Many of you know our mother of the farm, Mattie Jennings. For those who don’t, she’s one of the hardest working, most energetic, quick witted, and generous people you may ever meet. She’s always been my father’s equal on the farm sharing and caring for the entire workload that makes the place operate and thrive! She was born Swartzentruber Amish, one of the most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish that speak Pennsylvania Dutch, down in southern Ohio. She left the Amish at 15. By 19 (in 1979), she and my father launched the adventure of a lifetime by starting the Jennings Family Farm in Nashville, Michigan. I, Virginia, the third born daughter, sat down for a little Q & A for her 61st birthday coming up on March 14th to talk about farming. Happy Birthday, Mama!
Interview with Mattie Jennings
Q (Virginia): How long have you been farming?
A (Mattie): Forever, all my life. I started milking cows by hand at 5 or 6, and have been pulling and hoeing weeds in the garden since birth. <laugh> But, it’s true!
Q: What’s your favorite part of farming?
A: You are your own boss. You get to see what you’ve accomplished as the fields get greener, and you’re outside to be a part of it all. …But, farming’s harder to do now than it used to be.
Q: Maybe that relates to the next question. What’s your least favorite part of farming?
A: It absolutely does. It’s the unpredictable weather. It seems like you’re always at the mercy of the weather. Now more than ever, the weather is unpredictable. It used to be that around my birthday (March 14), it was the right time to rake and clean up the leaves. The wind would blow at your back and you could use it to your advantage to help pile the leaves for burning and cleaning up. In a week or so from now, I’d be able to uncover the strawberries. But, the last few years has been impossible because snow is covering everything. This is the first year in a long time, I’ve been able to do that. But, this unpredictability now happens throughout all the seasons. It rains all at once, or it doesn’t rain at all. It’s hard.
Q: In all the year’s farming, what are you most proud of?
A: When we were finally able to not have to borrow money to plant the crops.
Q: If you could do one thing differently, what would it be?
A: There’s probably a lot of things, but also not a whole lot. You just have to go with the flow and learn along the way.
Q: What advise would you share with other farmers just getting started?
A: You better be in it for the duration, and be sure it’s what you want to do. Be prepared for a lot of hard work and dedication…rain or shine,….or no rain. <laugh> Being around it my whole life, I knew what I was getting into and understood.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: It’s been a great life!
Q: Do you have any plans for retirement?
A: Retirement? <laugh> That ain’t happening.
Now for a Few of Mattie’s Favorite Things
Favorite Season: Spring
Favorite Crop: Too many to name
Favorite Garden Plants: Everything
Favorite Food to Eat: All the food
Favorite Recipes to Make: Lasagna & Pie
Favorite Fresh Food out of the Garden: Lettuce, tomatoes,….whatever’s in season!
Favorite Farm Tool: You can’t have just one when you’re farming
Favorite Memories: Things like when she found her oldest child, Amanda, eating cucumbers and tomatoes in the garden for the first time (when ‘she was barely walking’) or when her youngest, Leland, disappeared and she found him thick into the raspberry bushes eating raspberries and smiling from ear-to-ear. Moments like these have always been her favorite, when she gets to witness the pride and joy on children’s faces when they find something new or discover they can really do big things all on their own.
Thanks for sharing your time with us, Mama!
Answer: Oh whatever, you’re welcome! <laugh> <3
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