September 18, 2023 • 15 mins
Back in May at the Southern Adirondack Homesteading Festival, I was introduced to Natalie, the manager of our local region for the NY Farm Bureau. We became friends. She has been trying to convince me to join the organization, but I wasn't convinced that it would be a good fit. While their mission is advocacy and education relating to agricultural issues, I didn't think they would care about the issues and concerns that homesteaders face. As I shared some of those concerns with Natalie, she said to me, "Brian, NYFB cannot advocate for problems they don't know exist. They can't provide education in areas they are unaware that people are struggling with." Well, what changed? And why did I finally join NYFB? Listen and find out.
Enjoy,
Brian
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
I'm your host, Brian Wells.
And I'm a fourth generationhomesteader.
Since 2008, my family and I havebeen homesteading here.
Beautiful upstate New York.
In 2019, I launched thehomestead journey podcast.
To help people just like you.
Get started and find success.
On their journey towardsself-sufficiency.
(00:23):
Self-reliance andsustainability.
This is the homestead journey.
And this is season four.
Well, hello everyone.
And welcome back to thehomestead journey podcast.
So glad to have you here withme.
For yet another episode as wetalk about self-sufficiency
(00:46):
self-reliance.
And sustainability.
This is season four of thehomestead journey podcast.
And this.
Is episode number 168.
As always, my name is Brian andI am coming to you from.
Three B farm and homestead herein beautiful upstate New York.
(01:08):
Now before I jump into today'sepisode, I did want to apologize
that I am putting this out a daylate, had some technical
difficulties yesterday.
I recorded the episode.
And then when I went andlistened to it back, the audio
was so horrible.
There was just no way I wasgoing to be able to salvage it.
It was later in the day that Inormally record the podcast and
(01:29):
I just said, forget it.
I'm doing it tomorrow.
I'm not staying up late.
So thank you very much for yourgrace and understanding in me
putting this out a day laterthan I normally do.
Today's episode is going to be alittle bit different in that I'm
not going to have a regularhomestead happening segment.
In large part, because I didn'treally do a lot here on the
(01:49):
homestead last week.
Last week I spent part of theweek, recovering from our trip
to New Hampshire to help Jackput on the home setters of the
Winwood fall gathering.
And then part of it waspreparing to return to New
Hampshire for another functionthat I was a part of over the
weekend.
And so I wasn't on the homesteadmuch last week to really get
(02:10):
much done.
Suffice to say, we ate good fromthe garden.
And that pretty much is ourupdate.
But on today's episode, I didwant to share with you something
that I did last week.
And that is that I joined theNew York farm bureau.
Now, before I jump into what theNew York farm bureau is and why
(02:32):
I joined it.
I certainly want to preface thisby saying that this is not
necessarily an advertisement of,or an endorsement of farm
Bureau's nationwide or the NewYork farm bureau in and of
itself.
I'm not here to say you need togo join the New York farm bureau
or the farm bureau within yourstate.
(02:53):
I am simply sharing with you.
Something that I did because Iam trying to do something
tangible to try to help furtherthe cause of homesteading in.
My state, my local area, maybeeven nationwide.
And I really believe that byjoining this organization, I can
do that.
(03:15):
For you, it may look different.
There may be other organizationsfor you to join or other things
that you can do.
So I just simply wanted topreface this.
episode by saying that this isnot an advertisement for the
farm bureau.
But I want to explain to youwhat the farm bureau is.
Why I joined it and why?
I think it may be beneficial.
(03:36):
in helping advance the cause ofhomesteading, at least here in
New York state.
So, let me just start thisepisode by explaining what the
New York farm bureau is, becauseit's an organization that I was
aware of, but I never reallythought of it in the context of
homesteading.
I always thought of the farmbureau as being something for
(04:01):
the big boys, the bigger guys,large scale.
Agriculture, so, what I did is Ijust went over to their website
and I just grabbed some snippetsfrom the about section, just to
help explain what the New Yorkfarm bureau is.
