07/19/2025
The solar industry is undergoing significant upheaval due to the elimination of the solar tax credit. Many of my colleagues fear their lives will be upended, with livelihoods at stake.
I understand the weight of such uncertainty. My 15 years as an organic vegetable farmer taught me how to navigate vulnerability and unpredictability. On my farm, I faced hail, floods, frosts, and tornadoes—sometimes all in a single year. In 2011, a tornado struck our farm, and within 30 minutes, months of hard work and tens of thousands of dollars in investments were obliterated. (Note to self: when storm chasers park in your driveway, brace for a rough day.)
Walking through the fields afterward felt like a punch to the gut. The vibrant Swiss chard we harvested just a week prior lay torn and battered by hail. Straight-line winds crushed our tomatoes. That afternoon, my crew and I sat in grief, mourning the spring’s labor now lost. But the next day, we got to work. We cleared damaged leaves to prevent disease, salvaged tomato plants with trellising, and hoed around the surviving crops to give them air, light, and a chance to recover. There was still time in the season to reseed for later harvests.
Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members rallied around us with compassion, understanding that the next few weeks’ boxes would be lean. The storms hit on June 17—my birthday—but by season’s end, we achieved an abundant harvest.
Here are six lessons for business resilience drawn from those years on the farm:
1. Diversify.
We grew over 100 varieties of crops. When one failed, others thrived. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—especially in volatile markets.
2. Continuously plant seeds.
We seeded lettuce weekly and staggered tomato plantings to hedge against weather. In business, keep investing in new opportunities, relationships, and skills.
3. Don’t stay stuck in the mud.
There will be setbacks. Grieve, reflect—and then get back to work. Resilience is built in action.
4. Don’t go it alone.
Our CSA community rallied around us. In business, seek partners, customers, and team members who believe in the mission. Build real community, not just transactions.
5. Create culture with purpose.
At Ploughshare Farm, people showed up in the hardest moments because they felt part of something meaningful. The same goes for any company—leaders who foster a shared “why” will see their teams stand strong in storms.
6. Know your season.
There’s “a time to plant and a time to reap.” I knew when it was time to leave farming, even though my identity was wrapped in it. In business, we have to be willing to adapt, evolve—or let go—when the season shifts.
7. Above all, have faith.
We can’t predict the weather—or the future of our industries. But we can keep showing up with belief, action, and trust that God (or the universe) is guiding us toward something greater.
To my friends in solar: This moment will test us. But we’ve been here before, in one form or another. Keep planting, keep showing up—and don’t forget to lean on your community.
— Gary Brever
Former farmer. Solar pro. Lifelong learner.
