Patience: How Our Word Of The Year Shapes The Season

Every new year out here on the farm feels like hitting the reset button—a real chance to start over, full of possibility but never without its share of hard work. There’s an energy in the air, a sense that anything might happen, for better or worse. This year, we decided to focus on patience, making it our guiding principle. Farming, after all, is a constant lesson in waiting. The land teaches you to let go of what you can’t control. The weather might ignore your hopes, and all you can do is adapt—sometimes changing your plans on the fly, sometimes just holding your breath and hoping for the best.

Patience isn’t just a virtue here; it’s survival. Crops don’t grow overnight, and livestock have their own rhythms no amount of wishing can speed up. There are days when progress is so slow you wonder if anything’s happening at all, and setbacks can come out of nowhere—a late frost, a piece of equipment breaking down, or a sudden storm undoing weeks of effort. In those moments, patience means not giving in to frustration. It’s about trusting the process, believing that every small step forward, even the unseen ones, add up in the end.

To be honest, patience doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m the type who wants to see results, who gets restless when things drag on (and yet, it takes me forever to crochet anything because I keep putting it off even though it's something I enjoy). So committing to patience is a real challenge. But I’m starting to see how it makes the tough times a little easier to bear. It helps me keep sight of the bigger picture—not just the harvest at the end of the season, but the slow, steady growth that happens along the way. Each year, the farm teaches me a bit more about waiting, about resilience, and about finding satisfaction in progress, even when it’s hard to see.

Why Patience is Essential for Life on the Farm

Life on a farm is a constant lesson in patience. Almost everything you do involves waiting in some form or another. You tuck seeds into the soil with hope, knowing you won’t see green shoots for days or even weeks. Animals grow and change slowly, needing consistent care day after day. Whether you’re tending a vegetable patch or looking after a herd of sheep, nothing happens overnight.

Trying to speed things up rarely ends well—plants can be damaged, animals stressed, and you might find yourself undoing mistakes that could have been avoided with a slower approach. Patience isn’t just a virtue here; it’s a necessity. It allows you to notice the subtle changes in your fields or your animals, to catch small problems before they become big ones, and to give everything the chance it needs to flourish. Plus, moving at a thoughtful pace often means fewer errors and less stress in the long run.

How Patience Shapes Our Approach to Farming

At the start of the year, we intentionally chose patience as our guiding principle, not realizing just how deeply it would influence every aspect of our farming journey. It’s remarkable how such a simple word can transform your outlook—patience becomes woven into our daily routines, our long-term plans, and the way we respond to setbacks. In farming, so much is out of our control: the weather can change in a heartbeat, crops don’t always grow as expected, and challenges can pop up when you least expect them. Patience reminds us that growth—whether in plants or in ourselves—takes time. It encourages us to slow down and trust in the process, even when progress feels invisible.

By focusing on patience, we’ve learned to approach our work with more flexibility and resilience. Instead of feeling defeated by failures or delays, we see them as opportunities to learn and adjust our methods. This shift in mindset allows us to find value in the daily tasks and small improvements, rather than just waiting for the harvest at the end of the season. Patience teaches us that each stage of farming, from preparing the soil to tending young plants, is important in its own right. Ultimately, embracing patience not only helps us roll with the inevitable ups and downs, but also deepens our appreciation for the journey itself, making the rewards of farming feel even more meaningful.

Planning with Patience

These days, our approach to planning has become far more forgiving and adaptable than it used to be. Instead of holding ourselves to rigid, minute-by-minute agendas, we leave breathing room in our schedules, fully aware that farming is unpredictable by nature. The weather can flip our plans upside down in an instant—a late frost can linger, delaying planting, or a sudden thunderstorm can turn a field into mud overnight. Equipment breaks down, seeds arrive late, or animals need unexpected attention.

By building flexibility into our days, we give ourselves the space to absorb these surprises without falling apart or feeling overwhelmed. It’s a mindset shift—from trying to control every detail, to making room for the unexpected and trusting our ability to adapt. This not only keeps us calm when plans inevitably shift, but also makes us more thoughtful and deliberate in our decision-making. We’re less likely to make rash choices just to stay “on schedule,” and more likely to pause, evaluate the situation, and choose the best course of action for the land, the animals, and ourselves. In a way, this slower, more mindful approach has improved our judgement and resilience. We don’t feel rushed to meet arbitrary deadlines. Instead, we approach each challenge with patience, knowing that in farming, timing isn’t just about the clock—it’s about listening to what nature is telling us and responding with care.

Daily Work and Patience

This patient mindset isn’t reserved only for the big-picture planning or when things go wrong—it’s woven right into the fabric of our daily work. Take pruning the orchard, for example. We don’t just rush through, lopping off branches to get the job done. We slow down, moving from tree to tree, really looking at each one. We consider the shape of the trunk, the health of each limb, and the way sunlight will filter through the canopy. Every cut is made with intention, with an eye to not just the coming harvest, but to the next season and the one after that. We’re nurturing the trees for the long run, understanding that the benefits of careful, patient pruning might not be seen for months or even years.