The farm bureau is anon-governmental volunteer
organization, financed andcontrolled by member families.
(04:22):
For the purpose of solvingeconomic and public policy
issues.
Challenging the agriculturalindustry.
The mission of New York farmbureau is supporting today's
agricultural needs and creatingmember opportunities for
tomorrow through advocacy andeducation.
The forward looking N Y F B.
(04:42):
Vision is the voice of New Yorkagriculture that unites a
diverse farm community andbuilds.
A stronger food system and ruraleconomy.
As I said, well, I had heard ofthe New York farm bureau in the
past.
I had seen it at our localcounty fair, and I think I had
seen signs for it around ourlocal community.
(05:04):
It really wasn't until theSouthern Adirondack homesteading
festival.
That I remotely saw it asconnected to homesteading.
To me, as I stated earlier, itseemed like it was something
that was geared more towards thebig boys, large scale
agriculture, not going tonecessarily say big ag, but
certainly large farms and soforth.
(05:28):
And I, I didn't think that itwould ever.
Have any interest?
In the issues that homesteadersface.
But at the Southern Adirondackhome setting festival, I met
Natalie, who is the manager ofthe region that we're a part of.
I think there's five or sixcounties.
That she is responsible for.
And we really became friends.
(05:50):
If you actually watched any ofthe live, uh, coverage that I
did from the Southern Adirondackhome setting festival, Natalie
actually jumped on and I did alittle prompt to interview with
her, as she explained about themission of the New York farm
bureau.
And she, and I have becomefriends.
We have continued to talk andhave conversations back and
(06:12):
forth.
With regards to the New Yorkfarm bureau.
So over the last several months,Natalie is try to convince me to
join the New York farm bureau, Istarted sharing with her.
Some of the things that we faceas home setters that I think are
unique to homesteaders versusother areas.
Uh, within the agriculturalindustry, but I, I still was not
(06:35):
convinced that the New York farmbureau.
Would be.
Interested.
In those issues.
You know, things like confusingregulations.
Regulations that are tailoredfor the big guys that set the
barrier for entry so high, thatit's just difficult for
homesteaders to get started.
(06:56):
Laws that make it difficult forsmall producers and homesteaders
to sell meat and other products,confusing cottage, food,
industry laws.
And I just started sharing withNatalie A.
Little bit about some of thechallenges that we as
homesteaders face.
Obviously, that's not a, aconclusive list.
(07:16):
The list goes on and on and on.
But one of the things thatNatalie said to me over and over
again is she said, Brian, Wecould not advocate for changes
to problems that we don't knowexist.
And while that made sense to me.
I must say I still was notconvinced.
(07:40):
I was not convinced that theorganization would care.
Or even listen.
To those issues.
So what changed?
Well, last week I was talkingto, uh, another friend of mine
who is involved with the NewYork farm bureau.
And last, I believe it wasMonday evening.
They actually had the monthlymeeting of the, the members of
(08:02):
the New York farm bureau in ourcounty.
And somebody in that meetingactually raised the question.
Is homesteading and underserved.
And under resourced segment ofagriculture in our area.
And all, it was not my friendwho I would consider a home
(08:22):
setter that raised that it wasnot Natalie that raised it.
It was another member.
That unprompted raise thatquestion.
And when I heard that.
I signed up the next day.
You see, Natalie was right.
How can I expect the New Yorkfarm bureau?
Or any other organization forthat matter?
(08:43):
To advocate and provideeducation.
For problems that they don'tknow.
Exist.
How can I expect them toprovide.
Guidance.
On regulations that they may notrealize are confusing.
To people.
Like me.
(09:04):
Now to be honest with you, maybenothing will come of this.
Maybe that was one person.
And nobody else really cares toanswer that question.
Is homesteading an underservedand overlooked segment of
agriculture.
In Washington county and in NewYork state as a whole.
Maybe this will end up being acolossal waste of time.
