Talking with a Young Farmer
Exploring Economics and Community
Sina talking to a customer at the Village Market in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Usually, when you go shopping, the vendor sets the price and that is what you pay if you want the product. However, a few seasons ago, at a local organic farmers’ market, I came across a young farmer who was trying something different. With a cheerful and kind smile, he indicated that there was no set price for his micro- and salad greens. He was leaving the customers free to pay what they thought was fair.
That unusual approach caught my attention. I asked Sina for an interview and here are some thoughts he shared:
EW: I realize that not having access to land is often a hindrance for young people who would like to farm. However, I also realize that the way our current system works, farmers rely on land ownership for their retirement. How can we overcome this problem?
Sina: It all comes down to community. If people know that when they retire, there will be a community there to care for them, they will no longer need to hold on to their land. If you look back through history, you can see that people form communities around certain pillars:
-religion
-mutual help
-food
-education
-recreation
Contemporary North American culture has not generally had as its main goal to create communities, though religions are conducive to creating community and for many people, joining a religious community does bring them a sense of community. A community founded around a spiritual outlook on life does make for a strong community.
EW: How can we create communities?
Sina: More and more, I am coming to realize that forming communities needs to be a gradual process. I have to go about my tasks and perhaps I will meet like-minded people who would like to join in community.
If we go about community-forming in too hasty a manner, the community might eventually fall apart. It is a challenge to form communities, since our dominant culture has been very focussed on individual achievement, not realizing how necessary it is for humans to be in community.
EW: How do you suggest dealing with the question of land ownership?
Sina: The land should be owned by the community. If the community includes older and younger people, the younger generation can eventually take over the work on the land while giving the older members of the community a place where they can continue to live.
EW: These ideas assume a different value system than the current one. How do we create a new value system?
Sina: Our current economic ideas have run their course. We need to think outside the box. The work people do needs to have a practical use for the community. Everybody has a gift that can serve the community. The community should be able to discern what the individual’s contributions can be.
EW: How can we make this happen?
Sina: People’s basic needs of food, shelter and health must first be met. In the west, these things can potentially be available to all. We can look at the Amish who create a community where all work together.
EW: What are your ideas regarding a basic income for everyone?
Sina: I don’t think basic income is the solution. Things will get more expensive that way. The challenge is for individuals to develop skills that are of value to the community.
EW: Are you part of a community?
Sina: At this point, the Waldorf community at the Village Market fits my mindset - the Waldorf ideas have the potential of changing the world in a positive way. My challenge is that I don’t have much time to connect with like-minded people since I am busy growing food. Covid has helped people think about what they really want in life. I figure that I need to start small, talking to six or seven people. One day, something will click. There are ideas floating around in the world, in places as far-flung as India, Nigeria, Asia. Some ideas will get hijacked by greed and individualism, but some will succeed. There are different approaches to forming healthy communities. I go about my business and hope to gradually connect with like-minded people. I have tried to help younger people, to help them transition to a new approach, but most city folks are used to conveniences. This life is tougher than I thought. Perhaps it is best to connect with people who already are in the country. It is easy to have ideas, but hard to let go of expectations that might hamper your ability to live in a community. My intention is to stay involved with farming and to gradually find like-minded people with whom I can pool resources.
EW: Did leaving people free to decide for themselves how much to pay you for your products work out financially for you?
Sina: Actually, I would say that my income was larger when I took that approach. The reason I did not continue was that I am currently also selling other people's products, which adds to the accounting complications.
EW: How do we handle the inevitable attacks that will come our way?
Sina: We need to acknowledge that humans do have a warlike component. The question is how do we manage this aggressiveness better? In our intentional communities, we could incorporate sports such as wrestling and play with paintball guns. Nature is not all love and light. We cannot deny what exists.
EW: Any final thoughts?
Sina: I am concluding that team work makes the dream work. My attitude is now to work on incremental changes. I have learned from a friend who recently died, that at the end of the day, even though you might not have completely realized your dream, the fact that you can say to yourself “I tried” will make your soul lighter.