I am not a farm apologist. I don't believe that the agrarian life is a superior lifestyle to any other. We won't become an agrarian society again, and there's nothing wrong with that. And so I would never try to convince you (or anybody else) to become a farmer.
However, I think there's merit in trying to bring back some basic agrarian principles into our lives. We could all use the unforced rhythms of grace. Farmers understand this. We don't push ourselves to the limit under artificial light. We accept the natural, God-given rhythms and seasons of life. My family and I have found these rhythms of agriculture to be delightful. This evening we began our work in the afternoon and worked until just after sundown.
I was reminded of just deeply attuned to the natural rhythm of the earth I have become. Crops cannot be rushed by human impatience. Farming is a living, interconnected ecosystem that requires patience and respect for natural cycles. It takes time to bale hay, lots of time. Our motto is "Never in a hurry." But while the mindset is unhurried, the farming lifestyle is far from lazy. It's about choosing a sustainable pace.
Farming provides the perfect outlet for Type A personalities like me. The repetitive tasks of the farm act as a healthy pressure-release valve for a restless, action-oriented mind. Farming acts like therapy. It forces you to accept limits. It teaches you to control what you can and to trust God for the rest. Days are long and full in the summer and short and slow in the winter. Farming allows you to rest by shifting from mental exhaustion to physical activity. When you cut a field, you can look back and see exactly what your labor accomplished.
I have never found that farming asks me to turn off my drive. It simply gives that drive a place to land and converts mental tension into physical peace. It's just a lovely way of living.
If that's your experience too, you are blessed indeed.