Hidden Costs in Farming I What Drives up farm costs?

It’s been two weeks since we were last at the farm, and so much has changed. The rains have reduced significantly, making the place more accessible. We had left instructions for two blocks to be ploughed for beans, and the work is ongoing. From afar, the Pixie orange trees now stand out tall and proud, especially since the weeds have been cleared from one side of the farm.

Unfortunately, not everything has gone as planned. The farmhands slashed away without care, cutting into the drip lines that we had invested in. They blamed the long grass and the slasher, but this now adds another cost to the farm. At the end of the day, these extra costs often find their way into the price of food in the market. It’s a hard reality that weighs heavily when trying to remain competitive, but it’s all part of the farming journey.

Still, there’s much to celebrate. The orange fruits are colorful and dangling beautifully, showing promising production just 1.8 years since transplanting. My wife is already looking forward to the harvest—just a few more weeks of waiting. Sadly, we also discovered that some of our fruits have been eaten, likely by relatives. Sometimes it would just be kinder to ask.

On the brighter side, the vegetables are thriving. The kales are green and healthy, with enough for our table and extra for sale right from the homestead. The rains and now the sunshine have given the trees a real boost, and the farm feels alive again. The weavers have even started nesting in the acacia trees, a reminder that this land is shared with nature.

Walking into Block 5, I was surprised to see watermelons stretching far and wide, some already bigger than my palm, while butternuts and pumpkins are smiling in the fields. Of course, a few watermelons show bite marks, but that’s the beauty of organic farming—real crops with real character.

Farming is never without its challenges, but there’s also so much joy in seeing the land respond with life and abundance. Join us as we share this journey of resilience, setbacks, and sweet promises of harvest ‪@FARMINGHorizons‬