One of my favorite book series is coming out with a new title. It has been quite some time since I’ve read these books, so I get to re-read them now and catch back up. These days, I find that I’m re-reading more books than I’m reading new ones. I might know the ending, but I tend to forget about a lot of the important details in the middle. Each time is still a worthy read; I get caught up in the narrative, and more often than not, I find something I missed the first time around. I don’t remember things like I used to. I think that’s true for a lot of us. We’ve packed so much knowledge, some of it useless, into our lives that it’s hard to get it all back out. Even when we need it. That’s where leaning on others can help, I think.
I will never be a master gardener. Officially. I know what I’ve always known: how to plant potatoes, tomatoes, and onions. Other plants escape me. That’s my wife’s department. Her curiosity is greater there, while I prefer to cook our bounty. That’s where I can hold my own. It’s really a great fit: she doesn’t need a lot of instruction in taking care of plants, and I don’t need a cookbook to make use of what we grow. We’re a perfect example of companion planting — which she can tell you way more about — which benefits both parties being together more than being separate. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We’re all naturally curious about different things and have experience in different fields.
Recently, I was trying to explain the point of college to my kids. It starts off in high school where you, essentially, learn what everyone knows. When you go to college, you get to a point where you learn what fewer people know. If you keep going, you get to a point where nobody knows what’s next. That’s how we progress. We’re only able to build on what we know. There’s no lightning strike of knowledge to push humanity forward. It’s just us, working together, creating a model to follow, passing down what we know. My kids will know more than either Ashley or I do. Because we include them in everything we do, it can feel like extra work in the beginning. But, in the long run, they’ll surpass us both. I can’t wait ‘til they can out-fish me. (As long as they let me eat what they catch.)
I’ve worked a thousand jobs, and each one had something unique to show me. Each one led me to where I am now. I can build a house, but that doesn’t make it a home. Ashley builds our home. I only need to build one house, but building a home is done every day through relentless and thankless work, through growing alongside the people you share your life with.There are a lot of reasons to homestead … or garden … or raise chickens and other types of poultry. But in the end, food is my reason. Being climate friendly, animal friendly, and soil friendly are secondary. They’re also awesome perks of this lifestyle, but if any of those were my main reason, I would have quit long ago. While I would usually rather be fishing, I know that what I’m doing feeds more than my body. It feeds my soul.
So, every day, without fail, I rise and I feed the cows, the chickens, the pigs, and the kids. I love it. Every bit of it. This is my home. Somewhere between the dawn and dusk, each day slips by, and I appreciate how lucky I am. My wife loves and supports me. My kids grow and learn. Our garden flourishes. Our livestock provide for us. We don’t get as much put away as we would like, but that’s life, and that’s the season we’re in. At the end of every day, I am grateful for what we have here.
I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’ve also got a lot to share. In this phase of my life, I’d like to share my passions with you. That’s why we’re hosting Murray Fest Midwest in 2024. We’re going to put our passions on display. For me, that’s food. But for many others, it’s something else, some other driving force behind all they do. Join us, and some of the greatest teachers from across the country, for an event that’s more than homesteading, more than chickens. It’s sharing what brings the light into our lives. The fire to our kettles. The home to our house. I hope to see you there.
Tom Watkins is the President and co-owner of Murray McMurray Hatchery in Webster City, Iowa. Tom and his father-in-law, Bud Wood, are building on the company’s 105 year-old legacy of hatching the highest quality baby poultry in the U.S. Tom manages day-to-day operations of the hatchery which offers more than 120 varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and many other types of poultry and fowl. Tom, his wife Ashley, and their four children have a 5-acre homestead in central Iowa where they raise chickens, turkeys, hogs, and Scottish Highland cattle.
Feature photo courtesy of Maria Watkins.
JUNE 29 – JULY 1, 2024
Hamilton County Fairgrounds • Webster City, Iowa
Head to the heartland for a weekend of learning and community! Join the Murray McMurray Hatchery team for the Midwest’s premier poultry and homesteading festival. Whether you’re a backyard chicken keeper, a budding homesteader, or a hobby farmer, you’ll learn new skills and find valuable resources at Murray Fest Midwest. Enjoy conference speaker sessions, live music, VIP tours, and a chick sale on July 1st!