Our year on the farm

Moving Back To the City

2009-08-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Since I left the farm a couple weeks ago I have really been seeing alot more things that some how relate to farming. We have alot more farms, cows and tractors in the south that I have never noticed before. I have really missed Massachusetts and can't wait to go back in September for my Mom's graduation. The farm taught me more about my life and what I want to do with it.
Sometimes I do like to be clean but what I like most is to be out in a field harvesting veggies or in the mud playing with my friends. I will really miss Maggies Farm and The Farm School but I will still want farm some day.

Rammy the ram.

2009-01-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

Sad day here at the farm. Rammy, our 12 year old ram, had to be put down. The vet came and we were all around him when he took his last breath. He was a fine fellow- probably sired 100 or so lambs in his lifetime. He started a decline last summer when his best bud, a big brown steer called #2, was sent to slaughter. The vet performed an autopsy on his body and we all gathered around in amazement as we examined his organs one by one.

Today I am thankful for Rammy's life and the contribution he made to our farm.....and life goes on....

I heart Ode.

2009-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

I've had lots of conversations with different people over the last few months trying to understand the financial crisis we find ourselves in. It's a concept that my brain has trouble absorbing. I start out strong and convicted that I'm going to learn the real answer and then start trailing off as my conversation partner continues to explain....Insert JA's thoughts here:"hmmmm, what flavor of frozen yogurt actually is my favorite? or maybe I actually prefer sorbet now"...."who was the cutest Brady brother: Greg, Peter or Bobby?".... "I wonder if the lent that comes out of the dryer filter can actually be composted or if that's just a myth...." It's as if, without fail, at some point my brain shuts off or is unable to understand the words they are saying- almost as if they began speaking in Chinese.

It seems as if everyone is playing the blame game too. The Democrats blame the Republicans. The Republicans blame the Democrats. Who exactly do you believe? It seems there is ample finger pointing in the industry itself- banks, mortgage companies, mutual funds & stockbrokers....all befuddled and bemuzed about what exactly happened and who's fault it is. Now here we sit....waiting to see what Obama's move is going to be. I have a feeling he has no idea how to fix this big fat mess we are in....I have a feeling that nobody does.....I have a feeling the big whigs all start thinking about what flavor frozen yogurt is their favorite or how much they really hate the cantelope flavored jelly bellies when they are asked what to do....they don't know any more than I do.

Jurriaan Kamp, Editor-in-Chief of Ode Magazine wrote an editorial in the November 2008 issue which helped me understand on a small level what has happened to our financial system. While it is in general terms his message is very clear. I could try and paraphrase his words but his letter was so perfectly written I dare not try.

The Need for Tulips

"The very first recorded investment bubble had to do with tulips in the Netherlands in the 17th century. At the time, new tulip varieties were traded at prices 20 times higher than the annual income of a skilled craftsman. In one story, someone even bought a special tulip bulb with 12 acres of land. The bubble burst, as they've done so many times since.

We tend to think bubbles are wrong. But they serve an important purpose. They finance creativity, opportunities and economic growth. The tulip mania of the Dutch Golden Age brought the development of many extraordinarily beautiful flowers. In the 19th century, many people made- and subsequently lost- a lot of money building the railways that provided the necessary infrastructure for the Industrial Revolution. Without the railway bubble, there wouldn't have been an Industrial Revolution. More recently, we experienced the Internet bubble that imploded in 2000. Again many people lost a lot of money after others made fortunes. Yet the bubble laid the foundations for the digital infrastructure driving today's economy.

For the past few months, we've seen a new bubble bursting. It looks like the same story all over gain. But it isn't. First of all, the losses are much bigger than during the Internet bust. The housing crisis threatens the very roots of the international financial system. But there's something else: It isn't so clear what upside this bubble has served. Granted, more Americans than ever own their own homes. But the rise in home ownership over the past decade hasn't been so big, perhaps a few percentage points. That rise doesn't explain the huge amounts of money now being lost.

The housing bubble is a consumption bubble. Americans have borrowed $1 trillion more than they earned over the past 10 years. And they spent that money. Not on railways, digital infrastructure or, for that matter, renewable energy projects. No, they spent it on consumer goods, most of which have, well been consumed by now. So that tragedy of the current bubble is that after the dust has settled and balance has been restored in the market, there isn't much to celebrate. The party is simply over."

excerpted from the Letter from the Editor, Ode Magazine, November 2008

Well....alrighty then....and there we have it. In this age of uncertainty and turmoil, each of us can play a part in moving forward toward positive change. Don't wait for Obama. It's each of our responsibilities to fix the present so that our children and grandchildren will have a decent future to walk into.

Oh, and by the way, Ode Magazine is a must read for "Intelligent Optimists." It's smart but not over your head. Most of the articles are pretty short and easy to understand. It promotes hope for global change. It's different and refreshing!

Game of Logging

2009-01-26T10:12:00.001-08:00

I have had several "first" experiences since starting farm school last October 1. One of the hardest, most fun, and certainly the deadliest, was participating in a "Game of Logging" class which instructed us on how to use a chainsaw correctly. Farmers don't just drive around on their tractors all day looking cool. Sometimes they need to clear land, buck up wood for burning or just take out their frustration by rushing into the woods and felling some trees just for the heck of it. Best they should know how to do it safely and efficiently so they can get back to driving around on their tractors looking cool.

Our instructor, Bill (who fondly became known as Chainsaw Bill to the student farmers) started our first class on chainsawing by ensuring we student farmers understood how dangerous this tool can be. This guy is a bad-ass....I have no doubt that he juggles chainsaws, eats sawdust for lunch and cuts down trees with his bare hands. By the time he was finished with the detailed injury explanations, color photographs of the numerous people killed by logs and cautions about everything that can, and frequently does, go wrong, we were all sufficiently scared enough to never go near a chainsaw. That, however, was not an option, and we all suited up in the cool logging costumes and headed out into the woods for some hands-on instruction.

The Game of Logging classes are set up as a competition. You receive points during the class for knowing the parts of the saw, knowing basic saw maintenance, determining safety hazards, handling the saw and hitting your target when felling your first tree. Now, I'm not one for bragging but I took second on the first day and first on the second day. Our third class we decided not to keep score....I mean, I didn't want to show up all those 20 something year old student farmers. I won the helmet I'm wearing in the picture. I'm thinking of changing my name to Paula.....Paula Bunyon that is. You can call me PB for short.

For more information on Game of Logging click here:

http://www.gameoflogging.com/

If you ever have a chance to take the course don't pass it up. It's excellent!

Pass the Peace

2008-12-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.

Etty Hillesum

An Interrupted Life

"Sadako Sasaki was two when a United States bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. She died ten years later of radiation-induced leukemia. In the hospital, she began folding a thousand paper cranes (the white crane is the sacred bird of Japan, and 100 origami cranes traditionally mean the granting of a wish). Her friends asked children in Japan and 13 other countries to make a contribution to a memorial in Hiroshima's Peace Park, which was set up in 1958 with the words:

'This is our cry, this is our prayer, to build peace in the world'

inscribed on its base. In the 1980s students of the International School, looking for a way to keep this message of peace alive, set up the 1000 Crane Club; they produced a booklet and asked groups of children world-wide to become members by sending 1000 paper cranes for Sadako's memorial. The first response came from an American school in 1986. Children, almost entirely unaided, had started a movement and established a globally recognised symbol of hope for peace." copied and pasted from www.ppu.org (peace pledge union)

This year we made peace cranes for friends and family to hang on their tree with instructions and paper for them to make one and pass it on. Find instructions on how to here: http://www.pacificfriend.ca/html/how_to_fold_a_paper_crane.html

Amidst the hustle & bustle, packages & bows, tinsel & trimmings take a moment to find a little peace.....then be sure to pass it on!

Wishing everyone a Joy-full Christmas and a Peace-full New Year!

Winter is here!

2008-12-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

Winter is here! We survived the worst ice storm in 30 years last week and are marveling over the amount of snow that has fallen in the last 24 hours- maybe a foot or more- more predicted for the next 24 hours. Seasoned New Englanders have little tolerance for our glee...."just wait" they say- "silly southerners" they think to themselves....so maybe by April the novelty will have worn off but for now it's fantasticly fun! I feel like I've stepped into a New England postcard scene....now I know what all those faux winterized sticks, twigs & berries you buy at Michael's are trying to look like.

Back by popular demand.

2008-11-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

Hey folks. I'm back....well, sort of. I've tried over the last couple of months to update my blog regularly but my days start early and end late....with a lot packed in between the beginning and end and most nights it's like I would go into a little bitty farmer coma which made it pretty hard to write. Thank you to all who have asked, written, emailed, called, wondered and pondered about where I am and what I am doing. This has been a crazy and wonderful learning adventure and I do want to share it with you all!