(09:28):
And maybe I've just flushed mymembership dues right on down
the commode.
I don't know.
We're about to find out.
But what I do know is that Icannot expect this organization,
or again, any organization.
To address these problems andthese issues.
If they don't have somebody whois willing to speak out into
(09:50):
res.
Those questions and to bringthose things to light.
And to bring those things tothere.
Attention.
And so maybe by working.
With the New York farm bureauand getting to know people
within the New York farm bureau.
And making those connections.
(10:11):
I will be able to actuallyaffect positive change.
And ways that getting onFacebook and complaining never
will.
You see, it's real easy for meto jump on Facebook and I'll be
the first one to admit it.
I've done this before.
Where I'll jump onto a Facebookgroup.
And I will complain about thestupid, insane laws and
(10:32):
regulations that govern some ofthese things and how it's just
so crazy that I can process athousand chickens on my farm and
sell them direct consumers.
I can't process one rabbitlegally.
To me, that's really, reallydumb.
But if I'm not working with anorganization to try to affect
(10:52):
change in that area.
Then what have I done?
I've wasted a number of seconds,minutes, hours of my day.
Typing that on Facebook being akeyboard warrior.
But I've done nothing whatsoeverto actually effect positive
change in that area.
(11:14):
It's real easy.
Isn't it?
To sit on Facebook or Twitter.
Or parlor or telegram.
Truth, whatever truth, social,whatever social media that
you're a part of.
It's really easy to sit thereand rail against the government
and the stupid regulations.
And.
The insane.
(11:35):
Um, laws that govern some ofthese things.
It's something totally differentto get into the trenches and to
try to affect change.
Something totally different todo that.
Now I realize that change is notgoing to come overnight.
Yeah.
I don't see, join the New Yorkfarm bureau as a magic bullet.
(11:58):
That is somehow going to bringabout.
Utopia.
In the communist state of NewYork.
Uh, I've I've lived long enoughand maybe that's pessimism.
I would say it's probably morerealism.
To know.
That change is not going to comequickly.
(12:19):
And that change may never come.
But I do see in the New Yorkfarm bureau.
An organization that is willing.
Or potentially willing toadvocate for those changes.
But they cannot advocate forthose changes.
If they don't know what problemsexist.
Natalie was right.
(12:40):
But Natalie.
I would say to you.
Be careful what you wish for.
Because I'm going to make sure,you know, what problems exist.
But in all seriousness folks, Ido really want to.
Encourage you to figure outways.
To effect positive change forhomesteading in your community.
(13:04):
Whether it's going to your localtown council meetings or going
to county.
Boards of supervisor meetings orreaching out and writing to your
Congress people, or whether it'sjoining organizations like the
farm bureau, the New York farmbureau.
And really trying to makepositive change now, certainly I
(13:28):
don't think this is the only wayto go about it.
I think there are other avenuesby which we can affect positive
change.
I believe that attending localhomesteading conferences and
festivals actually can help dothat because all of a sudden, as
you bring people together, Thepowers that be realize, oh, wait
a minute.
Here is a group of people thatmaybe has existed under our
(13:51):
noses all this time.
That we didn't realize.
Needs some.
Attention.
That faces.
Some challenges.
And that might need some help.
And whether that's through thecooperative extensions, like
what's taking place in NewHampshire.
as I mentioned on last week'sepisode, Or whether that's
(14:14):
working through organizationslike the farm bureau.
I don't know what it's going tolook like in your area, but I do
know this much.
I am done being a keyboardwarrior.
I'm going to try to do my best.
To find tangible ways.
To effect positive change in thehome setting community.
(14:34):
And I challenge you to do thesame, whatever that looks like
in your area.
However that looks for you.
I challenge you.
To find tangible ways.
To try to make things better forhomesteading.
Wherever it is that you live.
If you have some ideas on how tomake that happen or some Other
(14:55):
great organizations that you'reaware of, that you can partner
with.
