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This chapter transports the reader into the aisles of a New England Whole Foods Market, through the stalls of a regional farmers’ market, and into the fields of Scenic View Farm to introduce the challenges faced when trying to understand small farmers’ practices in light of the contemporary agricultural economy. It then outlines dominant theories in the study of organic agriculture, such as conventionalization and bifurcation, which often focus centrally on the market conditions and regulatory environment of the organic sector at the expense of the everyday practices of organic farmers. The chapter then introduces theoretical constructs of good matches and relational work from economic sociology as a means of understanding how small farmers balance market conditions with a host of other concerns in their routine farming practices and economic decisions. Finally, the chapter outlines the organization of the book, which moves from the broader history and context of organic agriculture to the everyday experiences of the farmers at Scenic View, before looking to the future of sustainable farming practices.

This chapter introduces Scenic View Farm and its owners and principal operators, John and Katie. After an overview of the farm’s history and characteristics relative to other New England farms, the chapter captures the sights and sounds of its picturesque landscape. Such natural beauty drew many of the farmers whose stories are included in this book into a life of farming. However, Scenic View’s landscape is commingled with countless decisions John and Katie have made, balancing their need to stay in business with countless other commitments, including the struggle to achieve sustainability. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, which many farmers like those at Scenic View depend upon for stable sales, require diverse crops to meet consumer demand. Flowers spruce up the property and yield consistent profits when other crops break even season after season. The chapter also introduces challenges organic farms face, like an outbreak of tomato blight that swept the region. Scenic View’s CSA helped them weather the blight and maintain their organic certification. However, the availability of supplemental income is critical. The chapter shows how farmers try to make good matches in their businesses allowing them to farm responsibly, even those who feel they cannot eschew pesticides completely.