Mishmash of Goals

Are you the sort of person who sets a whole bunch of goals for yourself with the full knowledge that there is no way you can manage to accomplish most of them?  Perhaps we are kindred spirits then?

Frankly, I prefer to reframe this in a more positive light.  I see a whole bunch of opportunities to accomplish things and I have a pretty good idea of where I might like things to go.  But, at the same time, I am fully aware that they can't all be done 'soon.'  I tend to believe that it is better to have some idea where you want things to go and to be aware of things that need to be addressed someday than it is to be unaware and unwilling to consider what might be needed down the line.

So - today I am sharing a small batch of 'goals' I have for 2021 that may or may not come to fruition.  We'll see if either the opportunities arise or the priorities line up!

Get Durnik Out and About

Durnik (the Ford tractor shown above) joined our farm in 2010 and was an excellent tractor for us to learn some of the basics.  After a few years, it was clear that a newer tractor would fit us better and would likely be a safer alternative for the things we were trying to do.  Add to it the fact that neither of us is inclined to do much with mechanics and it just made sense to get a newer machine.

Don't get me wrong here.  If you aren't particularly good with mechanical things, the simpler engines and equipment from the period this tractor came from are much easier to learn on and work with.  On the other hand, if you do not particularly LIKE to do these sorts of things, you DO have to do that sort of work more with an older machine.

In any event, once Rosie joined us on the farm, Durnik did not get used all that much.  Part of the issue is that we do not have a great place to keep both pieces of equipment sheltered and easy to access.  So, an odd little goal I have for 2021 is to get Durnik back out and running.  Then, we need to decide if Durnik sticks around the farm or if we find him a new home.

More Painting

We have a number of things that could use some paint.  I actually like to paint, but it requires chunks of time with the weather being right for painting.  That is normally prime farm work time - so it is difficult to take the time to put a coat of paint on something and enjoy doing it.  And, let's be honest, if I've been outside working hard day after day on the farm, I might rather do something that is a bit more different than ... painting on the farm.  

Even so, I have this goal that I want to paint more on the farm in the next year.  It sounds good right now.  But, I also know that the conditions won't be good for painting over the next few days - so it is easy to say it.  What happens when conditions are good for painting again.  Will I still think it is a good idea then?

More Zinnias

This one is a goal we know we can do.  Hey.  We had a four hundred foot row of zinnias this year.  We can do zinnias.

Sometimes, you have to set a goal you can have a really good chance of meeting.

Grow a Burgess or Marina Winter Squash in 2021

Here is a "shoot for the moon" goal for our farm.  We used to LOVE our Marina di Chioggia and Burgess Buttercup squash.  But, as we scaled up, we found they were largely incompatible with everything else we were trying to do.  

For 2021, I am not looking to grow these squash commercially.  I simply want to grow a dozen or so plants and harvest a couple dozen squash of one of these two types.  Perhaps, as we scale some things down, we can grow these varieties successfully again.  Or, maybe, our definition of success for the larger scale just didn't allow for the kind of success that is possible with these types on our farm?

It's hard to know - but that's why we make goals.  The results are not foregone conclusions.  

It will be interesting to see how they turn out in 2021.