9 things I’ve learnt about going away as a farmer

I’m still in Spain moulding into a local in the short time. Ordering my “cafe solo” and “Pan con todo”. It’s so similar yet so bloody different to Australia. My partner and I ate out again for breaky for 8 euros and we were full and buzzing from the coffee.

A weird fact her is in groups they don’t shout the whole table and get it the next time if they didn’t pay. We all ate out with 11 people and it cost 109 euros so I shouted the table dinner and the drinks (dinner at 11pm mind you) which was a way of saying thank you to the family and friends that always help me out.

I’ve been to Spain nearly 10 times now and these are some lessons I’ve learnt about going away as a relatively new full-time farmer:

1. 1. You’ll never get all the jobs done before you go but I’ll have a bloody good crack. 🐮 

2. Refer back to one ☝️

3. The grass will be greener when you get back. Not in your paddocks but in your mind. Take your mind off the stresses and look for the opportunities.
   
   Best ideas come from ordering a coffee in another language.

4. “Dolce Far Niente” time spent doing nothing. Don’t count days away like your sheep. Doing nothing is good for you. Read books, go for a hike or just sit there thinking 🤔

5. Find out what others do across the world or across the country. I’ve found it super useful or just interesting to find how what another farm can produce or the weird stuff of how it got to my plate. Cultures are different everywhere. I’m in Spain writing this and they’ve seemed to nailed the food system.
   
   One takeaway is that they have nailed the value adding of products and a grand scale. Australia is value adding but costs seem to eat at you, we have less people meaning less market. Exporting is expensive and not always someone will like it. I wouldn’t find that out if I didn’t travel.

6. Breakfast in Spain reigns supreme. See photo for proof. The “diet” just the everyday food is healthy and diverse but also super simple. You order a coffee and it’s just with milk not the 20 options. Try the different foods, even if you were raised on a sheep station not a raw fish station.

7. Yes travel is a luxury but it’s a necessity to get off farm. Discover something knew. The more you book it in the best your farm will be. Also it’s not always about the farm the thing on your shoulders will enjoy too.

8. Organise your farm so that it can be a common thing. Too many just stay at home years on end. Sell 10 more sheep, 1 steer or increase your crop yield by 100kg to cover your travel.

9. Your farm will always be there but you won’t be.

I’ve ran out of steam 😰 and can’t count sheep as well anyway and 9 is my favourite number.

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