable to everyone. I can feel good about that. At age 49, I’ve rediscovered how important it is for me to have work with purpose. It renewed my strength, and I didn’t feel that constant need to search for purpose in what I was doing every day. It’s just there. I don’t have to be a certain kind of person when I’m farming. It’s not about me. Farming is about what you can offer of value to the community. I feel like I’ve found a home in farming. Things never truly fit before, and this feels right.”
Fulfilling work is his top priority these days. Josh laughingly says that’s a good thing since he doubts he’ll get rich in farming and that being honest with yourself about that is essential. There is much to find on a farm of his other joys: working in the dirt daily, getting sweaty, producing food, and being in nature. In colloquial Arkansas parlance, all these things make Josh as happy as a pig in mud. He also discovered a like-minded second family in his Farm School cohort, a common occurrence at CAFF—people drawn to the program and work together daily often develop unexpected tight bonds.
Nothing can replace his true family, however. Josh recounts how much they mean to him and how they stood with him during his worst times. “It means everything; they kept me going and continue to keep me going every day.” After completing the CAFF Farm School program, Josh hopes to start a farm in Fayetteville on his brother’s land. And his future farm will be dubbed Maggie Lynn Farms after his beloved niece. “She’s a miracle baby, my brother’s daughter. It took a lot to bring her into this world. And then to keep her here. She was premature and missing a valve in her heart. She needed a transplant. It was devastating for the family. Then, a donor was found, and suddenly, she was okay! Now, she is four years old and an inspiration. I want to create a farm for her future, too.”
Josh plans to have a regenerative certified natural farm someday and grow food without chemicals. He believes that the desire for that is increasing in NWA and wants to be part of the movement. He knows that industrial farms are necessary but also thinks it’s important to have alternatives for the food system and to understand where your food comes from.
He plans to build a market-scale farm, growing diversified vegetables and possibly blueberries. Whatever he does, he needs it to be profitable. “If it’s not a high-value crop, I can’t afford to do it. I need to make a living from this. I’ll plant a variety of staples and herbs to begin with and adapt for what sells.”
Josh wishes he could snap his fingers and already have a fully functioning farm, but he’s learning it’s a slow process. He credits the CAFF instructors for bringing him back down to earth by stressing the importance of doing things the right way initially and not getting ahead of yourself. He’s learned the importance of building soil and access to a reliable water source. These lessons are sobering but not deterring. Ultimately, he wants to build something sustainable that will last and be profitable right away.
When asked what advice he can offer others considering learning to farm, he suggests having a garden first. Then, after a summer or two, sign up for the CAFF volunteer day or contact any other local farms that might need help. Josh has found everyone in the regional farming community welcoming and willing to share information.
Ultimately, Josh thinks it’s essential to determine if farming is the right fit for you. His experience has taught him how important that can be. “People don’t necessarily need to conform to modern society’s expectations or do what everyone else does if it isn’t right for them. Finding something that fits your values and interests is more important. We need to pursue what gives our lives meaning.”
CAFF Farm School is part of the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture. Others who think farming might be a good job fit for them can learn more about the program at UAFarmSchool.org
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