The Plough and Stars Project is a year-long narrative by us - photojournalists Erik Jacobs and Dina Rudick - chronicling our family's attempt to become first generation farmers through The Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts. It is a weekly story, told in two parts - words and photos - about the challenges of living our values through life on the farm, the inspiration that sustains us and the lessons learned throughout. The first day of Farm School began on October 4th. You can start there or dive right into this week's post. Either way, please be sure to follow the 'more photos' link at the end of each post. Thanks for visiting!

Wendell Berry is Concerned

(See Bottom for Update) As you may know, Wendell Berry is very concerned about the fate of the environment and sanity our nation’s consumer-driven culture.  But apparently he’s also very concerned about me going off to farm school in the fall. Who would have guessed?! Backing up a few steps, I should tell you that it was Wendell Berry who originally transformed our farm fantasy into today’s purpose-filled reality.  For those who don’t know him, he is philosopher, author and farmer who writes beautifully about the importance of sustainable agriculture... Read the Rest →

 

Processing Poultry, In Life and Death…

Today, there is only one photo.  It was all I could bear to take. This morning, Dina and I reluctantly rose at five am, plucked our Dorothies from their comfortable roosts, placed them gently their old chick brooder, and drove them to Cambridge to leave them in the care of Louis, a man with a knife and bloody apron. It was the second time we have culled members of our current flock but the first time we shed tears.  The first two we butchered were easy to let go. They... Read the Rest →