Water is living, Living is water

I'm not aware of any living thing that can do without water - from the tiniest microorganisms through to cheeky quadrupeds and humans - we all need it. 

There has been an awful lot of attention on the amount of water falling from the sky this year - or not falling from the sky. For farmers, reliance on water is paramount. Without water, we can't grow grass and fodder. We can't water our cows.  We can't care for our land or our plants.  In the city, if you need water, you turn on a tap. In the bush  - that's not possible.  Some farmers are desperate enough to truck water in from the city and town reservoir's - but even then it is expensive, and time consuming. Not like that instant turning on the tap.

And so, as we wait, and care for our little corner of the world, we are reminded that every good gift comes from above - rain particularly. And as certain as death and taxes, one day it will rain again. 

In the meantime, there is an increasing number of people in cities and towns again being reminded that every family needs a farmer - and that is a great thing! It means that people are thinking about where their beef, their dairy, and their produce comes from. Lets all hope that the community remember that, even after the drought has broken, policies and processes and approaches that hurt farmers ultimately hurt us all - because without a farmer, there is no food.

Please don't just donate to a drought appeal - think about it - everyone has to be able to do 1 thing, start 1 new habit that will make a difference for farmers long term - perhaps you could:

• buy some of your food direct from a farmer;
• volunteering with an organisation like Blaze Aid every now and then;
• buying from the little fruit shop around the corner;
• buying the Aussie grown rather than overseas grown product (Italian tomatoes anyone?);
• buying branded milk from a company like Maleny Dairies, Scenic Rim Dairies, or Norco; or
• purchase Australian grown cotton and wool clothing and manchester.

​I challenge you to find one thing you can start to do every week that will help the farmers feeding your family. Because every family needs a farmer.