Owning a vineyard carries a romantic allure often depicted in movies, books and poetry. It’s a scene we can all vividly imagine: the gentle roll of grapevine-covered hills, a connection to the earth and the pride of creating something for others to enjoy. It feels almost like a paradise. Yet, beneath the dreamy surface, like any venture, it demands dedication, sacrifice and a good deal of capital.
Regenerative agriculture is not something new. It’s a centuries-old philosophy used by indigenous communities to work with the land, not against it. It’s now re-emerging as a way to improve the health of our planet, utilizing practices that restore the soil’s organic matter and promote its biodiversity.
This holistic method is not just about producing food sustainably, it’s about helping ecosystems thrive, creating resilient farms and mitigating climate change by drawing carbon back into the earth.
Here’s a fun fact: One out of every three bites of our food, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts and spices, is created with the help of pollinators.
Located in the rocky terrain of Searcy County, Arkansas, Dogwood Hills Guest Farm is a charming retreat that offers visitors an educational farm experience. Owned and operated by Ruth and Grace Pepler, the farm is self-described as “extreme homesteading.”
Raising and showing livestock can provide Arkansas youth with numerous benefits, both personal and educational. Whether through participation in programs like 4-H or FFA, or simply as a hobby, livestock offers unique opportunities for personal growth and learning.
According to junior high livestock competitor Dillon Phelps from Paragould, “One of my favorite things to do with livestock is the day of the show, getting it ready, clipping it, fitting it, getting it looking as good as it can.”
Hydroponics, the agriculture practice of growing plants in nutrient-controlled water without soil, has gained popularity in recent years. Hydroponic systems can be set up in a variety of settings, allowing Arkansans the ability to be farmers without the costly land. In 2023, at-home hydroponics has become even more accessible and convenient thanks to The Nurserie in Little Rock.
With a suicide rate reaching nearly 50 percent higher than the national average, farming is considered one of the most stressful occupations in the United States. It’s an unprecedented number and one that deserves national attention.
Farming is not for the faint of heart.
The long hours and unpredictability of the weather are enough to turn many people away from choosing it as a profession. Add in a heavy dose of rising fuel costs, aging equipment and the extremely high price of new technologies, and you can understand why farming is one of the most stressful jobs in America.
Darrin Davis, owner of Lakeview Farms in Lakeview, Arkansas, says there is nothing else he would rather do, though.
Louis Armstrong said, “If you ever get a second chance in life, you’ve got to go all the way.” The trick about second chances, though, is to recognize them.
For Margie Raimondo, there was no question when her second chance came: it was a clear morning with a gorgeous blue sky on Sept. 11, 2001, and in her hand was a plane ticket on United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California — the flight that ultimately crashed in a Pennsylvania field after being hijacked.