I've been in farm school two months now. It has been fun, hard, rewarding, overwhelming, intense, smelly, gratifying, dirty, joyful, hilarious, cold, hot, delicious, tiring, weird, invigorating, scary, wild, and worthwhile. My day starts around 5:45am in the usual way- making lunch for Mac & Annie and cooking breakfast. Daily chores start at 7am with our first "class" starting at 9am, the last class ends at 4:30 pm which is when our afternoon chores begin. "Class" can be any number of things from an inside class on soil to farm work to a field trip to another farm. Chores are divided up between the 10 students working in pairs. Care for Pride the milk cow, our 2 Belgian work horses, Ruby Star & April, our beef herd, our sheep flock and our coop full of chickens are all on the chore rotation as well as cleaning the farmhouse (built in the mid 1700's). The students also take turns cooking lunch & baking bread during the week. We have had intensive classes in chainsawing, power tools, driving draft horses, harvesting and washing veggies, tractor driving, cheese making, tree identification and soil health. We have framed a goat barn at the home of one of our staff members and have also been building an enormous new greenhouse for our use in next season's planting. We have visited a slaughterhouse and witnessed pigs being killed and cows being skinned and gutted. As the weather turns colder, we have tucked the farm in for the winter season....planting garlic, mulching beds, preserving food, stacking hay, moving animals to the barn, taking soil samples and spreading manure & compost on beds.

Life here is good. I'm standing in the line with a neon arrow pointing to farm life...Ma, Pa, Sal the mule, the prairie & the plow...where is that dotted line? There is a simplicity to the work that I am doing that is profoundly rewarding. It feels important....meaningful....fulfilling in a real way. I think we spend alot of our time creating a pace of life that is out of sync with the rhythm of the Earth...I'm happy to have taken the time to slow down and listen to the pulse of the Land....it's as though I've spent my whole life falling through the air, flailing and helpless and I've finally come to rest in Mother Nature's arms. She says, "What took you so long?" "I got diverted by TJ Maxx along the way but I'm here now," I reply.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T06:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from Pilgrim country! The air outside is crisp and the sky is blue. The turkey's in the oven roasting. The gingered sweet potatos & wild rice pilaf are waiting to go in after the turkey. The sourdough is rising & the cranberry relish looks delicious. We have prepared our meal this year with about 95% local ingredients. Local turkey, veggies, apples & cranberries. Mac & I dug carrots & picked kale (in the pouring rain) yesterday for the meal. We're using local maple syrup & honey for our sweeteners. If I could figure out how to find local coconuts, lemons, oranges and olive oil I could say that we're 98% local....but, last time I checked those things don't grow in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Vermont. Sigh....maybe I'll give those up next year....somehow it's just not a Thanksgiving meal without those flavors!

My sister Jeni, her husband Joe and their son Tilson (age 21 months) are here for the festivities. Jeni & Tilson flew in Saturday and Stokes & Joe arrived last night via the rental Volvo that Joe sweet talked Patti & Judith into driving as an upgrade with no extra charge. We've all joined "Team Relax" for Thanksgiving this year....aka "The Circle of Calm"....aka "Camp Cool." We're hanging out, drinking coffee, catching up, savoring the scents of the day from the kitchen...it's turning out to be a perfect holiday so far. There's hard cider chillin' on the side porch & a fire pit ready for a bonfire when the sun goes down.

This year, in the midst of the Wall Street hysteria, the settling down from the election and uncertainty about what's to come in 2009, I am grateful for all the blessings that we enjoy...good food, friends and family....when it comes right down to it....what more could any of us need?

The art of farming.

2008-10-17T03:40:00.000-07:00

It's happened....I feel like a farmer....the amount of information that I have learned in the last 16 days is staggering. At this point my fellow student farmers and I have successfully completed 5 harvest days for 150 CSA members and 2 farmers' markets, cared for 17 sheep, 11 cows, 6 calves, milking goats that break out of the fence at least 3 times a day and 2 belgian horses that are the biggest creatures I have ever been close to. We have also learned to drive a 50 hp tractor, set up temporary sheep & cow paddocks with electric fencing, milk a cow and make butter & yogurt from the milk.

We are reading "The Contrary Farmer" as part of our assigned reading. At one point in the first part of the book he refers to everyone's notion that farming is "back-breaking work". He points out that most of the folks refering to how hard the work is physically are journalists and haven't ever actually held a shovel or hoe. I would tend to agree with him. Trust me, it's no more back-breaking than standing at a trade show in heels for 12 hours! The work is physical but we are learning to use our bodies to our advantage to complete our tasks. I go to bed tired every night and sleep like a baby....the best sleep I've had in my whole life I'd say. It's nice looking back over the day and feeling a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for a hard day's work.

I think....that I'm gonna' like farming....by the way, the picture is of our Jersey milk cow, Pride. She's a beauty!

Tomorrow's the day.

2008-09-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 1....the beginning of my year at Maggie's Farm as a student farmer. I'm excited and terrified but mostly focused and ready for the blessings that are waiting.

"Go out into the world where your heart calls you. The blessings will come, I promise you that. I wish for you the insight to recognize the blessings as such, and sometimes it's hard. But you'll know it's a blessing if you are enriched and transformed by the experience. So be ready. There are great souls and teachers everywhere. It's your job to recognize them." -- Sy Montgomery

The Shift

2008-09-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Can you feel it? Are you part of it? Are you tuned in? Paying attention? Joining the movement? Soaking in the energy? Breathing in the love? Dancing to the rhythm?

Forget Obama. Forget McCain. Forget Wall Street.

The Shift

It's real. It's happening.

Get it. Find it. Feel it. Groove it. Work it. Shout it. Need it. Live it. Do it. Love it.

Shift it baby.

Our world. Our choice. Our peace. Our freedom.

Do better tomorrow than you did today.

Every day.

Harvest Day

2008-09-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Each spring the students at Annie's school plant a garden. Each fall they have a Harvest Day where they pick what has grown during the warm months. They begin the celebration by circling up, singing songs of thankfulness and talking about being grateful for the Earth's bounty. Each older child has a younger pre-school buddy that they lead into the garden and help them find all the treasures from the ground. It's an amazing sight to see: the delight in their eyes as they pull bunches of carrots out of the dirt...or find an inchworm on the potato they just dug....or struggle to lift a giant pumpkin off the ground...or get lost inside the teepees the beans are growing on. Although I'm not in grade school anymore, I can certainly relate to their glee. I am no less awe-inspired than they are each time another gift from the land emerges....every seed is full of a miracle waiting to happen...and endless possibilities and connections to the world around it....just like the precious children at Annie's school.

Picking Apples

2008-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we drove into New Hampshire to Alyson's Orchard and picked apples. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we had a great time selecting the perfect Galas, Cortland, McIntosh & Honey Crisp apples- right off the trees. We drove home with 2 bushels in the back of the car and have eaten apples (in one form or another) just about every meal since returning home. This weekend I am going to attempt to preserve some apple butter....I'll have the fire department on stand-by just in case.

Rainy Reflection

2008-09-26T07:40:00.001-07:00

It's a rainy New England day here. Signs of fall are everywhere! The leaves are changing into bright shades of yellow, orange, red & purple, the weather is cooler and pumpkins abound. As I sit at my desk and watch the leaves fall & rain pour, it's a perfect time to reflect on the last year and update everyone on what's happening here.

It was about this time last year that I started thinking seriously about farm school. For the six months prior I had been fantasizing about the possibility but after selling my biz then turning 40 shortly there-after, I realized there was a "now or never" choice that lay before me. As obstacles slowly fell away and I gradually surrendered my control of the situation, it became apparent to me that the Universe meant for us to make this journey. I, myself, could have never orchestrated the amazing events that led to this moment- it was only through blind faith, unbridled trust and Divine Intervention that we were able to move 1300 miles away from home to embark on this crazy idea that I couldn't seem to rid myself of.

And so here we are...one year later....living a life that looks very different from where we were. We've been here about 3 months....give or take. We are settled in our little farmhouse and adjusting to a much slower pace of life. The kids are thriving in their new schools and each day excitedly report what they learned that day. We are preparing for our first real winter....learning about snow boots, cross-country skis, insulating pipes and oil burning furnaces (a mythical machine in my life up until now.) We've been up-close and personal with lots of wildlife in our yard: coyotes, deer, wild turkeys, garden snakes and a groundhog that has taken up residence under our barn. We have eaten veggies from our garden and local farms all summer long.

Admitedly, while having a wonderful time here, we are all a bit homesick. I miss the beach, the lake, ABC coffee & having a tan. The kids miss their friends terribly and are keeping in touch through letters, email & many many Verizon minutes. We all miss Stokes and are looking forward to his October visit. Pierre & Lulu, our crazy poodles, are at the top of the "wish you were here" list- especially Annie's.

As the seasons begin to change so will our experience here. My school starts next Wednesday, October 1, which will no doubt spin our casual attitudes in a different direction. I have no idea how my schedule will work out to deposit each one of us to our designated location at the correct time....I just know that it will work out....for some reason the how doesn't seem that important to me- a positive indication of my recovery from control addiction.

Life is different, slower, happier, healthier, richer, funnier, dirtier, quieter and more fulfilled than one year ago. It's been a nice 40th year, if I do say so myself. I'm eagerly looking forward to the 41st!

First Day of School

2008-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

My kids have never been "the new kids at school" before. Other than, of course, 3 year old preschool where everybody else was a new kid too. I knew that letting them experience something new and unknown was a good decision for us and I was fully confident that the schools we chose would be a good fit for them...but admitedly there has been that nagging voice in my head.... "What if they are not accepted....What if no one plays with them on the playground.... What if they are miserable and blame me..." You know that voice that seems relentless even though you know it's irrational. It's that voice that keeps many of us living in fear instead of living the best lives we can...what if, what if, what if? I've gotten better through the years at ignoring the voice- sort of like a mom driving a station wagon swatting back children that keep hanging over the front seat. Often now I watch them throught the rear-view mirror before they pop up...."I see you....I know what you are up to...Don't even try it." This was a big one though...some days I felt like all of the kids were hanging over the seat and some of them were even in the front seat with me trying to drive! Our minds are really funny that way- especially when our sense of normalcy and security is threatened....or when there's a chance that your child might feel awkward or left out....that's a doozie.

