Ploughing into farming history

Exuding confidence while modest in her own disarmingly touching way with words, Jane Rafferty describes how her book, Farming Matters, materialised over the past four years.

A clinical title like Farming Matters is bound to catch the reader off-guard the moment they lay eyes on the rustic looking book, stained with subtle bronze-brown watermarks.

The cover, designed by Mrs Rafferty’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Clinton Muscat, hints at the complex reflections on past and present that lie within the ‘walls’ of the 159 page paperback.

The foreword describes where her inspiration to write sentimental recollections of the history and hardships of 15 farms set in the ‘prime cattle country’ of Normandien stems from. It states, “The notion ‘who often reads, will sometimes wish to write’ triggered the urge to write.”

The research evident throughout her book is based solely on a principle similar to trial and error. Omitting the more ‘scandalous’ titbits allowed her to preserve the factual nature of the book.

“I interviewed the farmers and their families, like you are interviewing me. I would take notes and from there I would construct an ‘essay’ of each one’s version of what happened on that particular farm. Once I was happy with what I’d written, I’d go back to the families to ensure the information was accurate and that they were pleased. On occasion, the families would reveal more the second time around,” explained Mrs Rafferty.

“I always go back to the way farmers think and how different it is from our way of thinking. Farmers aren’t like town people and they know it,” she beamed.

Farming Matters was published by Kendall & Strachan, a small printing house in Pietermaritzburg.

“I wrote the book by hand and a lady by the name of Ms Prithipaul typed and designed the book from there. I used pictures throughout the book simply because that’s what people asked for. My aim was to make the book the community’s as much as it was mine,” said Mrs Rafferty.

She admits technicalities like acreages and figures were of little interest to her. “I’m not a farm girl; I am simply studying farmers. In some chapters I try and include the technicalities only because it was part of the interview. However, this isn’t my interest; my interest is people.”

Marrying into a family of farmers afforded Mrs Rafferty the opportunity to get to know the intricacies of a lifestyle so different to her own. “They laughed at me because I didn’t know how to milk a cow, but liked me enough to allow me to analyse their lives,” she giggled.

The underlying message of the book highlights an appreciation of the importance of family and people working together. “With farming, things change quickly. You have families out there that lose everything within one generation. With the demands of today’s economy, you cannot be a farmer because you like cows. You have to make it work in order to make money.”

Mrs Rafferty plans to retire from her job as a teacher at Ferrum High School within the next two years. “I decided I’m not going to teach until I’m 65. I want to travel and do other things. I will definitely keep writing. It has become an interest that adds to the quality of life.”

The most challenging part of writing her first book came only after she put pen to paper. “The logistics of having the book typed out, edited and published was the most demanding part of the entire experience. I underestimated the problems that arose from the publication process. You’d think that would be the easy part, but it just wasn’t,” she explained.

With no financial expectations of the book, Mrs Rafferty only had 200 copies printed. “I don’t want to sit with a box of books in my back room; I want a limited edition. If you want one, you better hurry,” she laughed.

Writing a book based on history and family was a healing opportunity for her and her family. They were given a chance to reflect and deal with things which hurt in the past, making their bond that much stronger. “As a family and extended family, we are closer. We focused on family in a different way that wasn’t expected.”

Mrs Rafferty is not disillusioned about criticism that comes with the territory. “Even the top writers are criticised; it is to be expected.”

Embracing the expression ‘farming is the only noble profession’, the book depicts a story where nothing is as formidable than farming and family. Her dedication to the reader is effortlessly put: “When you combine farmers and family, this is what you get.”

The launch of Farming Matters will be held at 18 van Schalkwyk Street on November 15 at 10.30am. Everyone is invited to join in the celebration.

The Newcastle Advertiser congratulates Mrs Rafferty on the publication of her first book. We wish her well in her future endeavours and trust they will be greater than ever before.