The same is true when we care for our animals. Feeding isn’t just about tossing out hay or grain and moving on. We observe them closely, watching for subtle changes—a head held low, a change in appetite, a limp that wasn’t there yesterday. These small signs, easy to miss if we’re in a hurry, can make all the difference in catching a problem early and keeping the animals healthy. Over the years, we’ve learned that in farming, speed rarely leads to better results. What truly matters is doing things thoroughly and thoughtfully.

When we take our time, the animals thrive, the crops are more resilient, and we find ourselves more connected to the work. There’s a quiet satisfaction in knowing that patience, though sometimes challenging, brings rewards that can’t be rushed—stronger harvests, healthier animals, and a deeper enjoyment of the life we’ve chosen. In the end, patience isn’t just a virtue on the farm—it’s a necessity, and one of the greatest gifts this way of life has to offer.

Handling Setbacks Calmly

Every farmer knows that setbacks are part of the deal. Whether it’s a sudden hailstorm, a pest outbreak, or equipment breaking down at the worst possible moment, there’s always something that doesn’t go according to plan. When trouble hits, patience helps us stay calm and focused. Instead of reacting with frustration or panic, we pause to assess the situation. This thoughtful approach lets us come up with solutions that fix the problem rather than make it worse, and it keeps us from burning out when things get tough.

Here are some ways patience plays a role on the farm every single day:

• Observe carefully before acting. Taking your time to watch what’s happening—whether it’s the color of your plants’ leaves, the behavior of your animals, or the moisture in the soil—can reveal issues early. The more you observe, the more you learn, and the better equipped you are to respond before problems escalate.

• Give crops and animals the time they need. Growth is a gradual process. Seeds don’t turn into harvest-ready crops overnight, and young animals need months or years to mature. By respecting these natural timelines, you end up with stronger, healthier plants and animals.

• Avoid costly mistakes. Rushing through chores or decisions often leads to errors—like overwatering, planting too early, or missing signs of disease. Patience gives you the space to double-check your work, catch issues before they get serious, and ultimately make fewer mistakes.

Real Ways to Build Patience on the Farm

Patience isn’t something that magically appears overnight—it’s a skill we nurture every day, often in the smallest moments. On the farm, patience becomes as important as the soil itself.

Here’s how we weave it into our daily lives, each and every season:

• Set realistic goals: Break big projects into smaller, manageable steps so you can tackle them one at a time. When you set targets that are truly achievable, it’s easier to stay motivated and track your progress, even when things are moving slower than you’d like. Celebrate each milestone, no matter how small—it all adds up over time.

• Keep a farming journal: Take a few minutes at the end of each day to jot down what you observed, what challenges you faced, and what worked well. Over weeks and months, you’ll see clear patterns and recognize your growth. Your notes become a record of not just your farm’s development, but your own progress as a patient, thoughtful farmer.

• Practice mindfulness: When the workload piles up or things don’t go as planned, pause and take a few deep breaths. Bringing yourself back to the present moment helps you manage frustration and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re walking through the fields or fixing a fence, being mindful helps you appreciate the process, not just the outcome.

• Learn from nature: Pay close attention to how plants grow and animals behave. They never hurry, but they always move forward at their own pace. By observing their steady rhythms, you’re reminded that growth and change happen gradually. Nature teaches us that patience is not about waiting—it’s about trusting the process and embracing each season as it comes.

• Build a support network: Farming is easier—and a lot more enjoyable—when you share the journey with others. Connect with fellow farmers, neighbors, and friends who understand the ups and downs. Swap stories, exchange advice, and support each other through the tough times. Knowing you’re not alone makes it easier to stay patient and keep going.

Why Patience is Worth the Effort

Patience isn’t just a farming tool—it’s a way to make life richer and more rewarding. When you’re patient, you find yourself less stressed and more able to handle setbacks. Over the years, the benefits really show:

• Healthier: Your crops and animals thrive because you take the time to care for them properly, responding thoughtfully to their needs rather than rushing or forcing results. Patience leads to better choices, which means fewer problems down the line.

• More sustainable: Patient farmers invest in methods that support the long-term health of their land and resources. Instead of quick fixes, you build systems that last, protecting your soil, water, and community for generations.

• Stronger: With patience comes a deeper connection to your land, your neighbors, and yourself. You become more resilient and better equipped to handle whatever challenges nature or life throws your way.

In the end, patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about using that time wisely. On a farm, it’s the difference between feeling constantly stressed and being able to enjoy the journey, learning from each season and every challenge. By embracing patience, we’re not only better farmers, but we’re also happier and more resilient in the face of whatever comes our way.

Building patience isn’t always easy, but it’s what gives us the strength to keep farming, season after season. It’s the quiet foundation that helps our farms—and our lives—grow strong and steady, no matter what comes our way.