A couple of weeks ago Annie made a friend (her name is Ruby) that is in her class at school. They played together a couple of days and had a blast doing all the things that 9 year old girls do. On the way to school Wednesday Annie said, "But Mama, what if Ruby only plays with all of her old friends- what if she doesn't want to play with me." From her tone she had obviously been thinking about it for a while. The voices of doubt start young! I reassured her that Ruby would include her and she had nothing to worry about....gulp....crossing my fingers and saying a prayer as I said it. As I walked Annie to her classroom, Ruby came running up to us, gave Annie a big hug and said, "Annie put your backpack by mine." I knew in that instant it was all going to be ok.

When I picked her up from school that day, I could tell by her bright smile and posture that she had a fantastic day. She filled me in on every detail- including the part about her deciding to play soccer on the playground so she could meet some girls that she didn't know yet. That's my girl! "Math is awesome!", she said yesterday when I picked her up. They went to the Post Office (which happens to be right across the street from the school), divided up into groups and looked for as many arrays as they could find. As she gave me the blow by blow you would never know that she was talking about the subject she called the most boring thing on Earth 6 months ago. Yesterday during dinner she said, "You know Mama, it's like I've known the kids at my school all of my life." And there you have it....I needn't say more!

Mac's experience has been wonderful as well. He told me yesterday that he, Perry & Grady (his 2 school buds) had discussed politics over their lunch. He said they had figured out why McCain chose Palin as his running mate. Ummm...ok....I didn't even know Mac knew who McCain was... He said that they had decided that since McCain is very rich and powerful and had lots of houses and things that he chose Palin to be more on the People's level because, you know, she's like a hockey Mom. Well...alrighty then. He was thrilled with the science class he had yesterday which was in a group "problem solving" format. They discussed "conflict" during class discussion time- the causes and solutions- and he could report every single students' answers and the conversation that ensued...voluntarily, I might add....no blood from turnips this year apparently.

So, once again, I get to put those silly voices to rest. Mac & Annie are fine....as I knew they would be. Yet another lesson for me on listening to and trusting my intuition and not paying attention to those crazy kids in the station wagon....In fact, I'm banning them to the way back for the rest of the trip!

More information.

2008-09-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! I have had an overwhelming amount of responses to my GMO comment rebuttal....cool. I've had a few people ask for suggestions of where to turn for more info. I know how confusing and overwhelming the subject of "what to eat" can be....who do you listen to? who do you trust? why is this so complicated?

My first suggestion would be.....relax....my posts are meant to be informational only and not create fear, panic or hysteria. Use the information as you can- trying to implement better choices slowly into your daily diet if possible. If it feels overwhelming- step back.....breathe.

Second suggestion....simplify....we've made eating far too hard. Stop listening to diet gurus and the latest food trends. Listen instead to your body...it will tell you everything you need to know. Think about food that your great-grandmother would have eaten- chose those over modern foods that make grand exclamations about what they can do for your health. Ever read a box of Triscuits or Smart Start? With all those claims you would think we could solve all the world's health problems just from eating them! Use your common sense and intuition...we've forgotten how to do that because everywhere we turn there's someone else telling us about "good vs. bad" foods. Keep it simple. In the words of Michael Pollan: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Third suggestion....ask for help if you need it...my sister and I have put together an affordable 6 week phone program to help you add more whole foods into your diet step by step. We will focus on understanding, preparing, eating & enjoying food as it was created in nature. Click here for more info: Greenlight.... ok...it's a shameless plug but I believe that the info we share is the key to creating your best life...isn't that what we all want? It starts this Tuesday, September 9, so don't dilly dally if you're interested in joining us.

Want to continue to educate yourself?

Here are some great books that have excellent information about our industrialized food system:

Fast Food Nation
The Omnivore's Dilemma
In Defense of Food
Real Food

These books are written by people....not nutritionists, health food or supplement distributors. They are all easy reads, full of humor and contain easy to understand information about our food.

My favorite cook book:

How to Cook Everything

This is the only cookbook you ever need to learn how to prepare food in a simple and delicious way. It's not a "health food" cookbook but most of his recipes call for whole foods and fresh ingredients- that's all you need!

DVD's worth watching:
The Future of Food
Sicko
The Secret
The Moses Code
Two Angry Moms
An Inconvenient Truth
Broken Limbs
Peaceable Kingdom
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

I own copies of all these with the exception of Peaceable Kingdom....come on up and visit & we'll have a movie party! These are all informative, inspirational and motivating. Enjoy!

Please feel free to comment or email me with questions or if you need further info about any of the above information!

Wishing you all peace & health.

Farm Aid 2008

2008-09-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

I love Willie Nelson. I really do. In fact I really love people who just are what they are....and they don't apologize for it or change to fit someone else's view of who they should be. I also love people that fight for the underdog or to change something they think is wrong. I also just think he's very darn cool. Willie- along with John Mellencamp & Neil Young started Farm Aid back in 1985. I always sort of chalked it up to a fluffy all hype non-profit org. that threw a fantastic concert with alot of great press but probably didn't do a whole lot of good. I think....that I was wrong. I have just checked out their website and it is impressive. They are doing alot to not only help family farms financially but also spread the word about how important it is for us to support small farmers. Their website has a wealth of information about food and farming- it's really fun to look at. They move their concert around to different parts of the country each year so that it promotes farmers everywhere- not just in one location. They source 100% of the food sold at the concert from local, organic family farms....get out! They are putting their money where there mouths are....literally! Mansfield, MA is the site venue this year...which, of course, delights me to no end! Anyway, check out their site if you're interested- you can click on their logo above which should take you there.

Interesting comment.

2008-08-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

This is a comment I received in response to my "Say NO to Frankenfood" post. It was posted anonymously. Mr. or Ms. Anonymous doubted that I would publish the comment because it doesn't fit with my "world view." I decided not only to publish it but to create a whole new post about it too! Buckle your seat belt....here goes:

Anonymous said (I copied & pasted): "Yep OK, because you have made such a convincing argument about the dangers and you told me to "NO to GM food" Let me guess... you've never been truly hungry have you? I say that because if you have you wouldn't dismiss agricultural science so quickly. You want natural, then go and catch a fish becuase thats about the only food that isn't genetically modified through conventional breeding.If you want ecoli, then eat organic. It comes from the raw sewerage they use to fertilise your food.I doubt you will publish this comment because it doesn't fit with your world view, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to hear it."

Mr. or Ms. Anon.- based on your sarcastic tone I take it I didn't convince you to say NO to Frankenfood in my post about the subject. Well, I've been walking down this path for a long time and trust me- you are not the first "roll & blow" I've encountered. Perhaps I should have put a whole lot of boring statistics and frightening facts about how our food is being tampered with. I figured the evidence is out there and easy to find. I took the less casual slightly humorous approach instead. I find this to be a more effective way of piqueing interest. In addition, my post was not really to debate whether GMO's are right or wrong....of course they are WRONG in my opinion....but to educate people that they are eating them and they probably have no idea. I believe that we should have the right to choose and refuse.

So, sir/ ma'am, let me answer your first question. Have I ever been truly hungry? This actually brings up 2 different points- both of which I will address.

First point: The simple answer would be "NO." I have never been hungry...I'm actually hoping if you've read any of my other blog posts, or if you know me even a little, you would pose this as a rhetorical question but I wanted to be sure and cover all the bases by answering. I am certain that if I were hungry the idea of eating genetically modified food would not bother me enough to refuse a meal. However, this does not make the introduction of GMO's into our food supply without our consent or package labeling right- even for people that are hungry.

Second point: The Monsanto Corp (aka -in my home- "The Axis of Evil") is the leader of GMO production. They've also developed and distributed such lovely products as Roundup, Aspartame, Ambien and rBGH- touting their benefits to both health & agriculture while ignoring the well- documented harm they are causing.....and becoming one of the biggest, richest, most powerful corporations in the world in the process. One of their marketing schemes to convince us that GMO's are a "good thing" is that GM crops will help solve world hunger. Apparently Monsanto must think we are all really naive, stupid, or both. World hunger is NOT created by a shortage of food but, among other things, by corrupt and greedy governments. So if your question about hunger was an attempt to imply that GMO's will help feed the hungry, I'm sorry you bought into that nonsense.

Your next point is about my dismissal of agricultural science so quickly. Wrong. I never dismissed agricultural science and I have been studying what's right and wrong with our food supply for over 20 years now...that's not very quick on my calendar. Feel free to blast me but please, do it with facts and not information you are reading between the lines that you have no knowledge of. Again, if you've read my other posts or know me even a little, I have moved away from my home, friends, family & life to study organic farming....I would say that actually makes me a FAN of agricultural science.

Quick question for you Anon....are you a parent? If you are then I'm sure you can sympathize with the following scenario and if you're not, well, just try and stretch your imagination. You are sitting watching your child at a birthday party happily devour a nice big bowl of ice cream. Your child has some severe food allergies but everything found in ice cream is perfectly safe for him to eat. Then imagine your horror when, before your eyes, your child's throat starts closing as he has an allergic reaction. See, there was fish DNA in the ice cream....and your child is deathly allergic to fish....the ice cream package wasn't labeled as containing genetically modified food so how could you have known? I'm sure, if this were you and your child YOU wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the effect that GMO's are having in our world. Luckily, my children and I haven't ever been in that situation but I've spoken with countless other parents who have. As a believer that children are our future, I think that as parents we should pledge to protect ALL children...not just our own.