Let me know, reach out to me,Brian, at the homestead
journey.net is my email address.
I would love to hear from you.
And I would love to share withothers, those organizations or
the things that you are findinghelpful.
To effect positive change.
(15:15):
In your area.
Folks that's it for thisepisode, I hope you found it
helpful.
And until next time, keep up.
The good work.
I'm your host, Brian Wells.
And I'm a fourth generationhomesteader.
Since 2008, my family and I havebeen homesteading here.
Beautiful upstate New York.
In 2019, I launched thehomestead journey podcast.
To help people just like you.
Get started and find success.
On their journey towardsself-sufficiency.
(00:23):
Self-reliance andsustainability.
This is the homestead journey.
And this is season four.
Well, hello everyone.
And welcome back to thehomestead journey podcast.
So glad to have you here withme.
For yet another episode as wetalk about self-sufficiency
(00:46):
self-reliance.
And sustainability.
This is season four of thehomestead journey podcast.
And this.
Is episode number 168.
As always, my name is Brian andI am coming to you from.
Three B farm and homestead herein beautiful upstate New York.
(01:08):
Now before I jump into today'sepisode, I did want to apologize
that I am putting this out a daylate, had some technical
difficulties yesterday.
I recorded the episode.
And then when I went andlistened to it back, the audio
was so horrible.
There was just no way I wasgoing to be able to salvage it.
It was later in the day that Inormally record the podcast and
(01:29):
I just said, forget it.
I'm doing it tomorrow.
I'm not staying up late.
So thank you very much for yourgrace and understanding in me
putting this out a day laterthan I normally do.
Today's episode is going to be alittle bit different in that I'm
not going to have a regularhomestead happening segment.
In large part, because I didn'treally do a lot here on the
(01:49):
homestead last week.
Last week I spent part of theweek, recovering from our trip
to New Hampshire to help Jackput on the home setters of the
Winwood fall gathering.
And then part of it waspreparing to return to New
Hampshire for another functionthat I was a part of over the
weekend.
And so I wasn't on the homesteadmuch last week to really get
(02:10):
much done.
Suffice to say, we ate good fromthe garden.
And that pretty much is ourupdate.
But on today's episode, I didwant to share with you something
that I did last week.
And that is that I joined theNew York farm bureau.
Now, before I jump into what theNew York farm bureau is and why
(02:32):
I joined it.
I certainly want to preface thisby saying that this is not
necessarily an advertisement of,or an endorsement of farm
Bureau's nationwide or the NewYork farm bureau in and of
itself.
I'm not here to say you need togo join the New York farm bureau
or the farm bureau within yourstate.
(02:53):
I am simply sharing with you.
Something that I did because Iam trying to do something
tangible to try to help furtherthe cause of homesteading in.
My state, my local area, maybeeven nationwide.
And I really believe that byjoining this organization, I can
do that.
(03:15):
For you, it may look different.
There may be other organizationsfor you to join or other things
that you can do.
So I just simply wanted topreface this.
episode by saying that this isnot an advertisement for the
farm bureau.
But I want to explain to youwhat the farm bureau is.
Why I joined it and why?
I think it may be beneficial.
(03:36):
in helping advance the cause ofhomesteading, at least here in
New York state.
So, let me just start thisepisode by explaining what the
New York farm bureau is, becauseit's an organization that I was
aware of, but I never reallythought of it in the context of
homesteading.
I always thought of the farmbureau as being something for
(04:01):
the big boys, the bigger guys,large scale.
Agriculture, so, what I did is Ijust went over to their website
and I just grabbed some snippetsfrom the about section, just to
help explain what the New Yorkfarm bureau is.
The farm bureau is anon-governmental volunteer
organization, financed andcontrolled by member families.
(04:22):
For the purpose of solvingeconomic and public policy
issues.
Challenging the agriculturalindustry.
The mission of New York farmbureau is supporting today's
agricultural needs and creatingmember opportunities for
tomorrow through advocacy andeducation.
