“Villa Pacis” is the name of our home and farm–and a peaceful place it is. Actually, we own two farms, one around the block from the other, covering a total of 60 acres (15 and 45) –just shy of 100 jugera, which the Roman Cato said was the perfect sized farm. Close enough. We live in a century old farm house (see right), built in 1889 in Monroe, NC by the grandfather of the man we purchased it from. This old house is equipped with 4 fireplaces, a basement designed for food storage, a separate graywater drain system, a dedicated canning kitchen and more. It was designed for people who live the life we are living–not the normal American family today. In addition to all the ordinary farm animals, we focus on the care of purebred Jersey dairy cows and Nubian dairy goats. Best of all, we produce all of our own milk and cheese, including: mozzarella, feta (FAY-tuh), Neufchatel (noo-shah-TEL) and chevre (SHEV-ruh).
Note: In the fall/winter of 2011, we will be adding Leicester Longwool sheep and Percheron draft forses to our farm.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
In past times, Christians and good philosophers sought out what was called “the good life” and this was universally known to be the life of rustic simplicity–but simplicity with a higher end than making life easier. We do not believe that the absence of pain or technology is a reasonable definition of happiness. The goal of the good life was to approach as nearly as possible to the happiness of man’s original simplicity through what we call “devout and dignified self-sufficiency”. This leads to our motto, which is taken from St. Paul’s writing in 1 Timothy 2:2: “Ut quietam and tranquillam vitam agamus.” (“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.”)
This blog is one of several means by which we will share philosophical and spiritual reflections that help direct the rustic life towards its happiest end. We will also share what we consider to be helpful nuggets of information helpful to people doing what we are, but who may be a step or two behind us. It’s also a place for us to record discoveries and record important events on the farm for our own use and enjoyment.
The thinking here will be principled and coherent as we seek not to raise perfected animals and plants in isolation, but to build and maintain a complete farm with every member playing its proper role and where God’s presence and peace is tangible–where, if you listen carefully with the ears of the soul you may hear the “music of the spheres”.
We are not anti-technology people as many are in the world of small farms. We simply believe that technology cannot be allowed to become an end in itself as it has in many circles today. We also believe that justice and community is more important than private profit. We do not try to live like the Amish or like medieval monks. We try to live wisely and make prudent use to the means available to us. If doing so leads us to look like the Amish or like the medieval monks, it is coincidental. We use tractors, computers, chemicals and modern methods but also do many things the old-fashioned way…because it happens to be the better way in some areas. In other areas, the old fashioned way is dumb. For example, we’d much rather cut grass with a mower than with a scythe, but we’d rather fertilize with manure than chemical fertilizers. We seek a prudent balance–not fidelity to one or the other.
ABOUT OUR FAMILY
My wife, Dania, and I were high school sweethearts who are now the happy parents of nine children: Jonathan (11), Elizabeth (9), David (8), Mary Faith (6), Samuel (5), Jacob (3), Joshua (2), Daniel (8 mo) and Baby #9, due in December 2011. The kids happily manage all aspects of the farm from clearing land to cooking dinner. While Mom and Dad are responsible for everything, Jonathan is our dairyman, David our gardener, Elizabeth sheep and goat herd, Mary our chicken keeper. By the time they’re adults, they’ll know how to do just about everything, I think. 
They love the farm and are both conscious and appreciative of the blessings we enjoy. They also know that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” We’ll see how that part works out as they grow up.
We are the owners of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, which we founded in 2008. We are also the founders of the Beatitudes Charity School, which is opening to provide free Christian education and care to poor children in our area. We are a very busy family, working in Christian education full-time while managing all of our farm work. Our aim is to live out the timeless principles of Catholic spirituality taught by St. Benedict and St. Francis, leading a life of productive physical labor and fervent prayer. Please feel free to interact here on the Villa Pacis blog. We are happy to help you obtain reliable answers to your questions about farm and family life.
God bless you,
William & Dania Michael
Michael Family Farm
1621 Stack Rd. & 2105 Mt. Pleasant Church Rd.
Monroe, North Carolina 28112 USA
michaelfamilyfarm@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Michael,
My wife and I have been praying and thinking about maybe selling our suburban house and buying a farm in the country to try to live a less frenetic, more Catholic life (if possible). We have 5 children and homeschool. I was wondering, given your experience with your farm purchase and farm life, if you have any advice for families seeking to maybe follow in similar footsteps. I suspect it all boils down to a lot of prayer and trust in God’s Providence (and proper budgeting), but I’d be grateful to any other advice you might be able to offer. Thank you.
Michael
Hello Michael,
You nailed it–and I don’t say this to appear pious. “The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains”. He appoints the land to those whom He wishes and He helps those who trust in Him, but ultimately we must as understand that He helps to do His will, not to do our own.
Most importantly, start living as you want to live and then pray and work to provide for yourself as you live rightly. Don’t use your current situation/obstacles to excuse daily life choices that make you unhappy.
Most importantly, study the ancients. Read the Wisdom books of the Bible, the Rule of St. Benedict, and the wisdom of the ancient moral philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, etc..).
In all this, be patient. We deserve nothing and our obedience to God does not depend on our living on a farm. King David wanted to build the temple, but God prevented Him and many of us belong to the generation of David and not Solomon. We are not the appointed builders…but that didn’t stop David from providing Solomon with the resources to build with!
God bless,
W. Michael
I found your blog from Jim Curley’s and it is just wonderful.
We live in Boiling Springs SC north of Spartanburg. I too have wanted (especially as Catholics and home schoolers) to get back to farming life as I grew up on a cattle farm here in Boiling Springs.
Unfortunately we were financially destroyed with the collapse of the real estate market. As a result we can never realize our dreams of a farm here in the USA, and like so many others we are leaving (been saying that for 2 years now) to move to South America where we can live out our dreams with less of everything, and more of everything.
As a side note I kept bees for about 8 years until we started our preparations for the “Big move” and I sold all my hives a year ago. I kept my extractor and tools which is a nice motorized Dadant stanless model that I bought used for 1/4 what it was new in perfect shape. There is a supply company in Saluda NC near Tryon, Holbert bee supply that sells used equip at a deal. Word of advice… do not buy a hand crank extractor. WIth the motorized model it took us 5 hours to do all of our hives.
Also I am supprised you do not have Chickens? We just ordered some Buff Brahma chicks to refresh our flock. 8 eggs a day keeps our boys fed.
Love the web page
Sursom Corda
Jim Dorchak