"Congratulations on choosing a profession that is socially, philosophically, ethically, morally and — one dearly wishes — economically satisfying. Few jobs in our society can lead to the pride, pleasure, and sheer fun that comes from growing food for yourself, your friends and family, or for others, in ways that promote human health and protect the environment.

"At issue, of course, is how to make a living from doing what you love …

“If you are farming sustainably, you are, by definition, an agricultural activist, working with your hands and sweat for a healthier and more sustainable food system. You may not feel like an activist, but because that is how you will be perceived, you might as well start acting like one…

I wish you all the courage in the world to take on this challenge."

-- Marion Nestle, Letters to a Young Farmer

Weeks ago my daughter came home talking about the professions she was being taught about at preschool. “I want to be a farmer,” she said. (Now, she has also said she wants to be a babysitter. She is four. Who really knows what she will "be" when she grows up.)

But, I had just learned about Letters to a Young Farmer, a book from the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture. Thumbing through it I came upon the excerpt above.

Marion Nestle’s letter is exactly why we purchased our second and third Tower Gardens this month. As a family, we want to move from consumers to producers. I want my kids to have an appreciation for food, for the work it takes to grow it, for the money it takes to buy it ... the list goes on.

Nestle's quote also prompted some research about local farmers and their stories. Providing healthy, nutritious food for our communities isn’t for the faint of heart. It isn’t for glamour or social status. It certainly doesn’t seem to be for those seeking immense wealth. Farming provides a basic need for survival. And, it’s hard work. It made me want to thank each and every one of the farmers I read about. Today I visited my first Farmers’ Market of the season. Again, I just wanted to say, “Thank You.”

My daughter and I aren’t farmers. It would be inaccurate to call ourselves such and frankly, “farmer” is a title that should be reserved for those who have made it a profession. We have started small. We are Tower Gardeners. But, through Tower Gardening, we too seek to make a difference. We may be starting small but we are dreaming big. And our small start is sustainable! If in doing what we are doing we are seen as food activists, as Nestle suggests, then we will assume the role.

So here is my humble request to you: Please, visit a Farmers' Market. Find a farmer. Contribute to their ability to make a living (so they can continue to serve you.) Thank them. Because honestly, what would we do without them?