It may be too much to ask, but could you write something about the work that a Mennonite child does, and why you don’t want your children to endure it? Or, if you’ve written about this elsewhere, could you point us to it? It would be a real help to folks like us who are trying to figure out how much work a child should be expected to do in a family economy.

I grew up in the country - have lived in town mostly since then…and just have to say that the country life is so much better than the rat race.

Hope this doesnt sound too cynical. I really dont mean it that way. I’m just sayin’ aint all it’s cracked up to be!

Emily, we are thinking about layers. We’ve only gotten so far as a subscription to Backyard Poultry. We don’t know anyone who does this sort of thing around here. We have a raccoon problem that needs to be solved before we go ahead with anything.

Rick, Thanks for the hat…and my shirt. I got all excited about a package from Cumberland Books (thinking Greg ordered that new book you’re about to carry about the one acre guy), but when I opened it, I saw it was just a shirt I’d left at your house. Talk about being grateful and disappointed at the same time.