The work done on this farm of mine has shaped me physically, strengthened me, sometimes hurt me (as my aching shoulders remind me most mornings). I expected those particular consequences as I learned to work the land. Beyond the physical, I also had an expectation, even a hunger, that this farming life would reshape me in other ways. Although I couldn’t have predicted the specifics, I certainly carried the hope that it would lead me away from the rootless and easy path I was traveling and toward an older way filled with purpose, competency, values, and even virtue.

Using a good tool can help you build a connection to the land.