Perhaps you see this little bench I made entirely from scrap 2×4 wood that I got for free from a retail store’s trash pile & think, “What does this have to do with growing food?”

I built this little bench in a matter of minutes using a single 2×4 from my wood pile & deck screws purchased in bulk from the Habitat ReStore years ago. This bench might not look like much, but what it represents to me is the gift of freedom.

What you don’t see in growing food are all of the costs to the grower’s body— specifically the joints which only get creakier with age😝.

I am constantly air layering trees which requires me to hold a squatting position longer than any Hatha yoga class I’ve ever participated in😖. I might look young, but my knees aren’t what they used to be. Sure, kneeling to work is an option, but that quickly gets uncomfortable after a few minutes on the ground, plus it only takes one time to land in fire ants before you know that’s not a viable option either😬. Add to that the too oft frustration of needing to be juuust a foot or so taller to work a tree overhead & I’ve got myself a problem that must be solved.

And so I did.

No runs to the store. Just a bit of labor & I have myself a comfy stool to sit on while I work that’s also sturdy enough to hold my weight to stand on. I wasn’t fussy about making it perfect or beautiful; just functional.

It’s incredible how such a simple build can have such a big impact. Being able to comfortably complete focused work means I can do more of it & do it well.

I find it deeply satisfying to identify a problem, then use my brain & body to build myself a custom fit solution. I don’t have to spend a lot of money nor settle for something that isn’t quite right for my needs. I can build what I need. I learned to build out of necessity when I started this farm project 3 years ago in a rural location on a shoestring budget. No doubt my construction skills will continue to improve over my lifetime, allowing me to do more; probably with even less. So yes, it’s just a bench… but also it’s freedom.