Growing A Farmer

Kurt Timmermeister’s Growing a Farmer is an eye-opening read about a Seattle restauranteur’s journey from operating a café to creating a viable farm. Kurt’s portrays his path to creating Kurtwood Farms as spontaneous. He describes in the book how as a twenty-four year old, he created a successful small café in downtown Seattle that is the center of his universe. This is impressive because I can’t imagine opening my own business, let alone a restaurant, as a twenty-four year old. The restaurant business is notoriously difficult to make a profit and stay afloat too. Another surprising fact is that Timmermeister did not have a lot of training or experience in the business. In fact, he studied international affairs at the American College in Paris. I find his inexperience and non-traditional background inspiring, as it shows that passionate people can be successful even when “cards are stacked against” them.

As Kurt progresses into the body of the book, it becomes clear that his approach to life allows him to succeed during every day and unclear situations.  For instance, even before Kurtwood Farms becomes an operating ecosystem, Kurt buys the cheapest piece of land outside of downtown Seattle. What is so unique and fascinating is he never had the intention to create a farm. He wanted to create a home. Each day, Kurt improves the house and land. For example, the author talks about discovering blackberries, apples, and winter bananas. This discovery ultimately peaked Kurt’s interest and he begins to plant other items such as walnuts and plums. I feel like Kurt views life through a prism in which “the glass if half full” – meaning that he is positive and tries to create the best possible outcomes from regular situations. Also, in a world in which people tend to overthink decisions, I respect how Timmermeister goes about making decisions naturally without delving too much into the consequences.

In terms of my own life, Timmermeister actually has become a great example of somebody who I admire. I am guilty of trying to plan my life out far in advance and over-analyzing every day decisions. Kurt shows that if a person lives in the present and has a positive outlook on life, great outcomes are possible. Another reason I admire Kurt is because instead of following a career in international affairs, he follows his passion and chooses to work in the food industry. That type of decision seems intimidating to me, especially after attending college for four years with the intention to use my degree. However, the author makes me question my future path in the business world and pushes me to discover my true passion.