“Sitting in an office, often snacking on salty potato chips, and going home to sit on the couch and drink a sugary soda aren’t sustainable ways to live, either for the environment or for us as humans. Being able to grow and raise our own food, and our own medicines, became imperative to us,” Lie-Nelsen tells Modern Farmer.

Currently, Lie-Nelsen, 26, and Jackson, 50, live and farm on two acres, about an hour south of their new place. When she’s not busy with farm chores, Kirsten spends her time at her writing desk, sharing what she’s learned with other aspiring homesteaders on her blog, Day’s Ferry Organics, and freelancing for various publications about self-reliant living and farming.

Modern Farmer: Why do you consider yourself a modern farmer?

Kirsten Lie-Nielsen: Being a modern farmer, for me, is about a value system. Farmers have struggled with stereotypes of hayseeds and hippies for decades, and while neither of those things are bad, our dream is to see farming as a mainstream occupation. We need sustainable ways to feed the over seven billion people in the world today, and so farming is equally, if not more, important than other occupations we currently hold in high regard. Modern farming is also about molding old ways of farming with new and utilizing unexpected assets on your farm. For example, we use geese for weeding and guarding on our farm – no need to invest in hours of manual labor or poison our plants with chemicals. Additionally, we get the companionship of these entertaining birds.

MF: Why is it important to you to support local, sustainable agriculture?

KLN: Local agriculture is a very broad term. I am a huge supporter of local agriculture that is organic and sustainable, which unfortunately it is not always. The more people who can realize that they can put in a garden, keep a flock of backyard chickens, and grow their own healthy food, the better it is for our future. Growing your own doesn’t have to be an investment in a huge property and lots of equipment; you can do it effectively in your own backyard.

MF: If you could grow or raise any food or animal, what would it be and why?

KLN: We are very excited to focus on medicinal native Maine crops, such as elderberries, at our new farm. Using native species, we aren’t disrupting our local ecosystem and we have a much better chance of success with plants that have evolved to handle Maine weather. Medicinal plants and herbs are important to us because we’ve personally experienced the health issues associated with modern medicine, and believe natural healing is what our bodies need.

MF: What’s your favorite vegetable?

KLN: I’ve got to say peas. I have so many sweet memories associated with peas. My parents had trellises covered in sweet peas, and a little girl could curl up in between the vines with a good book, and have plenty of delicious snacks for a day of reading. Peas are synonymous with the Fourth of July holiday in Maine, and the sight of grandparents and great aunts sitting out on the deck, shelling peas, is a sure sign that summer has arrived.

MF: If you could give other modern farmers any advice, what would it be?

KLN: The first step in modern farming is to take the risk. Go ahead and plant a garden, or even just a few tomatoes. Get some chickens. Don’t be irresponsible; do your research and take on what you can handle, but don’t be afraid of following your ambitions.

MF: Do you have a farming/agricultural hero? Why do you admire them?

KLN: I have many heroes who are farmers and inspire me, and I think that everyone trying to be self-reliant and make a living farming deserves respect. If you can show me the farmer who can bring down corporate farming, that would be my hero.

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