A Farmer's Tale (Part 2)

                  AN INTERVIEW WITH JILL - PART 2                                      

Dani:  As writing led to jobs in the agricultural sector that only focused on industrial farming, that definitely wasn't the route you wanted to go.  You knew you loved plants, animals, and nature and had to eat, so you said you came to the realization that you knew you had to farm.  

How did you actually begin?

Jill: I knew I was going to grow food without chemicals and honor and respect the lives of all the animals and do it in a way that was in harmony with nature and did not screw up nature.

The more I learned about industrial agricultural operations, I knew the situation was dire and horrible. I needed to figure out how to get the chickens and pigs, all the animals, back outside on grass and keep them safe. 

While researching, it was just a matter of time before I stumbled onto Joel Salatin and found that he was already doing just that.  

So, I went to Polyface, Joel's farm in Virginia, to learn from him. When I got home, I was at a point in my life when I knew it was now or never.  This was my chance. So, I cashed in my retirement and realized the only way to do this was to jump in!

Dani:  So, you quit your other job and began to farm full time?

Jill: Yes, and it was really hard. I didn't have anything. No fences, water systems, feeders, gates, adequate electric...no tractor.  I heard someone once describe how to make a little money in farming: "You start with a lot of money!"

I didn't have money, but I had grit and was good at marketing. By this point, I had a lot of head knowledge and experience with cows, but not a lot of practical know-how skills.  And it takes a lot of skills to run a farm, like fencing, carpentry, plumbing, electric, and mechanical to name only some.

At one point, about 3 years in, I was about to quit. Mary came in at that time and said, "No, we can do this together."  It was pretty rough.  One of our organic farmer friends was watching us haul water to our animals with buckets and  asked us, "Why don't you guys just go out and buy 300 feet of garden hose?" I said, “Who could afford that?”

There was also the fact that I was a woman in a "good old boys club" business.  However, we were lucky that we had some gracious farmers in the neighborhood who generously offered their help at times.  It took a village to get this farm started.  I can name the myriad of different farmers and family members who gave their help in one way or another.  A lot of mentors and helpers. Many are gone now, but their legacies are part of this farm's story and of it getting off the ground.

Dani: I've heard stories of a zillion things that went really wrong in the beginning years (you could fill your own storybook of farm tales!), so how did you get to the point of selling at the Fulton Street market? 

Jill:  I started selling garden veggies, whole chickens, and eggs at our local farmers market in Middleville.  That market rained out three weeks in a row and I had about 100 dozen eggs that I needed to sell.  So I decided to try the Fulton Street Farmers Market.  

I had no idea what the protocol was, so I just showed up (and late at that)!  Lucky for me, it was strawberry season and one of the farmers had sold all of their berries, so I was able to get a stall.  In fewer than two hours I sold all 100 dozen eggs!  I learned that the $15 dollar fee and 35 minute drive was affordable!  I convinced my mom to help me sell at Fulton Street every Saturday from then on.  

My only business plan was I could not leave until I sold 50 fresh chickens each Saturday!

Dani:  There's so many more questions to ask, but I'll end with the question of:  Why this land? Meaning, what made you choose the particular parcel of land that became Crane Dance Farm?

Jill: I fell in love with Barry County and use to drive down dirt roads and look for farms. I wanted an old farm with an old barn and an old house.  My mom and I came up this road and I saw the barn and knew it was the place.  

The date on the barn said 1867.  And the road sign had my name on it, which was cool too: Johnson Road. 

Thank you to Jill for sharing bits and pieces of Crane Dance's story and the how and why of its beginning over 20 years ago.  

Crane Dance was pioneering the "regenerative" movement back then, along with handfuls of other small farms everywhere that were starting to piece together what was happening in the bigger picture of industrial food production.  

At this crucial point in our world and planet's history, these farms, and more today all around the world, are part of a large heart, beating with clear intention.  Every new or transitioned farm that honors the natural cycles, every action of each person made daily that comes from a restorative mindset... this heart continues to grow, continues to beat more powerfully with love and determination to give nature back to itself, allowing its complexity to thrive, removing our interference, recognizing our interdependence, and offering our care. 

Can you feel it too? Something beautiful is coming to life, or coming back to life. And we are all - people, farms, organizations, communities - joining our efforts, in our own ways, and making sacrifices when necessary to honor this healing path forward... for people, animals, our planet, and the future.

When we put our hand to our heart and feel the bigger heartbeat therein, isn't it all worth it? ♡