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Happiness is to harvest strawberries under a tunnel
get one and say "oh, this one I'll eat."
With organic production
we enjoy even with the kids, they can
pick up a fruit and eat right away.
So, we are building an important thing.
I think this also gives a sense of fulfilment. Not only the financial achievement.
To open a new horizon is also gratifying.
And that helps to overcome difficulties.
But...
of course, at some point it becomes a heavy burden, a trouble,
so you have to remember
the values you have set for your life.
I'm Marinaldo Pegoraro.
I'm a farmer and organic food producer.
30 years in an office preparing to come to farm.
That means, no prepared at all.
My previous work was in real estate business,
I was partner in a company and responsible for administrative and financial areas.
In the last 35 years,
before coming to Minas Gerais,
I had a predominantly urban life in Curitiba.
With two daughters, a teen and a kid.
And a 18 years old son.
So 4 years ago, when I made the change, I had 49 years old.
We were happy. We weren't miserable, on contrary,
we had a very good life.
But some how a new challenge came up.
Our ideia was to burn the ships, really.
Because otherwise...
excessive thinking in the confort zone are an impediment that
hold you in.
If you keep planning for six months, I don't know if you make the change.
I remember an event...
an american anthropologist's interview, he talked about
the strong need in modern man
to rescue something more profound, more ancestral,
seeking to produce our own food.
That interview struck me.
It was maybe the trigger to the process, and later
I was influenced by traffic, tiredness with consumerism, safety and so on,
and that led to the decision to change.
Actually, in the farm
you do everything. You cultivate, harvest, delivery it.
So we used to say, me and my wife Silmara,
that in every corner of this place there is a bit of our sweat, our blood,
because we cultivate each flower...
This property was all grass.
And has been transformed into a property that produces organic food.
So we participate in all activities
We used to say that
we don't have time to grow old and be depressed, because we have to much to do.
So all requires a lot of effort including physical.
It's hard to put in words.
The overcoming of a moment of discomfort.
The difficulties that we have today as farmers, having a simpler life.
Living at countryside, outside the city. Is far to catch
the school bus. Some days it rains.
In contrast they live in wonderful freedom,
have great contact with nature, with animals, are free,
don't worry about safety.
We understand that somehow this is a good emotional foundation for future life.
But it's a phase that I think will be a very nice memory.
It's a change. You get a new package and let an old behind.
You learn to appreciate what you conquered.
But it's an adventure
with a big emotional cost. That can't be denied.
I remember saying "what I'm doing here?"
At the same time, my answer to myself: "I'm doing what I have to do."
There is no rational explanation,
but there is a confidence that somehow...
providence, or universe will put you in the place where you should be.
You start to wear very simple clothes, to have a simple routine.
And that connects with a search for more spirituality, modest life, simpler.
Asking what are the values of this world.
Without questioning, without condemning urban life, without judgment
of values, but somehow,
this inequality, this need to be on top
to understand that you have a good life... is uncomfortable.
But on the other side you have your ego screaming "I don't accept this, I don't accept this."
"Why did you put yourself in that situation?"
So, it's the creation of a new experience.
When a desire to change hits you
the only risk is do not change.
I think is possible.
We can create new realities.
It's a renewal. Because if doesn't work, you can change, start again
and do another thing.
Star over is characteristic of life.
Just as day and night, the plant that grows and dies.
The eagle also pushes her babies into the void. They don't know they have wings,
and when they see they are flying.
So, it's stressfull, difficulties exists in any business.
In the unknown adventure.
But they say...
what matters most is how well you walk through the fire,
meanwhile lets eat tasty strawberries,
drink some wine when it gets too cold,
and move on with your life.