My Farm Hoarding Problem
I’ve been saving everything for 10 years.
Wood scraps. Pallets. Bailing twine. Old fence posts. Random pieces of metal “I might need someday.”
You know the drill.
Here’s the problem I kept running into: when I actually needed something I knew I had… I couldn’t find it.
Or, the thing I need is buried on the bottom or behind the the immovable pile in front of me.
I’ve moved the same pile of lumber four times. Moved it to get the thing behind it, moved it to keep it dry, moved it to make room for farm equipment I need to keep dry. Maybe you can relate to this.
All that moving has probably cost me more in labor than just buying new wood would have.
I read The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman years ago. Thought it was great. Then promptly went back to saving everything.
But I’m giving it a reread now while we’re actually cleaning house, and this time it’s clicking differently.
Three things I’m doing:
1. Getting rid of junk. All the scrap wood, pallets, and “might use this” stuff – gone. My rule: if I haven’t touched it in the last 2 years, it’s not worth the space it’s taking up.
2. Opening up fencing. We’re pulling out permanent fencing and going to bigger paddocks with poly wire. Those small permanent paddocks were killing me with constant mowing. Miss a couple weeks, and they’re overgrown, causing ground-outs. For us, less fence = less maintenance.
3. Selling implements I don’t use. I have equipment I’ve used once. It just sits there making me feel guilty every time I walk past it. For me, if I need it again, I’ll rent or borrow it.
I know farming is hard. Traditionally, farmers saved everything because money was tight and you had to make use of what you had. That’s still true for a lot of people, and I’m not saying that’s wrong.
But what I’m finding is there’s a cost to keeping everything too.
The older I get, the more I realize my limited time has real value. And when I’m spending hours moving the same junk around, playing musical chairs with equipment, or searching for something I know I have but can’t find – that’s costing me.
All that stuff was occupying mental real estate in my head.
Every pile was a decision I hadn’t made yet. And those unmade decisions were adding up.
For me, the hidden cost of keeping everything around has gotten higher than the cost of occasionally buying what I need when I need it.
Your situation might be totally different. Maybe saving everything makes perfect sense for where you are. I’m just sharing what I’m doing and why – what I’ve found on this farming journey so far.
Maybe it rings true for you too. Maybe it doesn’t.
But if you’re feeling the same clutter and frustration I was, The Lean Farm is worth a read.
I’m reading it again because sometimes you need to hear the same advice twice before you’re ready to act on it.
Talk soon,
Jason
P.S. Have you read it? Hit reply and let me know what you implemented (or didn’t). I’d love to hear what’s working for you on your farm or homestead
with my appreciation,
Jason
Aka: The Part-Time Farmer
Your Farm Website Shouldn’t Feel Like a Second Job
I build it. I write your copy. I enter your products.
You send photos and details. I do the rest.
Simple pricing. Simple process. Completely managed by someone who actually farms.
Valuable Farm Marketing Insights at Your Fingertips
Missed a newsletter? Don’t worry! Access all past issues packed with practical tips and strategies to grow your farm business.
Affiliate Links: This email may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we’ve personally used, tested, and truly believe in.
AI Disclosure: Every idea and opinion here is 100% human. I sometimes use AI to help with formatting, editing, or trimming things down—but the message is fully mine.