In suburban Ballarat, my family is harvesting canola, trading tips on tractors – and gaining sympathy for farmers

‘The least we can do is encourage our kids to understand what’s involved in ploughing, planting, harvesting and selling produce – even if it is via a video game.’ Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

As my family was seated around the dinner table the other night, my husband looked up from his plate to proudly proclaim: “I sold my canola today. Have just planted some new crops.”

My son chimed in. “And my hens laid so many eggs. I sold them all.”