It seems it might be in order to clearly define (in over-simplified and non-scientific terms) what GMO's are as they have nothing to do with conventional breeding practices. Species in nature are created to breed with their kind...humans with humans, llamas with llamas, tomatos with tomatos. This conventional breeding (sometimes scientifically generated) creates hybrid varieties. Never in nature would a fish breed with a tomato....until, of course Monsanto figured out how to penetrate the cell wall of the tomato (by using bacteria like ecoli to break the barrier) and inject fish DNA into it. This is, of course, a very oversimplified and dumbed down version of the process and just a single example of the ever-increasing list of GMO's. As I stated in my first post about GMO's, they have now been unleashed in Nature...there's no turning back. I firmly believe that when you educate people you empower them to choose for themselves. We should all have the choice whether to say YES or NO to genetically modified food...but how can you choose when you've never even heard about it?

Fish....ahhhh.....another good point of debate. Me, catch one? Again, no thanks. Not only are our wild fish now dangerously contaminated with high levels of mercury (due to the run-off from coal burning electric plants) but also because of over-fishing practices many species are dangerously close to disappearing- within my childrens' lifetimes. What about the fish in the grocery store labeled "farm raised"?...don't think for one second that those fish are free of conventional breeding practices. Oh, and they're fed....guess what....genetically modified corn. GMO's have, at best, created a well-tangled web that is far-reaching across many different types of foods you might consider safe.

As far as raw sewage in organic food.....I'm sorry, but I just had to laugh out loud at that sentence. I've heard alot of people justify their "organic food is a hoax" opinions through the years....this is probably one of the best. I won't even take the time or energy to debate....instead I'll just wait to share this with my fellow student organic farmers. I'm sure it will create some humorous dinner conversation.

I'm tickled that you brought up "my world view." Gosh....it just sounds so radical and hip and informed like I might consider going on a hunger strike, starting a riot or running for political office or something. Before you mentioned it, honestly, I didn't even know I had one. Your declaration got me thinking though...exactly what is my world view? I actually looked up the definition just to be sure that I completely understood the meaning before stating what it is. "The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world." It would appear from your original comment that you are well-informed of my world view....but, just in case you might have missed something, let me try to define it as clearly and accurately as possible- just so there's no mistaking what I think.

My world view:

We, as Americans, are fatter, sicker and more depressed than we've ever been despite the fact that we spent $2.26 TRILLION on healthcare in 2007. We suffer from chronic headaches, allergies, PMS, low energy and digestive disorders. We jack ourselves up on caffeine, sugar & anti-depressants during the day then put ourselves to bed with alcohol and sleeping pills. Our infant mortality rate is the 2nd worst in the developed world- right behind S. Korea & Cuba and just slightly above Croatia, Lithuania & Taiwan. "Adult-onset Diabetes" has now been changed to simply "Type 2" because of the numbers of children who are developing it. It is estimated that 40% of the children born after 2000 will develop it in their lifetime. Our Standard American Diet has gradually trickled out into other parts of the world....and with it....our Standard American Diseases.

We have lost control....we've given our health away to doctors, pharmaceutical companies & insurance companies. We've given our food away to factory farms, mega- corporations & processors. We've given our creativity and individuality away to marketing firms, mass media and paparazzi. We've given our right to be a nation of, by & for the people away to politicians, lobbyists and bureaucrats.

We are in deep doo doo.

I'm not radical. I'm just a Mom who has Hope. Hope that I can help make the world a little bit better place....for my children and the generations that will follow. Hope that I can continue to educate myself with Truth so that I can educate others and empower them to make good choices for their health & happiness. Hope that I can teach my children how to respect their Bodies, their Minds, their Spirits and their Earth. Hope that when it's my time to leave the physical world that I'll rest easy knowing that I tried to do something worthwhile instead of burying my head in the sand pretending like it all might go away and be just fine. Hope that we can gain some of our freedom and control back....one small step at a time. Hope that my actions will inspire other people to live healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives....and that they might inspire others.....until the grass-roots effect is far reaching enough to ensure that no one goes to bed hungry or cold at night....World Peace is not out of the question you know....but first, is Hope. My world view is full of it and I'm finding that it's pretty contagious- careful because you might catch it.

So, my friend, thank you for your comment. It helped me more clearly define my world view and affirmed my convictions about GMO's and organic food to an even more impassioned degree.

Buddy's girlfriend.

2008-08-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Now, we're not ones to go 'round spreadin' rumors....really we're just not the gossipin' kind....but....word on the rural route....Buddy Boots has got a girlfriend. Yes, scare love is in the air! She lives right around the corner. She's a sassy gal, wears a pink moo moo and accessorizes with a fly swatter and sponge rollers. Her skin is a creamy white and scary red is her favorite lipstick shade. She's quite a looker- and very good at her job- Buddy has every right to be smitten. They're making plans to meet after the harvest is over....trick or treating at Halloween may be their first scare-date...they're deciding now what they will dress up as for the occasion.

Say NO to Frankenfood.

2008-08-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Remember when we were little and all went with our Moms to stand in line and sign the release for the genetically modified food experiment that started back when we were kids. We all held hands, sang songs and rejoiced at being part of history. We knew that the experiment would deliver all the things it promised and we signed our names with pride to be part of the progress it would bring the world. What a happy happy day that was.....

What? You don't remember that day? Sadly, I don't remember that day either, yet we have been the guinea pigs in one of the largest biological experiments ever conducted on the human race.... conducted unknowingly. Where exactly was the dotted line to sign on before I became a lab rat?

Think you're exempt? Have you ever eaten processed food, drank a soda or eaten at a restaurant? Well, chances are pretty good (almost definitive) that you have eaten genetically modified food. Commonly known as GMO's (genetically modified organisms) or GEO (genetically engineered organisms) or just GM or GE. Most of the corn and soybeans currently raised in this country are genetically modified....aka Frankenfood.

The implications of genetically engineered food are frightening- environmentally, financially and for our health. The statistics are astounding at best...and unfortunately GM crops are here to stay (ever watched Jurassic Park?) Didn't they listen to the Chiffon Margarine commercial in the 70's..."it's not nice to mess with Mother Nature!"

So what can we do? Say NO WAY to Frankenfood. Say UNH UNH to fish DNA in your tomatos & Brazil nut DNA in soybeans. Say I WILL NOT eat food injected with bacteria and e-coli to make enormous profits for the producers yet compromise my health & that of my family. Read your labels- if you buy packaged food be sure that it says NO GMO's (organic is your best choice)....otherwise, if it's in a package and doesn't say it, you can place a pretty good bet there are GMO's inside.

For more specific information on GMO's, their dangers and how to SAY NO click here:

http://www.saynotogmos.org/

Our last week.

2008-08-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

My mom & sister have been here for the last week. We covered many miles traveling through Vermont and around this area while they were here. We saw Lake Champlain, The Shelburne Museum, Ben & Jerry's and the Simon Pearce glass factory in Queechee, Vermont. We enjoyed visiting with friends in Amherst and spent last Saturday at the Brattleboro Farmer's Market (aka, my favorite place on Earth). We ate too much good food, spent too much on souveniers, saw beautiful scenery, stayed in good places....the vacation turned into an action-packed week of fun. Here are some pics with highlights from our travels!

The livin' is easy.

2008-08-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

I have always had high hopes of creating a lazy summer. Somehow the vision in my head of "summertime and the livin' is easy" got sidetracked with busy-ness: day camps, organized activities, play dates, swimming lessons & packing for "vacation" time (you know those vacations where you come home needing a vacation because you're exhausted from your vacation)...all the while trying to design and produce new product for summer market and fill market orders.... Ours was more like "summertime and the livin' is chaotic with too much reality." "Summertime and the kids are out of school so Mom's got to shift gears 34 more times during the day (up from her normal 57 times a day when they're in school) to figure out who goes where when and try to get a few hours of work in here & there sporadically so the business doesn't go under." I never wanted to wish the summertime away and pray for school to begin but....I always did.

One of the things I've come to understand here is that this whole experience of coming to Farm School was Life's little trick to help me get back on track. Sometimes when we can't do it on our own we need a little Divine Intervention or a good ole' Universal Kick in the "you know what". I had not been here long when I realized that farming had actually moved way down the list of importance in the reasons that I came here.

The livin' here is easy, simple, uncomplicated, unhurried. Some days we stay in our pajamas until noon and some days the kids are on their bikes riding through the garden rows by 9. There are probably 340 less "things" to do here than when we lived in Dothan but I haven't heard the phrase "I'm bored" once. We've spent time playing games, cooking, picking out books at the library and reading, tie dying tee-shirts, watching movies, picking wild blueberries and working in the garden. It's a picture of contentment that I could live in forever.

