How'd We Get Away with That?

When cool mornings begin to return, alleviating the land of the late summer heat the afternoons bring, I begin to take stock of our season. It's far from over, but it's time we account for what we have, so that we can plan for our slower season: the less productive winter. In spite of inflation and the other inevitable hurdles we jump, we have maintained momentum.
Looking at our numbers in past Septembers, I've found myself sweating our slower season...even conjuring up a list of possible side hustles that I could adopt to help us feel comfortable until the ground thaws again. No doubt that would lead to burn out as our bodies deserve a slow season after the push of summer and fall harvest. We made it through those years, and this year is the best yet. How...is that possible? How did we get away with that?
I look back at my camera roll from this spring and see photographic evidence of days spent with the kids in the potting shed, in the field, and one in particular which Rich snapped of the kids and I sprawled over the worn leather couch as I coordinated the spring plant sale on the computer. Running this business with our little guys and without childcare or employees is wild and full. No doubt our scale is tipped too far one way or another, resulting in moods and fatigue. But I suppose that is relatable to people in any walk of life. Rest and taking turns in the field restores the scale to balance and we get back at it.
I truly had to run the numbers a couple of times to assure myself that they were right. It seems that despite my fear of finding ourselves in a tight spot, we have managed to utilize our time and resources to build something sustainable...which feeds us in more ways than one. Even with the handicap of full-time parenting heavily reducing our time spent cultivating produce, we have streamlined what we do, so that it IS enough. I owe so much of that to Rich, who plays field manager, mom or dad, or housekeeper, or handyman, or playmate whenever duty calls. It's pinch hitting for the win on this farm.
We're going to keep getting away with this while the good people of Dayton are after tasty local veggies and scratch bakes.