The forward looking N Y F B.
(04:42):
Vision is the voice of New Yorkagriculture that unites a
diverse farm community andbuilds.
A stronger food system and ruraleconomy.
As I said, well, I had heard ofthe New York farm bureau in the
past.
I had seen it at our localcounty fair, and I think I had
seen signs for it around ourlocal community.
(05:04):
It really wasn't until theSouthern Adirondack homesteading
festival.
That I remotely saw it asconnected to homesteading.
To me, as I stated earlier, itseemed like it was something
that was geared more towards thebig boys, large scale
agriculture, not going tonecessarily say big ag, but
certainly large farms and soforth.
(05:28):
And I, I didn't think that itwould ever.
Have any interest?
In the issues that homesteadersface.
But at the Southern Adirondackhome setting festival, I met
Natalie, who is the manager ofthe region that we're a part of.
I think there's five or sixcounties.
That she is responsible for.
And we really became friends.
(05:50):
If you actually watched any ofthe live, uh, coverage that I
did from the Southern Adirondackhome setting festival, Natalie
actually jumped on and I did alittle prompt to interview with
her, as she explained about themission of the New York farm
bureau.
And she, and I have becomefriends.
We have continued to talk andhave conversations back and
(06:12):
forth.
With regards to the New Yorkfarm bureau.
So over the last several months,Natalie is try to convince me to
join the New York farm bureau, Istarted sharing with her.
Some of the things that we faceas home setters that I think are
unique to homesteaders versusother areas.
Uh, within the agriculturalindustry, but I, I still was not
(06:35):
convinced that the New York farmbureau.
Would be.
Interested.
In those issues.
You know, things like confusingregulations.
Regulations that are tailoredfor the big guys that set the
barrier for entry so high, thatit's just difficult for
homesteaders to get started.
(06:56):
Laws that make it difficult forsmall producers and homesteaders
to sell meat and other products,confusing cottage, food,
industry laws.
And I just started sharing withNatalie A.
Little bit about some of thechallenges that we as
homesteaders face.
Obviously, that's not a, aconclusive list.
(07:16):
The list goes on and on and on.
But one of the things thatNatalie said to me over and over
again is she said, Brian, Wecould not advocate for changes
to problems that we don't knowexist.
And while that made sense to me.
I must say I still was notconvinced.
(07:40):
I was not convinced that theorganization would care.
Or even listen.
To those issues.
So what changed?
Well, last week I was talkingto, uh, another friend of mine
who is involved with the NewYork farm bureau.
And last, I believe it wasMonday evening.
They actually had the monthlymeeting of the, the members of
(08:02):
the New York farm bureau in ourcounty.
And somebody in that meetingactually raised the question.
Is homesteading and underserved.
And under resourced segment ofagriculture in our area.
And all, it was not my friendwho I would consider a home
(08:22):
setter that raised that it wasnot Natalie that raised it.
It was another member.
That unprompted raise thatquestion.
And when I heard that.
I signed up the next day.
You see, Natalie was right.
How can I expect the New Yorkfarm bureau?
Or any other organization forthat matter?
(08:43):
To advocate and provideeducation.
For problems that they don'tknow.
Exist.
How can I expect them toprovide.
Guidance.
On regulations that they may notrealize are confusing.
To people.
Like me.
(09:04):
Now to be honest with you, maybenothing will come of this.
Maybe that was one person.
And nobody else really cares toanswer that question.
Is homesteading an underservedand overlooked segment of
agriculture.
In Washington county and in NewYork state as a whole.
Maybe this will end up being acolossal waste of time.
(09:28):
And maybe I've just flushed mymembership dues right on down
the commode.
I don't know.
We're about to find out.
But what I do know is that Icannot expect this organization,
or again, any organization.
To address these problems andthese issues.
If they don't have somebody whois willing to speak out into
(09:50):
res.
Those questions and to bringthose things to light.
