I recently got my newsletter from Restoration International. There was an interesting article in it about the rate of NPM (no’s per minute) mothers often run at. And I admit that often my rate is very very high. Making the decision to farm (especially as beginning farmers) with 4 young children is not easy. I have even had a couple people tell me that I am completely wrong in making that decision and it’s not fair to the children.

I have also had a lot of supporters. And farming greatly allows me to reduce my NPM rate. Case in point–Mud soup.

You would have thought I was giving them the world when I told them they could make mud soup. I even “tasted” it and told them how good it was. Dandelions became meatballs, grass–spinach and oh that good rich broth. An old paintbrush became a spoon and a bucket and mud entertainment.

Even though I know I want to speak postively and say yes more, it’s still not easy. My first inclination was to think about how dirty they’ll get and what a mess they will make. but in the end the yes won out and we had a great afternoon. How do you like to say “Yes!”?