What’s In A Name

To everything- turn turn turn

There is a season- turn turn turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven

Most people assume I grew up out here on the farm. Maybe it’s because of the way our family seemed to jump in with two feet. With my grandparents living on one side of me and my parents on the other, it could appear as though our family has lived here for generations. The truth is I didn’t set foot on the farm until the summer of my freshmen year in college. My parents found out that a tract of land was for sale through none other than Justin Jordan’s parents. They live across the street and were hoping to see it remain undeveloped.

My mom was out of town at the time and I remember coming with my dad to check it out not thinking much of it. But when we arrived, I changed my mind. I can’t even put into words exactly how I felt. There was something peaceful and familiar about the place, almost like stepping back in time. It just made me happy.

It made my parents happy too because what they thought would just be a weekend escape became their full time home. I went back to college and would call our house in town first. No one would ever answer and I would track them down to the old house on the farm. Eventually they admitted that they were never going “home” and had plans to build a house out here. I was not shocked. My grandparents then moved into the original old house. It would be six more years before Daniel and I moved our old house right in between theirs but that is a story for a different day.

It was one of the first few times my dad was exploring the land when he found out that the creek running through it was named Turntime. This felt significant and left little question as to what the farm should be named. His favorite song has been “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds for as long as I can remember and likewise one of his favorite scripture passages is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 where the song lyrics are directly lifted from.

Turntime is a nod to the cycle that our infinitely wise heavenly Father set into motion. In this day and age, it is easy to forget about seasons especially as it relates to food. We can go into the grocery store and buy virtually any produce at any given time of the year. I laugh to myself every year by a random caller who wants to know if they can pick blueberries in November or February. Blueberry season is June and July, I explain to them. This seems obvious to me as I eagerly anticipate blueberry season all year long. But the truth is, unless you know where your food is coming from, it easy to lose track of how and when it is grown.

We are now looking forward to the next quickly approaching season. Spring time is on its way and with it comes chicks, piglets, calves and even more honey bees. Be on the lookout for more updates as there will be so much happening on the farm in the coming months!