The People

As for the Book….

I’m returning to Boston on October 26^th for the Boston Book Festival. I am on a panel will at 11:45am at Old South Church. Hope to see you at what will be my last 2024 East Coast appearance!!

, The People — Let’s make a personal connection! Come see me in Boston on 10/26

While presenting DAUGHTER OF A PROMISE, I’m inevitably asked what I’m writing next. I’m juggling several ideas, actually. While Bets, my recent novel’s protagonist, was gutted by her work on a deal to expand an agri-business client, my newest fictional heroine travels from New York to Nebraska, finding an unexpected sense of place on a farm. No surprise? Fiction aside, I’m drawn to describing eye-opening moments on FLYNN CREEK FARM, the broken food system in general, as well as my historical relationship with food…. So, who knows?… maybe a memoir is in my future.

As for the Farm…..

Speaking of finding a place on a farm, a key part of our mission is to provide career opportunities for young farmers. The average age of a farmer in the US is 60 and trending higher. That statistic combined with the fact that the number of farms are on the decline, paints a picture of a consolidating industry where opportunities to work on the land are disappearing. Not only are small farms vanishing from the landscape, when they are for sale, their cost is prohibitive for most people starting out.

John and I obviously aren’t traditional small-farmers, out in the fields ourselves or with scads of kids performing chores before school. We are blessed to have recruited a team of young people who believe in our mission and want to work alongside the land, or at least give it a try. We are investing in the professional development and growth of each person who works here.

We didn’t solely set out to regenerate the soil, but also the humans who tend it. Although regenerative farming works in collaboration with natural systems, theoretically requiring less human input, this is still freaking hard work! Farming in general is not only hard, but sometimes tragic. Our current food system, which places an inordinate financial burden and risk on farming families, has led to the highest rate of suicide among all professions. I highly recommend viewing Kiss the Ground’s most recent film COMMON GROUND for a heart wrenching and succinct explanation of what farmers are up against.

Although our farm’s mission is multi-faceted, getting the people part right feels most urgent. We’re entering the time of year when budgets and plans are being made for 2025. As CEO, my most important job is designing a paradigm to serve our teams’ needs, one that allows individuals to flourish while taking into account the economic constraints of an early-stage start-up. It’s a balancing act. To be a leader of a regenerative enterprise means working toward a system that values each team member’s essence and creating opportunities that will unleash their potential. It means listening to what each person wants from this experience, and tailoring roles and incentives that fit the unique individual.

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that over the past few weeks while attending various farming seminars, I’ve been seated next to consultants who specialize in building high performance agricultural teams. Do we need one more consultant, I’ve wondered? Possibly. When I mentioned our dream to one of these consultants he remarked that, “Developing our people” was a phrase not typically heard in farming. Another, whom I met at a Kiss the Ground at Climate Week in NY, suggested I listen to Carol Sanford’s THE REGENERATIVE LIFE which has been helpful in shaping my mindset. Oh, and did I mention we also want to ensure Flynn Creek is a fun place to work!?!

A different type of system with a fun culture doesn’t just happen. It takes thought, intention, and presence, following the adage ‘what you pay attention to grows’. So, while not driving a tractor in the fields, John and I are confident we are doing a most important job on the farm.

If you have thoughts or advice for us, please leave a comment!!