Slowly, I am beginning to feel a shift within myself....which, I believe, is the real reason that I was drawn here. I am "remembering" something I didn't even know that I had forgotten....or maybe I knew it, I was just far too busy to go look for it in an intensive way. We come into the world with our minds, bodies & spirits connected- perfect pictures of spiritual beings within human bodies. Unfortunately many of us lose that connection as we go through life....forgetting a little more each day amidst the material world we live in...seeking answers for why we feel a void. We read self-help books & listen to Oprah about how to get it back, go to church- kneel & pray, sing hymns and give our monthly tithe, we do yoga & qi gong, eat the right foods and acquire alot of stuff. We all find "our truth" in different ways....seeking is the important part.... and slowing down enough to receive the answers when they come.

State of affairs part deux.

2008-07-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Time now: Approx 2 pm

Weather: Sunny & 84 degrees- low humidity....gorgeous blue sky

Activities this past weekend: Picked up fam at airport Friday, headed home after a stop at Whole Foods, fam picked blueberries & marveled at the size of the plants in the garden, kids picked squash and more squash and a little more squash then we harvested our first cucumbers, visited Brattleboro Farmer's Market Saturday morning, our friend Sally came to visit for Saturday night- Farmer Bill came over for our first dinner party- we played games, cooked a local food dinner, laughed, talked & visited, went to Boston Sunday- played tourists extraordinaire- saw great Freedom Trail sites, met Denise & Phil (friends from Boston) for dinner- Pizzeria Regina and cannoli in the North End, stayed in Cambridge, quick ride by Harvard, dropped Stokes at train station (subway to airport), drove home yesterday, crashed for 2 hours when we got home!

Activities today: Recovering from a full weekend of family, friends, food & fun/ A trip to the recycling station/ mailing Annie's school forms/ washing car/ picking blueberries

General attitude: Mixed feelings: tired from an action packed weekend, relieved kids arrived safely, sad to leave Stokes at airport yesterday, relaxed at having nothing on our calendar for 2 weeks.

Ate for lunch: leftover Sour Cream Hamburger Bake and fresh salad from the garden

What's for dinner: Squash soup, fresh garden tomatos and cornbread

Hardest adjustment since kids' arrival: Moving from a house with 5 bathrooms to this house with 1 tiny bathroom....we're working on figuring out a system!

Donkey philosophy.

2008-07-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

My apologies to anyone offended by this little diddy....it was just too good not to share the love.

A little off-color humour with a good moral. The pastor entered his donkey in a Race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the Race again, and it won again.The local paper read:
PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT
The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another Race.The next day, the local paper headline read:
BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS
This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent. The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:
NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN
The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10. The next day the paper read:
NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10
This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild. The next day the headlines read:
NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE
The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is .... being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery... even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life. Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer!

Pesto anyone?

2008-07-26T05:23:00.000-07:00

This week I harvested about a wheelbarrow load of basil out of the garden. I decided to make pesto to put in the freezer for the winter. It's delicious tossed in with pasta or veggies or spread on a cracker or piece of bread with a slice of tomato...ok, my mouth is watering. It's very simple to make....a bit messy but well worth the clean up! I would recommend using the best olive oil & fresh parmesan cheese you can find. I never use the pre-grated parmesan (they put lots and lots of preservatives and junk in pre-grated cheeses to keep them fresh....ugh) and whatever that is that comes in the green can doesn't even qualify as cheese in my book. Don't use it.....I mean, ever.... not just for this pesto recipe.

Basil Pesto

2 cups fresh basil (give or take)- leaves only- stems can go to the compost pile
1/3 cup fresh parmesan
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
2 med to large cloves of garlic (more if you like it really garlicky)
approx 1/3 cup good quality olive oil (more if you like it runny)
squeeze of fresh lemon juice

throw everything except olive oil in food processor- sometimes it's better to drop the cheese and garlic in through the top with the blade running to make sure it gets chopped up good. slowly drizzle olive oil in the top until you get the consistency you want. you can also use a blender if you don't have a food processor. be patient....sometimes it takes a while for everything to get good and blended up....adjust seasonings for your taste buds and enjoy!!!! this will keep in the freezer up to 3 months.

Be like squash.

2008-07-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

To everything there is a season...and a time to every purpose under heaven. The squash plants in my garden know their purpose....producing lots and lots and lots of fruit! They have taken the term "garden party" to a whole new level....they are having a party all day & night....and reproducing at an alarming rate! I'm not sure whether I'm in squash heaven or hell. Bubba Gump is to shrimp what The Waddell Garden is to squash.....Sauteed Squash, Stir Fried Squash, Squash Soup, Squash with Pesto, Squash Casserole, Squash Soufle, Stuffed Squash, Steamed Squash, Squash Delight, Squash Patties, Marinated Squash.....whew.....and that's just the last 2 weeks! At the rate they're going I think there might be some potential in there for world peace or at least solving the global warming crisis.

How would the world look if everyone was that clear about their purpose....can you imagine....everybody just getting their groove on to whatever their groove is supposed to be....not paying attention to what the tomatos or cucumbers or scallions are doing....not trying to be an eggplant or a rhutabaga....just fulfilling their squashy purpose in the finite amount of time they have. What a delicious and interesting thought....Ah! To be or not be like squash.....now, that is a question!

State of affairs.

2008-07-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today's date: Thursday, July 24, 2008

Time: 4:30 pm- ish

Temperature outside: 71 degrees/ raining for the 3rd day in a row

Best experience here so far: It's a tie between the Brattleboro Farmer's Market & my first garden harvest

Most excited about: The kids arrival tomorrow!

Things I've given up since I've arrived: TV, dishwasher, air conditioning, ziploc bags, seran wrap

Hardest to give up: ziploc bags

Next on the chopping block: Wrapping paper and greeting cards

Activities this week: Making pesto & chicken stock for the freezer, putting finishing touches on kids' rooms

On ITunes right now: Amos Lee

Other sounds in the background: Birds singing & chirping, the rooster down the street crowing and the cows across the street mooing....haven't heard the church bell in a while

Procrastination point: Taking the recycling to the recycling center

Book on the bedside table: The Celestine Prophecy

Next in line for the beside table: The Mindful Woman by Sue Patton Thoele

Attitude check: relaxed, grounded, rested, calm, peaceful, nourished, grateful

And the beet goes on.

2008-07-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in college there was a fad "3 day" diet that I stayed on for a while. One of the required foods was beets. I can still remember the disgusted feeling I would have as I opened the can of bright red circles and forced myself to choke them down. Ugh. I swore to myself that I would never put another beet in my mouth again after I got off of that diet. Well......never say never.

2 years ago I had never seen a fresh beet, nor did I particularly care to, and the idea of actually cooking one terrified me. I can be very silly like that about things....can't we all? What I didn't know at the time was that Gary was happily sowing his beet seeds in anticipation of spreading that red root of love around to all of his CSA customers. When the first bunch arrived I tucked them away in the veggie drawer hoping they would vanish into thin air and I wouldn't have to deal with them. In the end, the beet bunch won the Mexican stand-off we were having and the rest is history! The fresh beet and I have made up and I have apologized for any and all derogatory things I might have said about their distant cousin- the canned beet.

Now, if you're one of those silly people like me who don't try new things because they're too lazy or scared or they tried it once 17 years ago and didn't like it or are afraid it won't turn out perfectly (need I continue?)- take a breath....I'm gonna' tell you how to cook beets so that you can join in on the fun. We all need to have a party in our mouth from time to time and the beet will surely take you there. And.....you won't believe how easy they are-really!

Here's my favorite prep:

First- Try to buy local organic beets. Look for beets with the greens still on- they should look fresh and not wilted. The fresher the green part is, the fresher the root is (which is the beet). The root will keep in the fridge for a couple of days if you don't want to cook it right away. Be sure to remove the greens to keep the root fresher. Cut greens off about an inch above the root.

Second- Wash the beet well removing any dirt. If there's a long stringy root on the bottom you can cut that off. Wrap in aluminum foil. Place on pan and roast in oven (400 degrees) for approx 45 minutes to an hour. They are done when a fork can be inserted easily.

Third- Remove from oven & open foil packs (careful of the steam). Let cool until they can be handled. Rub between your fingers and the peel will come off easily. Slice or chop.

That's it! They are delicious by themselves as a side dish-just add a little sea salt & pepper. I often put them on a salad topped with toasted pumpkin seeds, goat cheese & balsamic vinaigrette. I've also made a sauce of a little butter, honey, orange juice & cinnamon which can be reduced on the stove (boil for about 10 minutes until slightly thick)and drizzled over them for a side dish.

In the picture above I took a bunch of raw beets & peeled them. I grated them in my food processor and added between 1 and 2 tablespoons of whole wheat pastry flour and a large pinch of cinnamon. I heated a little butter in a skillet and formed them into patties and sauteed until slightly brown on both sides- I flipped them a couple of times for even cooking. I served over braised kale (you could also use the beet greens) with a little drizzle of balsamic reduction. This is a kid favorite- we call them beet pancakes & Mac & Annie love them up.

One note about the gorgeous color of the beet.....it will stain anything and everything it touches that is stainable, your hands, your clothes, your countertop, your floor, your shoes, your sink, your light brown poodle or other food- so use caution unless you want your world to be very very red.

Oh, and one more thing: I shouldn't fail to mention that the beet is a nutrition powerhouse. Now, on that note, I believe that you should eat food because it tastes really good not just because it's good for you....the beet gives you the best of both worlds! The roots are a great source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, carotene, B vitamins, and vitamin C and the beet greens are even more nutritious than the roots!

First Garden Harvest!

