Excerpt from Chapter 5-Urban Farm Kids

I’m raising Mychael and Malcolm to be like any other humble farm kids. I want them to have the peace of mind that comes with being hearty and self sufficient, and to know the freedom of being evaluated solely based on the sum of his efforts. “You don’t want the actual stuff, you want the ability to get the stuff,” I always tellt them. “People can take away your belongings, but they can’t steal your willingness to work in order to get them back.”


The unique thing about farm kids is that they're not pretentious and they don’t care about a person’s background. As long as the person is willing to lend a hand and help the team move forward, then nothing else matters. Fortunately, when it’s all said and done, the results are tangible: a wagon full of wood, 100 bales of straw or a freshly painted barn. One could spend all day using words to try and heal emotional pain, overcome insecurities or build confidence. However, at the end of the day, evaluating intangible success is a feat of its own. There’s something to be said about the ability to touch, feel and gaze at progress.


Looking out over the span of our 8,000 square foot backyard, I’m reminded of just how far we’ve come. The jade cuttings that we planted en masse at the top of the hill have finally begun to take root, and the cactus we planted nearby has spawned at least ten new arms. The orange tree that was nearly dead a year ago is growing new leaves, and the web of ice plants stretching the full length of the canyon has exploded with purple and yellow flowers. After a long day of working in the yard, I’ll stand at the top of this hill and stare in awe at the progress we’ve made. And sometimes, in moments like this, I’ll sneak out here just to be reminded.