Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle (28 page)

Success in the Real World

KurtMartin, lobsterman, Orleans, Massachusetts

Kurt Martin was always fascinated by lobster traps. He just loved climbing on them and studying them when he was a kid.He would poke his hands through the ropes, imagining how the lobsters were caught. “I always really liked catching stuff, ” says Martin, who is close to forty now.He grew up on Cape Cod, so he was always around the water. When Martin was thirteen, he got ten of his own traps and set them near his hometown of Orleans, Massachusetts. When he graduated fromhigh school in 1986 he knew what he wanted to do. “I toldmy Dad, ‘I’ll go fishing until I can’tmake anything, and then I’ll go do something else.’”

Twenty years later he’s still fishing, and formost of the year he’s after lobsters. Martin has worked his way up from those ten original lobster traps to eight hundred, and he has one of 1, 100 lobster permits in the state.But he won’t say howmany pounds he catches every season, since Martin says that’s basically asking himhis salary.But he will say that he makes a good living, good enough to spend a few weeks on vacation in the winter.

Nothing is more symbolic of summer in New England than fresh boiled lobsters. Although populations were once threatened and diminishing, the irresistible bottomcrawlers are back in abundance.ButMar-tin has been on boats where dragging has turned up somuch dead fish and so much bycatch that it made him uncomfortable. “It was just stupid, ” he said of how much he’s seen thrown overboard for the seagulls. He decided to become more environmentally sensitive.

Martin started fishing using an ancient technique. In the spring, before lobster season, he spends about eight weeks fishing with weirs, which are nets that the Romans used to catch fish. It’s a passive, harmless way of hauling fish. Everything that is caught in weirs is alive and can be gently tossed back to sea if it’s underweight or unappealing.He typically catches squid, mackerel, and sea bass this way. “There is no better way to catch fish, ” he says. But it’s a slow and tough way to do so. It’s hard to compete with big companies, and it’s physically demanding work.Still, he says it’s important to himto catch fish responsibly.He suspects that weir fishing won’t be around forever since there is currently only one other operation in all of Massachusetts using weirs.

When it comes to his main business, Martin says lobstering is not particularly destructive either and offers a sustainable way to get seafood. The traps are dropped and pulled up without disturbing the ocean floor and without dragging nets that end up catching everything else along the way. Martin loves the idea of passing on his passion for fishing, and he’d love to seemore young adults get into the general trade of fishing. But it’s hard work, and he’s not sure that many teens are cut out for the job.

Plus, he says, a financial aspect to the business can be particularly tricky for some.Youmake all of yourmoney in one season, and you have to know how tomanage that andmake it last through the whole year. It can be tempting to spend everything that wasmade during a profitable month, when in reality you have to save for the off-season. Martin suggests that anyone thinking seriously about fishing should take some business courses to understand better how tomanage a small company and personal finances.

Martin actually enjoys the challenge of saving froma goodmonth and having to be accountable for that paycheck at the end of theweek. “It’s the challenge ofmaking a living” that excites him. “It’s totally up tome.There is no checkwaiting at the end of theweek, ” he says.But beyond themoney, Martin loves what he does. “There is tremendous freedomwith being on the water.There is nothing given to you and there are no guarantees.”

Did You KNOW?

In 1985, musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in an effort to raise money to help keep families on their farms. Since then, the organization has raised more than $30 million for the cause. Farm Aid provides grants to farms, while enhancing farming resources and offering farmers help with understanding financing, planning, and regulations. More information can be found at
www.farmaid.org
.

Success in the Real World

David Hedlin, farmer, MountVernon, Washington

For David Hedlin and his wife, Serena Campbell, sustainable farming has always been important. Their thoughtful, deliberate approaches to crops, irrigation, pesticides, runoff, and soilmaintenance are just second nature at Hedlin Farms. Hedlin is a third-generation farmer on the same land his Dutch grandfather purchased in 1904 in the Mount Vernon, Washington, area. Half of his 400 acres is certified organic, but when it comes to the other half Hedlin says it’s still farmed in a responsible, sustainablemanner. “We’re using practicesmy grandfather used, ” he adds.

Much of what is grown atHedlin Farms is grown for seeds.Cabbage, beet, and spinach seeds are harvested to then be used to plant crops all over the country. “I like the challenge and independence of farming, ” saysHedlin. “I truly feel privileged to be able to farmhere.It’s hardwork, though.” Hedlin says he’s also always loved being in nature, interacting with the various elements.He says he gets an incredible sense of satisfaction when harvesting cabbage seeds since he knows that amere one pound of seeds will grow 35, 000 heads of cabbage. “It’s fun to know that you are a part of that.That’s what floats my boat.”

Hedlin knows that he’s a bit of a dying breed and farming families are splintering as younger generations head away fromthe fields to find other careers.Still, there are somewhonever grewup ona farmwho are interested in getting started. Although he agrees that it’s a lot easier to inherit your father’s or grandfather’s farm, Hedlin says there are stillmanyways into the industry without that connection. “I know farmers who started cold.” He workswith a programthat sets up newer, aspiring farmerswith thosewho are ready to retire and don’t have someonewaiting to take over their operation. Nomatterwhat, Hedlin says that, to get into farming and ultimately be successful, “you have to have the passion and the desire.”

For anyone interested in farming, Hedlin suggests simply getting involved in a farming community, through working at a fertilizer company or grain company for example, so you have a handle on at least one aspect of the industry. Hedlin worked for a food processor after high school and before he decided to follow his family into farming.

Being a responsible steward is of utmost importance toHedlin. While he says the official designation of
organic
is important, it’s also crucial that people do right by the land.Some farmers can’t afford to be certified organic, and others aremore stringent than regulations require but they still haven’t received the certification. More important, Hedlin says if you’re interested in working at a farm and want to be comfortable with their practices, just ask. There is no special formula for determining whether a farm is sustainable or the practices responsible since the needs vary throughout the country depending on the region. “You need to find a fit with the people and the practices you’re comfortable with, ” he adds.

Themodern farmermust juggle a variety of concerns, including government regulations, waning interest in farms, pesticides and insect infestations, weather, and new techniques.But Hedlin finds these challenges to be invigorating, and to anyone who is overwhelmed by the issues facing farmers, he says, “Rather than be afraid of the complexity, embrace it.” It’s tough with farms going out of business though. “Every day that we keep our lands unpaved, more people see the value, ” says Hedlin.That’s why he’s optimistic that the family farm—his and others around the country—will continue for another 100 years.

Think GREEN

Even Oil Men Are Thinking Green

Oil tycoon and billionaire T. Boone Pickens has made his money drilling, but recognizing the crisis facing America, Pick-ens has been lobbying Washington and the country to join him in advocating for an energy plan that focuses on wind power. He has plans under way to create the largest wind farm in the world in West Texas. On his website, Pickens explains his motivation as follows: “America is in a hole and it’s getting deeper every day. We import 70 percent of our oil at a cost of several hundred billion a year. I’ve been an oil man all my life, but this is one emergency we can’t drill our way out of.”