Farming: A Culture Like No Other

Culture can be defined as ways of living built up by a group of people and passed down through generations. Farming can be defined as using a tract of land in order to raise crops and livestock are raised. Thus, farm culture is passing a tract of land and the knowledge of working it down through generations. Farm culture promotes a lifestyle unlike many cultures today; that of total self sufficiency, from food growth in both crops and livestock, to the current trend of “Do-It-Yourself”, and, most importantly, provides a source of income.

Most modern cultures have a tendency to go to the grocery store for all fruit, vegetable, and meat needs. On a farm, you grow all of your food, whether it be meat or vegetable. Farming nurtures life in plants as well as animals, but it also uses that nutrition to nurture future generations. Caring for animals includes feeding chickens in hopes of reaping the benefits of eggs, milk, and fried chicken.

The “Do It Yourself” trend is very popular right now in modern society, but farmers have been the forefront of this movement since farming began. Some reasons for this cultural trait may be the location of the farm; in 1998, fifty-four percent of Americans lived in a rural setting (as defined by the USDA). Farms are mostly in rural settings and often it is not always easy to head into town for the part needed to fix equipment, so they either create the part themselves or make due with materials on hand.

Bartering has been around as long as people have lived in groups; today, people use currency or personal skills to earn the things they need, and farm life teaches skills needed to earn an income. This culture teaches to use what is needed, and then barter or sell excess for the things that are still needed. Frugality and inventiveness are common in farming cultures regardless of location, and it’s that belief and teaching that farmers instill in their future generations to ensure that the farming way of life prevails.