--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over a long time, the coming and passing…" description: "\"“Over a long time, the coming and passing of several generations, the old farm had settled into its patterns and cycles of work - its annual plowing mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/wendell-berry-236_farming_over-a-long-time-the-coming-and-passing_440504.jpg" --- # Over a long time, the coming and passing of several… ![“Over a long time, the coming and passing of several generations, the old farm had settled into its patterns and cycles of work - its annual plowing moving from field to field; its animals arriving by birth or purchase, feeding and growing, thriving and departing. Its patterns and cycles were…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/wendell-berry-236_farming_over-a-long-time-the-coming-and-passing_440504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/wendell-berry-236_farming_over-a-long-time-the-coming-and-passing_440504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e20/wendell-berry-236_farming_over-a-long-time-the-coming-and-passing_440504.jpg) > ““Over a long time, the coming and passing of several generations, the old farm had settled into its patterns and cycles of work - its annual plowing moving from field to field; its animals arriving by birth or purchase, feeding and growing, thriving and departing. Its patterns and cycles were virtually the farm's own understanding of what it was doing, of what it could do without diminishment. This order was not unintelligent or rigid. It tightened and slackened, shifted and changed in response to the markets and the weather. The Depression had changed it somewhat, and so had the war. But through all changes so far, the farm had endured. Its cycles of cropping and grazing, thought and work, were articulations of its wish to cohere and to last. The farm, so to speak, desired all of its lives to flourish. Athey was not exactly, or not only, what is called a "landowner." He was the farm's farmer, but also its creature and belonging. He lived its life, and it lived his; he knew that, of the two lives, his was meant to be the smaller and the shorter.”” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The farm’s cycles reflect a living, adaptable system that balances tradition and change. **In simple terms:** Farms adapt like living beings. Key Takeaway Respect natural rhythms and adapt wisely. Themes sustainability community adaptation Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - agricultural planning - environmental policy - business strategy - personal routines Key Concepts ecology systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can tradition coexist with innovation? - What limits adaptation? A Different Perspective Over‑idealizing farms may ignore economic pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Farming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farming/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“MELLICK, ANDREW D., JR. The Story of an Old Farm, or Life in New Jersey in the Eighteenth Century. Somerville, New Jersey: 1889.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mellick-andrew-d-jr-the-story-of-an-old-farm-or-life-in-new-jersey-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm-house”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/in-a-sunny-spot-stood-a-pleasant-old-farm-house/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [“Few First Ladies—and the name wasn’t yet commonly used—have so reveled in the White House or developed such a proprietary feeling about it. “Eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/few-first-ladies-and-the-name-wasn-t-yet-commonly-used-have-so/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [The old farm roads a four lane that leads to the mall, and our dreams are all guillotines waiting to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/the-old-farm-roads-a-four-lane-that-leads-to-the-mall-and-our-dreams/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Urban conservationists may feel entitled to be unconcerned about food production because they are not farmers. But they can't be let off so easily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/urban-conservationists-may-feel-entitled-to-be-unconcerned-about-food/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To have good farming or good land use of any kind, you have got to have limits. Capitalism doesn't acknowledge limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-have-good-farming-or-good-land-use-of-any-kind-you-have-got-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The ecological principle in agriculture is to connect the genius of the place, to fit the farming to the farm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-ecological-principle-in-agriculture-is-to-connect-the-genius-of/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“There are only two reasons to farm: because you have to, and because you love to. The ones who choose to farm choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-farm-because-you-have-to-and-because/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“As Gill says, "every man is called to give love to the work of his hands. Every man is called to be an artist."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/as-gill-says-every-man-is-called-to-give-love-to-the-work-of-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [My label is just "good farming", which isn't something you can put on a t-shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/my-label-is-just-good-farming-which-isn-t-something-you-can-put-on-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [It is a fact that the entire Kentucky River system, which the central part of the state complacently depends upon for its future water,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-is-a-fact-that-the-entire-kentucky-river-system-which-the-central/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“This view of farming has been dominant now for a generation, and so it is not too soon to ask: How well does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/this-view-of-farming-has-been-dominant-now-for-a-generation-and-so-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I should understand the land, not as a commodity, an inert fact to be taken for granted, but as an ultimate value, enduring and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-should-understand-the-land-not-as-a-commodity-an-inert-fact-to-be/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Why should conservationists have a positive interest in... farming? There are lots of reasons, but the plainest is: Conservationists eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/why-should-conservationists-have-a-positive-interest-in-farming-there/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Farming quotes > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She allowed herself the luxury of a good cry, figuring that her tears were mingling with the downpour to soak into the soil. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-winegar/she-allowed-herself-the-luxury-of-a-good-cry-figuring-that-her-tears/) [Tracy Winegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-winegar/) > [“The human population is too large, and the earth too small, to sustain us in the ways our ancestors lived. Most of the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-fedoroff/the-human-population-is-too-large-and-the-earth-too-small-to-sustain/) [Nina Fedoroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-fedoroff/) > [Farming's always been my business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howlin-wolf/farming-s-always-been-my-business/) [Howlin' Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howlin-wolf/) > [There are a few people out there with whom you fit just so, and, amazingly, you keep fitting just so even after you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-f-winner/there-are-a-few-people-out-there-with-whom-you-fit-just-so-and/) [Lauren F. Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-f-winner/) > [“I'm growing as a person. I'm self-farming. That's the highest form of farming, even greater than being a duck farmer, which, as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-growing-as-a-person-i-m-self-farming-that-s-the-highest-form-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The cost to reconnect animals to live in natural settings without human support is a debt that many animals in transition must honor with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-tim/the-cost-to-reconnect-animals-to-live-in-natural-settings-without/) Young Tim > [How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/how-will-you-know-a-good-farmer-when-you-meet-him-he-will-not-ask-you/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [And I have to tell you, as tough as farming is, the idea of farming when you’re losing money year after year... that’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-have-to-tell-you-as-tough-as-farming-is-the-idea-of-farming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every single day we sit down to eat, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and at our table we have food that was planted, picked, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/every-single-day-we-sit-down-to-eat-breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-and-at/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“Ellis,” he said. “You’re watchin’ a miracle right under your nose.” He gave a few of the seeds to Ellis and let him drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-winegar/ellis-he-said-you-re-watchin-a-miracle-right-under-your-nose-he-gave/) [Tracy Winegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-winegar/) > [One of the happiest days of my life is when I made five or six hundred pesos from a crop of watermelons I raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/one-of-the-happiest-days-of-my-life-is-when-i-made-five-or-six/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) [Browse all 461 Farming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Over a long time, the coming and passing of several generations, the old farm had settled into its patterns and cycles of work - its annual plowing moving from field to field; its animals arriving by birth or purchase, feeding and growing, thriving and departing. 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