2008-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

We have tried our hand at gardening on South Park with great intention and energy but with little to show for our hard work. One year we got 1 cherry tomato...which we split into 4 pieces and each enjoyed a piece. Last year we had a few pieces of squash, a little lettuce & spinach and 3 pieces of okra. Our garden here has been enormously successful! I am attributing this success solely to luck and the help from our farmer friend Bill rather than any green apendages on our part. Buddy has also been doing his job quite well keeping birds, turkeys and other varmits away.

Yesterday I harvested lettuce (3 kinds), basil and 3 kinds of squash. I made a giant salad, homemade pesto & squash baked with tomatos & onion. It was so fresh and tasty- the first of many meals I plan to eat from food that I planted, grew & harvested!

Organic People.

2008-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for cool places to shop. When I first started traveling to NYC I would take a day and visit all my favorite stores just to get a "fix". McKenzie-Childs, ABC Carpet & Home, The Polo Mansion on Madison and Fellisimo were all on the list of places that just....pardon the farm expression....cranked my tractor. I would often buy a $3 or $4 trinket just so I could leave with a bag. I almost teared up the first time I walked into Dean & Deluca in Soho and I've been known to whistle & skip when I walk into a Whole Foods.

Last Saturday I visited the Brattleboro, VT Farmer's Market- about 45 minutes from here. Man-oh-man- did I hit the cool factor jackpot! I've been to lots of farmer's markets before...ho hum...all the same thing....get your green beans & corn and mosey along your merry way. This place was glorious....brimming with sound and color and vibrant healthy happy people who were all acting as though there was a party going on! There were booths with organic veggies and fruits as well as artisan breads and cheeses, local wines, chutneys and jams. There were musicians and artists there displaying jewelry, pottery and other handcrafts. There were circus activities and a giant sandbox for the kids and wonderful booths of ethnic foods as well as pastries, cookies, sweet breads, coffees & teas. Everything was sourced/grown/cooked/or made by or from local vendors....within 2 counties away- it's in the rules! Oh, and it's also in the rules that there is no styrofoam allowed and food vendors must use "real" utensils instead of plastic....everything I saw used there could be recycled....and there were recycling bins handy to put it in.

This, I thought to myself while standing in line for some delicious food from 2 friendly West-African ladies, is what consumerism should look like. A cooperative effort where folks in a community support their local vendors, maintain their integrity and have a great time doing it! This is the picture of "organic" I've been looking for....forget the organic potato chips, cereal & crackers. These are organic people....and believe me, I'm standing in line to drink that Kool-Aid (organic of course.)

The church bell's gone crazy.

2008-07-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the church that is right up the street from our house. No, I'm not kidding and yes, I know it is the perfectly picturesque quintessential New England village church. When we were first here the church bell rang on the hour every hour (day & night) which, admitedly, took some getting used to. I adjusted and came to enjoy the reminder that there is life outside the quiet of our little farmhouse.

Well, since I've been back the bell has gone crazy. It rings at random times....not usually on the hour and it's never the right number of dongs. It always makes me chuckle to myself to hear it so confused. It rang 23 times the other day.....military time? (you're thinking to yourself) Good guess- except that it was 10 am. So....while still picturesque, maybe it's not quite so perfect....which is what I'm finding out about New England in general....it's got lots of little quirks amidst the traditional Americana setting that make it an interesting and endearing place to live....and good for a chuckle from time to time for a girl from the South.

Let's give this one more try.

2008-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ok peeps. Listen up. This is a big issue- if you have had a conversation with me in the last few years you've heard me talk about this and for all of you out there that have already made the switch to organic or rBGH free milk- yippee....you're in the club. Now, for any of you that still need some "convincing" to make the switch....let's give this one more try. Click on the link and be sure to watch both videos.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/12/did-you-know-all-the-drugs-in-your-milk.aspx?source=nl

Could there be any questions? Any reason why you won't switch? I mean, so clean milk is like $.13 more a gallon or something but we live in a time where blue jeans now cost upwards of $150...duh. You can afford it....or perhaps just start putting the extra money you're saving not buying organic into a chemotherapy drug fund for later. All in favor of milk without genetically modified hormones, antiobiotics and lots of extra puss say, "I." Uh huh, that's what I thought you'd say.

Summer suppers

2008-07-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than fresh food in the summer? Ok, so there might be things that equal it but I can't think of anything that beats it. I've been in Dothan for a few days...the last hoorah before heading to Mass for good on Saturday. The kids and I picked up our CSA bag from Gary which was full of summer yum....fresh basil, cucumbers, zuchini, green peppers, new potatos & melon. We picked up a gallon of fresh blueberries & 6 freshly laid eggs in preparation for our final Dothan feast. We enjoyed udon noodles with tomato, basil & feta, cucumber slices, deviled eggs, lightly sauteed zuchini with onions & peppers and grilled chicken...all drizzled with a balsamic reduction for decoration & a little bit of tang. We ended with brownies topped with the sweetest blueberries you've ever tasted.....in other words....a party in our mouths. My bro Jon, his wife Jennie & their 3 boys stopped by for a quick goodbye and we strong-armed them in to staying to eat with us. It was truly a wonderful celebration- with gratitude for Gary's wonderful veggies we have enjoyed over the last couple of years, appreciation for our family and excitement about all the wonderful things to come in the next year.

Udon with Tomato, Basil & Feta

This is so easy & delicious. It can be served hot, cold or at room temp. Modify the amount of ingredients based on your taste....it's real hard to mess it up! Here's what I did:

In a large bowl combine:

approx 8 small tomatos- chopped
approx 1 cup basil- chopped
approx 1/2 to 1 cup crumbled feta
a couple of cloves of garlic- minced
approx 1/4 to 1/2 cup good quality olive oil
sea salt to taste

I let all of this sit together for about an hour then cooked a package of Udon (use whatever pasta you have on hand) and tossed in with the tomato mixture. Add more or less of anything based on what you like. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

Balsamic Reduction

approx 1 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar
approx 2 T sugar
2 cloves garlic (if desired)- can leave whole

Place in saucepan and bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced and slightly thick- approc 10 to 15 minutes. Take out garlic before serving. Flavor is pungent- use sparingly!

Teach your children well.

2008-07-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

"You, who are on the road,

Must have a code that you can live by.

And so, become yourself,

because the past is just a goodbye.

Teach your children well,

their Father's hell did slowly go by.

And feed them on your dreams,

the one they picks, the one you'll know by."

Crosby, Stills & Nash

When we were young, my sister, Jeni & I used to put show tunes on the record player and dance until we could hardly stand. My parents, on a trip to Mexico, had brought 2 brightly colored skirts home as a souvenier of their trip. They were much too long for us- drug the ground by inches and inches but were just perfect for twirling! I can see us now, me-lanky & awkward with my horrifying pixie haircut & Jeni- snaggle-toothed with her "home-perm-gone-bad" hairdo, spinning & twirling in time to the music- a blurry fanfare of color and sequins. It is a picture of perfectly unbridled childhood bliss. That's a "there" that's worth going back to...unreserved, unashamed, unafraid....dancing like our lives depended on it- like no one was watching.

One of my recurring questions is where, when & how does that magic end? When do we become jaded and cynical? When do we trade in our hope for despair? When do we let fear overtake us? When do we put aside our dreams and chalk them up to "childhood foolishness"? When do we start measuring our actions by "what other people will think"? When do we stop believing that our vote counts or that we can make a difference? When do we join the paradigm and forget individualism? When do we stop dancing like no one is watching? Is it when someone makes fun of you on the playground? When your boyfriend or girlfriend cheats on you? When you flunk a test you thought you were prepared for? When you get fired from your job? When a friend betrays your trust? When your parents don't listen to you because "you're a child and you don't know anything." All of the above....none of the above? Is it a rite of passage, a coming of age...necessary in the maturation process....or can it be avoided?

This desire to know the answer is not only driven by memories of my ecstatic childhood moments but also by watching my 2 crazy pre-teens as their candles of innocence begin to flicker. I believe that in "their world" there won't be room for cynicism or despair....hope will lead the way to change. They will need to be fearless to follow their dreams and be prepared to be ridiculed along the way. They will have to think for themselves and be incredible problem solvers- and handlers. I also believe there won't be much room for nay-sayers or passivists. They will be the ones called on to clean up the mess that the previous generations have left for them....it will be unavoidable.

I guess farm school is a pretty radical thing we're doing. The hysteria that ensued after I let the news fly was a good indicator of just how big a deal it is. I get caught up in the logistics of it all and forget that I am, quite frankly my dear.......terrified. However, every day I am affirmed in big & small ways that this is a good decision for us. It's changed my despair to hope, my cynicism into activism, my fear into empowerment, my sadness into joy, my fantasies into reality. This is a lesson for all of us- hopefully with answers that will guide the way to our future....Mac & Annie's future....& their children & grandchildren.....Teach your children well.

Be the change.

2008-07-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

How often are we presented with the same old quotations, messages, statements and cliches....we've heard & read them over and over again. They come to us in emails and we forward them on to others, we hear them in sermons and forget them before we get in our car to go to lunch, we read them on tee-shirts, bumper stickers or billboards, never stopping to ponder how significant they really are. We are great consumers of information....gathering bits here and pieces there, tucking them away for a rainy day....or for some time when we "aren't so busy" or "when the kids get older" or "when I have enough money"...."I'll get to that some day." Many of us are running on the treadmill of life- running really fast but always staying in the same place. Have you ever tried to get off of a moving treadmill? As a runner, I can tell ya', it's pretty hard and can be pretty ugly if you don't plan your escape just right. And....so, some day never comes because we're too afraid of looking foolish by hurling ourselves free of the moving machine.

