Going Native: Life in the Country

Not long after we moved onto our country property, I thought I’d amble over and see Fred Number Two. We had just bought the property from Fred Number one, and I thought it best to get to know both Freds, since they were our new neighbors and being neighborly was, of course, one of the hallmarks of country folk. So […]

Dr WIker has captured so well what it means to be a transplant to the country! Our town is a mixture of families who have been here for multiple generations and transplants from cities and towns who move in and see the beauty of the area, but then complain in the spring when the manure spread on the fields over the winter starts blowing it’s presence across the road! All of a sudden the country has lost it’s charm for them! I’ve heard local farmers complaining about this, so you can see why they might be suspicious when someone new like our family moves in!

Of course news of our arrival in North Stonington traveled fast. “Who are those people who moved up on the hill?” “Yeah – they’re on the old Arbor Acres chicken farm!” “They have 8 kids – I think they’re all adopted!” “They’re starting a farm!? Ha! We’ll see how that works out!” “They’re building a barn?” And then slowly, we’ve met people…some who grew up here and remember the old farm that was here…many who worked here when they were teenagers, cutting and baling hay, working at the poultry farm. The stories are incredible, and you try to picture what things used to be like here. Some of the old timers seem appreciative that we are trying to return this property to a farm, and I think they are quite surprised to see what we’ve done so far! And so we feel that we are slowly being accepted – at least as farmer wanna-be’s.

We’ll never reach the prestigious farmer status of those who’s families have been here for generations, but just to rub elbows with them from time to time is an honor for us. We have great respect for these third, fourth and even fifth generation farmers of North Stonington. They are smart, resourceful and kind people…salt of the earth.

Anyway — check out Dr Wiker’s article when you have time.  It’s quite entertaining!