Holliston Agricultural Commission

3 Keys to Get Along

Open space, local produce, the sound of birds and peeper frogs, an occasional horse whinny and a screeching rooster as the sun comes up.

Living in a right-to-farm community is special. But to enjoy it to its fullest, both farmers and non-farmers may want to consider 3 things.

1.	Make friends. It’s tempting to have a “we were here first” attitude, but that’s a cornerstone for conflict. Instead, welcome newcomers. If you’re the new kid on the block, go introduce yourself. Shy? Take another neighbor with you. Make your neighbors your friends. It’s easier, faster, and less expensive to resolve misunderstandings with a friend than through an attorney.
2.	Be tolerant. Whether your neighbor is an eccentric musician in a New York high-rise or a herd of goats on a 40-acre farm, good neighbors are tolerant. Not willing to put up with anything and everything, just trying to understand and accommodate each other.
3.	Keep your sense of humor. To resolve issues, you need to keep your sense of humor. Anger will only make you combatants, not collaborators in working out any differences.