Welcome to the Catholic Agrarian (Formerly YoungCatholicFarmers.com)  This site is intended as a resource and encouragement for Catholic men, women and families who feel called to the agrarian life.

In the words of Pope John XXIII:"[Farming] is a work which should be thought of as a vocation, a God-given mission...It should be thouht of as a noble task, undertaken with a view to raising oneself and others to a higher degree of civilization."

In the 6 decades since this was written, these words have been virtually ignored by society, including by Catholics.  Children are encouraged to pursue careers in industry, tech, academia, business management, accounting, and some good Catholics encourage their children to consider a religious vocation.

But what about the vocation, the "God-given mission" to farm?  As farmers fall to a mere 1% of the US population, does anyone even think this once-normal family lifestyle is possible anymore?  Was the Pope cluelessly deluded by a retrospective nostalgia for an obsolete way of life?

Or could it be that we Catholics didn't pay close enough attention to what our own Social Teaching has said about the family farm lifestyle?  Could it be that we got carried away with the trend of the last century to turn the family from a vibrant cultural, social and economic unit into a mere group of consumers?  Could it be that we failed to understand the dire social and spiritual consequences of stripping functions from the family household and relegating them to institutions?

If this rings true, this site is for you.  Growing up in the '90s and early 2000s, I witnessed a growth of interest across society in small-scale organic farming.  Allan Carlson describes this as "the curious return of the small family farm."  Everywhere, I hear whispers from my peers, "Is it true?  Does farming really matter?  Can it really be done?  Is this just me being stupid and dreamy, or is there something more important here?"

Let me tell you, I've asked all those questions and more for the last 15 years.  This site shares some of the answers I would have loved to hear as a searching 18 year old.  This site is my effort to share resources, encouragement, mentorship, companionship, discussion and networking to those who believe the future lies in restoring functionality to the family household, most excellently exemplified on a family farm, but possible for all families, in any place or situation.

Explore the site below, or from the main menu above.