Clearing the Rocks

Our Cul2vators playfully refer to our newest farm, Buxahatchee, as “Rocksahatchee”. It’s hardly anyone’s favorite farm site to work because it’s acres and acres of land: no barn, no shade, and lots of rocks. Cul2vators and staff spend numerous hours clearing rocks. It’s tedious, monotonous, and laborious work, but it’s how you start a farm.

We broke ground on February 7th 2025, and we have some crops such as beans and okra growing there now. It doesn’t yet have all the fancy improvements our other farms do, but it’s over 40 acres of beautiful land and potential. Our staff and Cul2vators are learning firsthand what it takes to start a farm, essentially from the ground up. They are clearing rocks, preparing the soil, and marking the rows.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. He mentions that when the farmer scatters seed on rocky soil, the plants shoot up quickly but soon wither and die. This is because rocky soil doesn’t allow for deep roots. In practical terms, we keep clearing the rocks at Buxahatchee to prepare the soil for more crops. And spiritually, the soil represents hearts: sometimes we have to spend more time with people getting to know them “clearing the rocks” before we introduce them to the message we want them to hear. Rocks obstruct roots, so we must take the time to clear them if we want deep, flourishing plants. Oftentimes, this work feels tedious and unimportant. We’re in a rush to get to the fun parts, the parts that mean something, but clearing rocks is just as important as planting seeds, fertilizing, and harvesting. There are no shortcuts to a fruitful farm, no fast track to success, no ways to get around laying the groundwork. So, for now, we’ll keep clearing the rocks.