And to bring those things tothere.
Attention.
And so maybe by working.
With the New York farm bureauand getting to know people
within the New York farm bureau.
And making those connections.
(10:11):
I will be able to actuallyaffect positive change.
And ways that getting onFacebook and complaining never
will.
You see, it's real easy for meto jump on Facebook and I'll be
the first one to admit it.
I've done this before.
Where I'll jump onto a Facebookgroup.
And I will complain about thestupid, insane laws and
(10:32):
regulations that govern some ofthese things and how it's just
so crazy that I can process athousand chickens on my farm and
sell them direct consumers.
I can't process one rabbitlegally.
To me, that's really, reallydumb.
But if I'm not working with anorganization to try to affect
(10:52):
change in that area.
Then what have I done?
I've wasted a number of seconds,minutes, hours of my day.
Typing that on Facebook being akeyboard warrior.
But I've done nothing whatsoeverto actually effect positive
change in that area.
(11:14):
It's real easy.
Isn't it?
To sit on Facebook or Twitter.
Or parlor or telegram.
Truth, whatever truth, social,whatever social media that
you're a part of.
It's really easy to sit thereand rail against the government
and the stupid regulations.
And.
The insane.
(11:35):
Um, laws that govern some ofthese things.
It's something totally differentto get into the trenches and to
try to affect change.
Something totally different todo that.
Now I realize that change is notgoing to come overnight.
Yeah.
I don't see, join the New Yorkfarm bureau as a magic bullet.
(11:58):
That is somehow going to bringabout.
Utopia.
In the communist state of NewYork.
Uh, I've I've lived long enoughand maybe that's pessimism.
I would say it's probably morerealism.
To know.
That change is not going to comequickly.
(12:19):
And that change may never come.
But I do see in the New Yorkfarm bureau.
An organization that is willing.
Or potentially willing toadvocate for those changes.
But they cannot advocate forthose changes.
If they don't know what problemsexist.
Natalie was right.
(12:40):
But Natalie.
I would say to you.
Be careful what you wish for.
Because I'm going to make sure,you know, what problems exist.
But in all seriousness folks, Ido really want to.
Encourage you to figure outways.
To effect positive change forhomesteading in your community.
(13:04):
Whether it's going to your localtown council meetings or going
to county.
Boards of supervisor meetings orreaching out and writing to your
Congress people, or whether it'sjoining organizations like the
farm bureau, the New York farmbureau.
And really trying to makepositive change now, certainly I
(13:28):
don't think this is the only wayto go about it.
I think there are other avenuesby which we can affect positive
change.
I believe that attending localhomesteading conferences and
festivals actually can help dothat because all of a sudden, as
you bring people together, Thepowers that be realize, oh, wait
a minute.
Here is a group of people thatmaybe has existed under our
(13:51):
noses all this time.
That we didn't realize.
Needs some.
Attention.
That faces.
Some challenges.
And that might need some help.
And whether that's through thecooperative extensions, like
what's taking place in NewHampshire.
as I mentioned on last week'sepisode, Or whether that's
(14:14):
working through organizationslike the farm bureau.
I don't know what it's going tolook like in your area, but I do
know this much.
I am done being a keyboardwarrior.
I'm going to try to do my best.
To find tangible ways.
To effect positive change in thehome setting community.
(14:34):
And I challenge you to do thesame, whatever that looks like
in your area.
However that looks for you.
I challenge you.
To find tangible ways.
To try to make things better forhomesteading.
Wherever it is that you live.
If you have some ideas on how tomake that happen or some Other
(14:55):
great organizations that you'reaware of, that you can partner
with.
Let me know, reach out to me,Brian, at the homestead
journey.net is my email address.
I would love to hear from you.
And I would love to share withothers, those organizations or
the things that you are findinghelpful.
To effect positive change.
(15:15):
In your area.
Folks that's it for thisepisode, I hope you found it
helpful.
And until next time, keep up.
The good work.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.