Up until a couple of years ago I was an information consumer extraordinaire. I had it all down.... how to be healthy, happy and content for the rest of your life....and I wasn't DOING any of it. As I sat one day, having a grand pity party for myself (all that was missing was the cocktail dress), playing the blame game about what everybody else had done to make me so unhappy, one of those nice little familiar quotes came to me: "Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi was a smart dude.

For once, I listened....I pondered....I put it in my pipe and smoked it....I simmered on it....I chewed it....I swallowed and digested it- those silly little words became my mantra for life. Don't change the world around you....change yourself! Don't blame the world around you....blame yourself! Don't save the world around you.....save yourself!

Our world is in dire need of radical change. I believe that organic & sustainable farming is one of the ways we can save the planet. I buy as much local food as possible. I support Gary, my USDA certified organic farmer, and work to help promote and increase his business. I rarely eat factory farmed meat- including fish. I never buy food (or anything else as much as possible) from Wal-mart or other chains that regulary import tainted food from China. I reject food that has been genetically modified or irradiated. I no longer use a microwave. I have dramatically reduced the amount of plastic we use in our house. I have almost eliminated chemically based cleaning supplies & personal care products. I am mindful of the choices I make in all aspects of my life- what I eat, what I wear, what I read, whom I support with my dollars, what I think, who I am friends with, what I speak. It is my desire to educate others so I continue to educate myself. Be the change.

How exactly did I get from there to here?

2008-07-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

I've shared a bit about my past and the chaos that created the need for me to head out on this adventure. It's been a long process getting from there to here....and where "here" is, I'm not exactly sure... but, in looking back over the last few years, I know that "there" is not a place that I want to go back to. "There" is me sitting with Thelma on my left, Louise on my right, revving the Thunderbird getting ready for the flight into the great unknown. "Here" is looking at the changes I've made as I've inched back from the edge and realizing there are still many miles to go....and being ok with that. "There" is me tap dancing as fast as I could to keep up "the perfect life facade" while the steam was running out. "Here" is my ability to be gentle with myself in all of my imperfectness....and to even let others in on the secret that I haven't really got it all together. "There" is me playing the blame game about who's fault it was that my life was a trainwreck. "Here" is my realization that I am in charge of my life, my happiness, my peace....it's no one else's responsibility to create that for me. "There" is a study in how high your pendulum can swing before it flies over the top...too much of the worthless stuff- over-working, spending, consuming, partying, noise. "Here" is a study in balance- keeping the pendulum from swinging too high either way...more of the important stuff- relaxing, saving, recycling, reusing, sleeping, quiet. "There" is me being relentlessly sick & tired, plagued by chronic sinus infections, allergies, insomnia, constipation. "Here" is me reclaiming my health through healthy eating and lifestyle choices. "There" is being driven by fear. "Here" is feeling the fear, and doing it anyway. "There" is me standing still- waiting for changes to happen in my life. "Here" is me being proactive about creating the life I want to live.......and.....the list goes on....I'm sure you get the picture by now.

"There" to "here" doesn't happen overnight. Recognition of the need for change is the first step. Many of us desire to make changes but don't know how or where to start. It's ok to ask for help...I stubbornly did alot of this on my own. Real, lasting changes take commitment, intention, perseverance, patience, faith and time time time time time. I, like most people, struggle with my socialized/ culturized nature to need instant gratification. Patience is NOT one of my best virtues....in fact, it probably wasn't even on my list of virtues until a couple of years ago. Looking back to "there" from "here", though, I see that lots of small changes over time add up to big changes in the end. It's a never-ending process- today's "here" will be tomorrow's "there".

Stay tuned for another exciting episode about changing your life tomorrow on: Our Year on the Farm.

How do you nourish your life?

2008-06-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Blogging is a new experience for me. I am an intensely private person so it's been interesting putting my life and journey down in words. I was forced to start talking about myself during school last year. We did alot of what we called "paired shares" in class....in other words, you turned to your neighbor, a person you had probably never met before 20 minutes earlier when you selected 24D and he/ she selected 24E- both hoping that you were close enough to be in the midst of the action but far enough away to not get called on to speak in the microphone- and were instructed to talk about any range of topics including your health & wellness history, goals for the future, financial situation, fears, dreams, spirituality, sex life, etc.... Speaking to strangers about such intensely personal things was incredibly difficult for me and the exercise was not optional. I was very resistant at first, however, the more I was forced to practice sharing my feelings....the better I got.....the better I got the more I wanted to do it....until....by graduation weekend I had feelings, emotions and tears spewing out all over anyone and everyone I met....including a very nice and concerned bartender at this great funky Cuban restaurant where Stokes & I stopped in to get a freshly made Mojito....I assured him, sitting at the bar, in the midst of the "ugly cry" that I really was just very very happy....poor man. He's probably still confused.

I started the blog as a way to keep up with our adventure this year and as a venue for people to "hear the story" without me telling it over and over. I'm not a writer so it was hard for me to get started but, as things tend to evolve in my life, it has become a wonderfully therapeutic tool for me to "share". I've been overwhelmed with the readers' responses I've gotten.......THANK YOU! Apparently my path toward simplifying my life has resonated with a bunch of folks and I'm grateful to have an outlet where I can talk about my experience.

I was reflecting on the positive contribution this blog has made to my life and this quote came to me in an email one morning....another great reminder of how important self-expression is:
"One of the quickest ways to become exhausted is by suppressing your feelings."

Sue Patton Thoele, 1988

As a health counselor I encourage people to find different ways to nourish their lives - it's not all about food. I'm grateful to be able to take care of myself through writing....how do you nourish your life?

Tall, stuffed and handsome....

2008-06-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

Meet our friend and garden protector Buddy "Boots" Creamery. Buddy, formerly known as Uncle Mack, was born about 25 years ago in Dothan and made his home at Cotton Hill, Too in Silver Lake, FL until recently. He was employed as the lake house's mascot before deciding to try his hand at scaring crows and wild turkeys in Massachusetts.
During the 2 day drive from AL to Mass, Buddy accepted a special assignment handling any issues or special situations that arose in the Passat. We discovered the wheel tethers on the car trailer were completely undone during one of our stops....luckily Buddy was on the job! Once we arrived, he traded in his Auburn Tigers cap for a straw hat, put his Prince Albert in a can aside and gladly took his post by the popcorn. The future looks bright for Buddy....there's talk of possible arm motorization, motion detected sprinkler weapons, a face-lift and dirty dancing lessons. Once he's decked out and got his moves down he might just invite another scare friend to join him in the garden.

How does your garden grow?

2008-06-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Our garden is a bit of a wreck. The rows aren't straight, the plants are too close together and there are several varieties of tomatos mixed together. The soil is rocky and there is lots of sod that still needs to be dug up and removed. In other words..... it's PERFECT!
Isn't that just like life? You have an image in your mind of the way it should look....and it never does. We focus on everything that's wrong instead of everything that's right. But if we remember to look through the crooked rows, rocks & weeds there are beautiful surprises at every turn!

Peppers, Lettuce & Tomatos

"Never rub another man's rhubarb."

2008-06-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Said the Joker to Bruce Wayne....After my Strawberry-Rhubarb pie post I've had several people say they had never even heard of rhubarb before that quote in Batman. Here's a little more info about this funky plant:

So....this is what rhubarb looks like when it's growing- alot like red celery. The plant dates back to 2700 BC where it was cultivated in China for medicinal purposes. The popular edible species most likely originated in Siberia and was introduced to Europe in 1608. Ben Franklin can be credited with bringing rhubarb seeds to North America in 1772 and by the early 1800's it had become a popular ingredient for pie in the Northeast. It has a wonderfully tart flavor which pairs well with sweet fruits but can also be used in savory dishes. I highly recommend experimenting with it....it's different and delicious!

Who's your farmer?

2008-06-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

I've never been a fan of bumper stickers. They're just a little too commited and permanent for my taste. They're like tatoos for your car. I can't remember a time when I've actually had one on my car.......until......the "Who's your farmer?" sticker arrived in the bag with our vegetables one week. Now that's a car tatoo worth having! Do you know the farmer that grew your food?

We belong to a CSA (community supported agriculture) and get a bag of fresh organic veggies approximately 30 weeks out of the year. Gary Weil from Red Root Farm in Banks, AL is our personal farmer....along with about 60 other families. Joining the CSA changed the way we eat as a family and the way we look at and respect our food. We love it for many reasons but for me the greatest part is that it takes the mystery out of what you're going to cook for the fam. It also has exposed us to foods that we would never have tried had they not arrived in our bag.... kohlrabi, turnip roots and rutabagas are new in our repertoire. Sure, sometimes the corn is a little wormy or the kale is a little bitter or you get sick of the butternut squash because there was a bumper crop, but we eat it and give thanks for Gary's hard work, love and energy growing us the most nutritious vegetables possible.

