The end of another season

As we hobble our way to the end of the year, we find ourselves reflecting on the last 15 seasons that we have grown veg at Trill. As growers it has become easier in some respects, although the challenges of unpredictable weather (or perhaps predictably wet) seem to have grown. However, as business owners it has undoubtedly become trickier to make it work. We continue to grow huge amounts of produce from a relatively small space and turnover a considerable amount in farming terms, but turning this into something that pays us a meaningful wage seems to become more and more difficult as time passes. We find ourselves coming to the end of a beautifully fulfilling season, dotted with moments of pride and joy, but reaching into empty pockets and thinking about how long this can be sustained. 
I suppose this feeling gains more traction as we get older, our bodies ache more and the physical demands from the work become greater. Meanwhile our kids are growing up, reminding us of how quickly time is passing and that we maybe should be keeping an eye on the future in terms of what we will do with ourselves when our bodies can't take it anymore. 

Farming and growing is a lifestyle, but it shouldn't be. It should be a job like any other. We are highly skilled and experienced, and this should be valued as should the fact that growing food is one of the most fundamental jobs required for our existence. With all this pushed aside for a moment, we can also see how privileged we are to be living where we live, working amongst nature and taking part in truly meaningful work every day. We can bring our kids up in a beautiful place with untold freedom, much like what I experienced as a kid. This privilege is immeasurable and we are acutely aware of our fortune that this work brings. However, it does not mean that the work itself should not be valued and that we should not earn a wage that can sustain us.
So, we have found ourselves, like the last couple of years, thinking about what we need to do to make this work work. What can we do to make it pay, and what can we do to ensure that we can continue growing food for our local community for years to come. It is the only time of year that we find time to evaluate what we do and give time to consider what we need. Veg growing is so seasonal and cyclical that once we start the season in late winter it is difficult to make changes, so considerable thought needs to be given at the end of the season as to what changes need to be made for the next year. 
Our story is not unique - it is one that many other farmers and growers of a certain scale experience. It is difficult to make this work. We will no doubt find a way to carry on doing what we do, it might just look a little different to what it does currently, but I do sometimes wish it was a little easier...