“This content is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund’s America’s Farmers Community Outreach programs, but views and thoughts are my own.”
My current town is legitimately a small town. Everyone pretty much knows everyone. Locals support local businesses and community events. While the town I grew up in is not anywhere near as small as the town I currently live in, it would still be considered smallish – definitely rural though! My hometown is surrounded by agriculture. It boasts peach orchards, walnut and almond orchards, French plum orchards (think prunes -if you eat prunes, they come from my hometown), rice fields and tomato fields, to name just a few. Many of my high school friends, while living in the city, their parents were farmers or orchardists. We had the advantages of enough of city life to not have to shop out of town, but the added advantage of living Farm to Fork. Between the local farm to fork scene and the fact that everyone’s got each other’s back, we have the benefit and helping hands in a small town.
It’s always a joy to fly into the Sacramento Valley and see the beautiful patchwork of green, flowing rice fields, and many, many orchards, as well as the lifeblood of the valley, the Sacramento River. My hometown is just north of Sacramento, and my current small town is just east in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Pretty idyllic.
Recently, my hometown gathered many helping hands in support of a local handyman who was in a terrible accident. Surely, an advantage of living in smaller towns is the love and support for locals in need. Singing Johnny is well known in my community as the window washer extraordinaire. Growing up, I would see him riding around town on his scooter with an extension ladder strapped on the back. He cleaned most of the windows of the local businesses and sang as he washed.
A couple of weeks ago, while riding his scooter on a rural road, near the Sutter Buttes, he saw some buzzards feasting on roadkill. As he carefully approached, the buzzards startled and one flew at him causing him to go off the road and suffer serious injury. My hometown immediately pulled together in support of Singing Johnny. Social media was a buzz with care and concern and the organization of several local fundraising events to help Johnny with medical bills and financial support. Johnny is recovering, and knows the town has his back.
There is a farmhouse fruit/vegetable stand on the way out of town on the drive to Sacramento. The owners are local and very involved in community events. They offer local produce and some of the best pies made from local fruit. Every year, there seems to be some need and the owners are always on board to support that need. They give a pies annually to law enforcement as a show of gratitude. This year, after the disaster in Houston from Hurricane Harvey, the Farmhouse decided to offer 25% of the proceeds from pie sales to aid victims of the hurricane. No, this isn’t comparable to corporate donations, but it’s local and it speaks of community. Locals rushed to the Farmhouse to buy pies and lend a hand, while reaping the tasty benefit of homemade pies made from locally grown fruits and berries.
These are just a few of the advantages of living in rural, small town America. Eating locally grown produce and supporting locals when in need. Growing up, I can’t think of a time when I went to the store or an event when my parents didn’t stop and talk with someone they knew. I think that’s why the appeal of living in a really small town resonated with me. I can allow my kids to walk to the little store in town, and know the shop owner will speak with them and look out for them. I know the gal who works in the post office will keep an eye on them and knows where they live. I can also leave items I’ve sold through local online sales groups out on my front porch and the buyer will leave the money under a mat or behind a pot and take their item. Wow – would that happen in the big city? Small town America is the best!
The Monsanto Fund celebrates these small communities and invests to make them even more vibrant for future generations through America’s Farmers Community Outreach. A new campaign sponsored by the programs called My Town will continue this celebration of the people, places and stories that make small towns great. I’d encourage you to follow the My Town campaign on AmericasFarmers.com and on the America’s Farmers Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages. Share your stories on social and be sure to use #MyTownProud so we can see what makes you proud of your town!
robin rue says
Isn’t it great when a community comes together to help out someone in need. That is one of the reasons I love living in a small town.
Melissa Chapman says
It is great to live in a town that will get together and help someone who is in need. I think the way they helped out Houston was so special.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I think this is such a great campaign! It’s important to recognize our roots, whether we grew with them or put them down, and I love the idea of helping our neighbors.
Emily Buys says
Yes, our roots and who and where we come from is so important!
Emily Buys says
Absolutely, Robin! You can’t beat a small town!
Jeanette says
That small town sounds like a place I would love to move. I live in quite a big city I don’t even know my next-door neighbor. Where you live is something that I dream about. I’m so happy that the town came together to help that man.
gingermommy says
Living in a small town can be such an amazing experience! It is so great to have a community that rallies together.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
Ahhh small town living. I love the idea of banding together as a community. So happy you live in such a wonderful place.
kristin says
You also find support in here in the big cities, many people are helped and people try to help homeless. More people need to try and meet their neighbors, just say hi and spark up a conversation.
Emily Buys says
I agree, Kristin. We all need to be better about putting ourselves out there and meeting our neighbors!
Dawn Lopez says
I love this awesome story of how this community came together! I think small towns make the best places to live for so many reasons. This post really made me smile!
Claudia Krusch says
I love living in a small town. The community spirit is amazing. They are so quick to rally around someone who needs a hand.
Liz Mays says
It’s so cool that people in the community are so in tune with each others’ needs. Communities like that are so nice to be a part of.
Kathy says
I love living in a small town. You know so many around you and that makes it so great. It’s nice to see so many help each other out in such a small community too.
PAM says
It’s great that your town came together for someone in need like that. I live in a small town too.
brianne says
What a cool experience to live in a small town and everyone coming together! Your photos are beautiful!
Amy Desrosiers says
I love living in a small town. I also live bordering farms in every direction so it is really awesome.
Cathi Crismon says
What precious small town camaraderie to come together for singing Johnny. We had a similar town campaign for an elderly box boy at our local market. He was in need of money for an operation and the townsfolk were quick to come together and raise more than he needed. He was so very grateful and his smiling face is back at the market again. I love small town living!
Cathi says
There’s definitely something to be said for the uniqueness of small town America; and small towns everywhere. It’s very special when communities come together for worthwhile causes. Seems everyone benefits in one way or another, whether giving or receiving. And good for Monsanto with their forward thinking outreach program.
Sinisa says
What an amazing community. So blessed
Emily Buys says
That’s so great what your town did for your elderly box boy, Cathi! I love these stories!
Sarah says
I love small towns. I love the homey feel and how everyone helps each other. It’s the best feeling ever!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
That sounds awesome! How cool it is to grow knowing everyone in your town! So cool!
Shelley R Zurek says
What a wonderful story of a small town supporting someone. Singing Johnny may have had a tragedy but it seems the town turned it into an opportunity for good.
reesa says
How blessed you are to live in such a community. What a great way to come together!