At our last potluck roundtable, we discussed property. I found this topic particularly interesting since my partner Craig and I are currently packing up all our belongings to move in to the RV on Mustard Seed for the summer.

This task turned out to be much more complicated than it sounds. First of all, we had to find a place to store much of our marginally useful stuff (or, slightly less guilt-inducing, the things we won't need on the farm simply because we can use what the farm already has, like dishes). We also labeled several boxes "Goodwill" and filled them with things we really could not justify owning. Then, we spent some time offering furniture to friends in hopes that they would help us transport not only that furniture, but also the pieces we want to keep in storage.

When it came time to discuss property last week, I had a whole new perspective on the issue.

One of the first things the speaker mentioned was the idea of control of property versus use of property. I understood the concept as a very useful distinction, but I also could not imagine controlling more property than I could use. I am only 24 years old, and have accumulated relatively little in my life as of yet, but what I do have is already overwhelming me.

Through all of this sorting, packing and arranging, Craig and I are trying to focus on the idea of property as need-based. With every item in our apartment, even the things we use daily or mindlessly, we ask ourselves a few questions: Do I need this? Would someone else be able to use this? What would I do without this? What would someone else do with it? It has been an excellent exercise in discerning my own needs, and perhaps more importantly, in recognizing my wants and disciplining them.

I hope to continue this exercise as I live on the farm and learn how to thrive with what the land offers!