On a recent family trip, we arrived at our destination, unpacked the vehicle and then discovered our ride was seemingly stuck in park. After some confusion, worry and jiggling the shifter back and forth, it released into gear.
That sparked several calls to mechanics, all of which were booked for the next week. We finally turned to YouTube. There I found a potential answer — a faulty brake light switch. Five minutes and $31 later, it was fixed (for now).
SELF-HELP SOLUTIONS
Inflation combined with pandemic-related business chaos are pushing more people to seek out alternative solutions. In many cases, people are taking tasks on themselves: planting gardens, canning, working on their homes and appliances, or like the cover story discusses, building their own on-farm inventory.
My experience likely rings true for most farmers, the country’s original do-it-yourselfers.
From baling wire and duct tape to welding and aggie engineering, there’s generally no job too big or too small to at least attempt. What has changed in the past two years is the time it takes to get assistance or help if you need it.
HELP IN A CLICK
Thankfully when “do it yourself” is a frequent choice, there are plenty of tools at our fingertips. Friends, YouTube, discussions boards and even Facebook groups are great sources of hyper-specific information. You can find others who are willing to share their knowledge, just to prevent someone else from going through the same frustration.
While this method won’t solve every ill, often it can help eliminate what isn’t the problem.
I believe we’re standing on the edge of a great reawakening. A new generation of fix-its and do-it-yourselfers are rolling out of their service-induced slumber to discover help is only a click away.
With a little patience, a few tools and a modicum of curiosity, the solution to this week’s minor headache can be solved.
Read more stories from the April issue of Farm Journal:
Storage Wars: Should You Invest in On-Farm Input Storage?
John Phipps: The Next Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread
War in Ukraine: Risks and Opportunities for U.S. Farmers
The Story of Old Ben: The Biggest Beef Ever
7 Tips to Manage Herbicide Supplies
Roundup of Biostimulants Options
Stack The Odds For Soybeans this Spring
2022 Acres: The Big Swap to Soybeans
When and Where Applications: The Rise of the Sprayer Drone
Unspoken Truths About Pests: Wireworms
Kala Jenkins: Are You Ready for Vertical Integration?
