Notes from The Farmer’s Daughter – Reducing stress means looking back & planning ahead
As we approach the end of the year, it is an excellent time to reflect on the past year and plan for the new year ahead.
If you are farming or are in any other business, it is wise to have an honest look at your year thus far to plot out your expenses accordingly. For instance, if you have had a stellar year with crop sales and your harvest has meant a heftier profit margin, you might want to make some equipment or supply purchases in the final weeks of December to help reduce your springtime tax bill.
It is also the ideal time to give your farm and garden equipment a once-over and take them in for repair or order the necessary parts. Looking after essential repairs now will mean you won’t fall behind when planting season rolls around, at least not because of something within your control, unlike the weather.
I have also heard through the farm family grapevine that supplies such as potting trays and such for greenhouse propagation might be in short supply in the coming year. A quick preview of your previous bills will help you know what will be required, and a call to your local supply store to pre-order will help avoid the anticipated delays in the global supply chain.
We have all seen what can happen with shipping and transportation issues hindering various aspects of our life at home and in business, and planning can help reduce unnecessary stress.
With so many decisions to make, it is worthwhile taking time to calculate your current position in farming or any business and even at home.
There is no need to wait until January 1st to set resolutions, intentions, put goals into motion or start to plan next year’s garden or crops.
Who knows, you might even find yourself getting a good deal on some garden equipment by purchasing out of season and bonus, you won’t be waiting around for your tiller to get repaired if parts are stuck in transit or haven’t hit the assembly line yet.
While looking back on the year, don’t forget to do a physical and mental health check and a relationship review because clarity here will assist you in making the decisions that best serve you and your loved ones.
