O’Neill: Temperatures are dropping in Laytonville but work hasn’t slowed

Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. If you’d like to write your own column for The Mendocino Voice, send your idea to info@mendovoice.com.

I find myself thinking more and more about ways of cooperative living that help us meet our needs together in small community spaces. The farm has so many moving pieces that it takes big effort at maintenance and coordination to keep everything moving. Livestock work is draining when placed on too few sets of shoulders, and farming can be overwhelming drudgery if we don’t keep it fun and have enough hands to make light work. The joy of shared human effort is real though, and I’m delighted by the ways we’re learning to work together as a small community in my neighborhood.