A Dream and a Life Therapy

Many, many years ago, I would buy copies of the Mother Earth News Magazine whenever I could afford to buy one. I would thumb through each issue and read every article and ad that it contained. I would dream of owning my own home and on that piece of land I would implement all sorts of homesteading, farming and self-sufficient activities into my daily life. I would, in essence, LIVE the "Mother Earth News Life."

This all took place in my dreaming world - and I never really thought it could ever become part of my reality. My "reality" simply couldn't afford it nor could I conceive of a plan to accomplish this goal - or even envision it as obtainable.

As the years went by, the dream grew inside me. I remembered everything I read in those magazines. I would plan projects and choose the features of my dream farm. I was sure I would have animals and probably lots of them. I never envisioned horses, cows or pigs...but rather I saw myself as more of a hobby farmer, and in that world you would probably keep bees, rabbits, Guinea Fowl, and no doubt a dog. There would be substantial gardens and I would grow my own food as well as herbs and plants for medicinal preparations.

My dream farm would be nearly self-sufficient. I would compost waste materials, make my own goods and barter services with my self-sufficient neighbors. It would be a beautiful life filled with activity and balanced with work, which I would love. I would find time and ways to express creativity. I would also find ways to contribute to the welfare of others and have a positive impact on the planet.

Slowly, without my even noticing it, my dream farm became unattended and I stopped planning the activities of that dream world. Reality seemed to be too selfish to share my attention and the dream stagnated and all but died. It would be almost another decade before I would again dare to dream at all.

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In the year 1993, the dream slowly dusted itself off and started to make small appearances in my life. It started slowly… a small garden appeared in the front yard in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The entire house lot was probably about a tenth of an acre and the front yard was barely large enough to park three cards on... but a garden started and was tended and grew. Year to year I would watch the perennials grow and change and every year I would add more plants, expanding the garden to almost the entire length of the front yard. It was a glorious garden filled with all my attention. The rhythm of the seasons was attractive and I enjoyed knowing what time of year produced what stage of growth in the natural world, in what directions the wind and weather generally arrived, and noted other seasonal events with curiosity and anticipation.

After seven years, I moved to another town and another home. This time, I had almost a third of an acre to work with. I dove into gardens again, and made a small pond with many plants around it... and all around the house were flowers and shrubs as well... and finally, the animals started to come!

The first animal was Rufus, a gray lop-eared rabbit. He was very friendly and loved people. I immediately created a large area for him to run around in - by using chicken wire stapled to the inside of the fence in a ten by twenty foot patio space in the back of the house. Almost immediately, a second rabbit came in - a brown and white rabbit named Otis.

The seed had been planted and the dream was getting too big for its britches! I didn't have enough room for the rabbits, and the garden space was not sufficient. Worst of all, I wanted goats and there simply was no place for them to live. It was time to really throw the barn doors open and move to the farm. So, I did.

In the year 2000, and about twenty-five years after the dream begins, I finally move to a location "in the forest" (as I like to say). This new setting provides the opportunity for  “real” farming. The land consists of three acres of woods and the terrain is natural including an impressive rocky ledge and a small hillside. The trees are many, thick and dense, and they afford a lot of privacy.

After settling in, a small barn is built and an existing shed is transformed into a chicken coop. A garden shed is added to the front yard and a farm is born. It even gets a name - which officially transforms the dream into reality:

Old Dana Farmstead

I have my farm and so the animals come faster now! Rufus and Otis are already living on the farm, of course, and Oreo and Dusty - two huge female dairy goats, follow them. Soon thereafter, a visiting troupe of chickens begins to arrive on a daily basis. They must belong to a neighbor - but they have decided to live with me during the day and only go home at night

In another few months, seven more chickens arrive including two roosters. Next comes two beautiful white geese, and two fantastic black runner ducks. At the time of this writing, a total of 57 animals now live here and enhance my life. Four outbuildings house the residents of Old Dana Farmstead, which includes rabbits, goats, geese, ducks, and chickens. In the future, peafowl and turkeys may arrive!

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The dream of becoming a self-sufficient eco-friendly Mother Earth-type creative farmer seemed impossible to me for a long, long time. It seemed elusive, but in reality it was simply waiting for me to allow it to happen. Yes, it was a long journey.

I brought many of the skills I use today on a daily basis with me from that time when the farm was only a “dream farm.” I packed those projects away in the back of my mind and now I let them out one at a time to find the light of day and become part of my "real-world" dream.

I have learned that farming isn't a project with a beginning, middle, and end - but rather a state of mind and an on-going ever-changing process. It is a labor of love and a "life therapy." It gives balance and grounds me to the earth energy, the animal world, and my own need to be active, productive, and nurturing. Having worked as a social worker and Reiki practitioner, I already had a position from which to "give back to the world," but the farm provides me with an even better outlet for personal growth and expression. Plus, it was my personal dream to achieve and experience this.

I enjoy the farming life I have created. It has been an important life-lesson to me:

That dreams do actually come true.

Some of you already know this and some of you still have your doubts. I’m here to say that those doubts may be simply a starting point from which you can begin a journey. Perhaps they are the foundation from which dreams may eventually emerge. Honor your present but don’t actively block the possibility of abundance and dream fulfillment in the future. Don’t be afraid to dream.

Take it from me, a former doubter - dreams can come true. Look around; the magic is everywhere just waiting to be set free.