Support local farmers and say "Yes! I do know who my farmer is!" Then you can get a car tatoo too.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

2008-06-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

I posted earlier about my Mom's good cooking. One of our favorites as children was Strawberry- Rhubarb pie. We spent alot of time in NC growing up and we could always find rhubarb there. Mom would make giant pans full of the sweet & tart deliciousness. I was thrilled to find a gigantic rhubarb plant growing in my yard here! Of course I had to make a pie.... here's my version:

5 cups total of fruit (I used about 2 cups strawberries & 2 cups rhubarb then added an apple too because it wasn't quite enough) half or slice strawberries. string rhubarb (just like you would celery) and cut in a approx 1/2 inch slices
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
3 T cornstarch
squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1/2 t cinnamon
fresh grated nutmeg

mix all of these together and let sit for an hour or more. this helps get the juice out of the berries

top with:
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup rolled oats
4 to 5 T unsalted butter (cut into bits)
pinch sea salt

cut the butter into the flour & sugar mixture and mix until combined- it will be lumpy. sometime i work it with my hands until it's well incorporated. add the oats and salt and work some more until well mixed.

pour on top of fruit and bake at 350 until bubbly and crust is brown (about 30 to 45 minutes)

***for any dothanians reading this, i have actually found rhubarb at So Fam Mkts. it looks like red celery****

And so I ponder......

2008-06-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have wonderful memories of the food from my childhood. My Mom is a terrific "cast iron skillet toting" Southern cook. We grew up eating home-cooked real food. Eating out was a treat instead of an expectation. We knew where our food came from. Mom knew the grocer and the butcher by name and I can still remember a time when the milk man delivered. We shelled peas, strung beans and picked wild blackberries. We ate Chilton County peaches, Slocomb tomatos and Plant City strawberries. We caught bream and fried them to eat with hush puppies and cheese grits and ate buckets of fresh steamed gulf shrimp. We'd pick up pecans at Bishop Laundry and then crack and shell them while we were watching Little House on the Prairie. Mom & Dad would bring home bushels of apples from the mountains every fall and we would enjoy home-made apple sauce and apple butter all year long. We had home-made birthday cakes with 7 minute icing and home-preserved jams & jellies instead of Smuckers. Holiday time meant gingerbread cookies, apple cake and peppermint ice cream.

I also have fond memories of the food traditions I grew up with. Sunday night was "snack night". Mom would pop popcorn (before microwaves were even invented) and we would have slices of apples and sharp cheddar cheese while we all watched the Waltons together. When it was our birthday Mom would make fresh beignets as a special treat. We had a "Mama special"( cut a hole in a piece of bread, place in a skillet with a little melted butter, crack an egg into the hole and cook until done, flip once) and a "Daddy special" (layer, 1. bread 2. slice of ham 3. extra sharp cheddar cheese 4. chili sauce- broil in oven until cheese is bubbly). We ate in the dining room with the china, silver & crystal on special occasions and were required to put our napkins in our laps and sit up at the table. We ate together as a family most meals and still laugh today about the time Tom fell asleep in his oatmeal bowl or when Charlie Ernst threw up cantelope all over the table.

I want my kids to grow up knowing their Southern food heritage. I want to establish traditions and recipes that they will pass down to their children and grandchildren. Coming to the farm is one piece of that puzzle for me.....the ever-growing puzzle which seems to have more questions than answers at this point. Why have we lost our connection to where our food comes from and how do we get it back? Why isn't sitting at the table together a priority any more? How do you pass down your cultural uniqueness in an ever-increasingly homogenized society? How do you integrate old-time ideas and beliefs into our evolving world? Can you support the local & global food economy at the same time? And so I ponder.......

No more power.

2008-06-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Haha! Gotcha'...bet you thought I was going to post about how I've decided to go without electricity....I'm not quite there....yet.

My life for the last 15 years has been full of power. I have pushed myself hard. Too hard. I've been like one of those plate spinners at the circus....the man with all the sticks and his plates up in the air....one wrong move and it will all come crashing down. I ran my business with a vengeance...spending countless hours on my feet, answering phones and faxes, filling and placing orders, cutting fabric, designing new sets, packing, shipping and putting out fires. For a few years I was the volunteer diva sitting on boards and committees and working on countless projects. I could bounce a baby on my hip, corral a toddler, speak on the phone, lead a meeting, design a new bedding set, pull weeds and bake banana bread all at the same time. Queen multi-tasker.

I look back on my "to do before you turn 40 list" and have a short laugh with myself when I realize that most of the items on it didn't get done before last September when the big 4-0 happened to me: ride on the Concord, skydive, run a marathon, learn to scuba dive....get the idea? That list was all about speed....guess I thought I needed to push myself a little harder? Aren't we all doing that on some level? Spinning too many plates and not knowing how to stop? We live in an extreme society that makes it pretty easy to be that way..... energy drinks, coffee, highly processed convenient food, too many activity choices, too much noise....we've even got: power yoga....that one is hilarious to me. We jack ourselves up with sugar & caffeine and put ourselves to bed with alcohol and sleeping pills. If there's one thing we don't need any more of: it's power! Where do we go from here? Higher taxes for employees who opt to take their vacation time? Full frontal nudity in daytime tv? Candy so sour it makes your eyeballs explode? Soft drinks with enough sugar & caffeine to keep you awake for 48 hours? Extreme sports training for toddlers?

An interesting thing happened to me last October 1 (3 days after I turned 40, btw). It was the first day in approximately 15 years that I didn't have an office to go to. I had helped the new owners of my business through their "transition period" and they were ready to set sail on their own. So, I found myself on October 1, and a couple of months there-after, wandering around my house without that familiar feeling of power I had gotten so accustomed to. There were no phones or faxes, no customers, no toddlers, no fires to put out....I almost lost my mind. My mind and body kept tricking me into thinking I was stressed out- I didn't know how to 'NOT' be stressed. It makes me sad thinking of it.

Since that time I have been making a new list- a real list: "to do for the rest of your life list": breathe, dream, remember, imagine, grow, savor, rest, enjoy, love, meditate, change, learn, smile, heal, cry, laugh, explore, dance, create, evolve, trust....

I'm already beginning to love this place. It's quiet here. I only hear the wind in the trees, the cows across the street mooing and the birds outside. I took a nap this afternoon....I mean, like a real nap...as in- under the cover/ drooling on my pillow 2 hour nap. This may not seem like a big accomplishment to any of you readers that are natural nappers. I, on the other hand have never been able to settle my mind down enough to sleep during the day and feel rested when I woke. Today is different. I feel the "power" from the last 15 years draining from my body and it feels good. It's calm and peaceful. No more power for me, thanks...I've had my fill.

Plate full of yum.

2008-06-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

Dinner last night was delicious and so easy! I love stacked meals...I'm sure there's some fancy shmansy French term for a layered plate but I don't know it so I just call it stacked....Here are my stacks in case you might like to try it...feel free to substitute- use what you have!

Bottom stack: Quinoa with Shiitake mushrooms:
I sauteed the mushrooms in a little olive oil until they were starting to soften and release their liquid. I then added a cup of quinoa (rinse first) and stirred it around to coat. Then added 2 cups of water (I didn't have any stock- that would have been better) and cooked until it was done (just about 15 minutes or less) Add sea salt and pepper to taste

Next stack: Oven roasted tomatos:
I sliced 1 tomato in 4 fat slices. Put those in a single layer on a pan or in a pyrex. Sprinkled with sea salt & pepper, minced fresh garlic (I used 1 clove for all 4), sprinkled with dried thyme (fresh would be better but I didn't have any) and a piece of a bay leaf on top. I drizzled with olive oil and let that sit for about an hour. I then cooked them in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes- just until they are nice & soft...you could probably cook them less than 10. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Next stack: Pan seared Cod:
I seasoned the fish with sea salt and pepper on both sides and let sit for about 30 minutes. I heated some olive oil over med high heat in a large pan and seared the fish on both sides- just until starting to brown. I then baked it in the oven at 350 until nice & flaky- probably about 15 minutes (it all depends on the size fish). Don't overcook it. Remember that the fish will continue to cook even when you take it out the oven.

Top stack: Wilted Spinach & Arugula with Balsamic Venison Sausage Dressing
For the dressing I sauteed some venison sausage in a pan just until done. Don't drain the fat. I added a couple of tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and about 3 tablespoons of olive oil. While the dressing was still hot I poured it over the salad greens and stirred until they were nice and coated (they will wilt...this is the point of putting the dressing in hot).

This is a delicious easy meal and it looks so pretty on the plate. It's yummy to get a bite with the flavor from each stack.....mmm mmmm good!

Life is good.

2008-06-16T05:34:00.001-07:00

Life is good. We made it to Mass without incident (other than traffic in CT), unpacked the truck and have worked like slaves for the last 2 days getting boxes unpacked, furniture placed, curtain rods hung and beds made. It's beginning to look like a home around here. I took Stokes back to the airport yesterday, stopped at Whole Foods in Cambridge on the way home and am going to attempt my first real meal in my new kitchen tonight.

The menu: Pan Roasted Cod with Shiitake Quinoa and Oven Roasted Tomato.

Wilted Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

*everything's local except the quinoa & oil & vinegar....I'll let you know how it goes!

I slept well last night- for the first time in a long time and breathed a long deep breath of cool New England air this morning. I'm here for a week alone...I can't wait.

Are we there yet?

2008-06-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

Time now: Friday, June 13: 3:22 pm
Total miles traveled: 1135 miles
States traveled through today: WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT
Current location: In a traffic jam outside of Danbury, CT
Miles left to go: around 150
Current driving speed: around 20 mph
Frustration level: very high
Games played today: the state capital game & thinking of all the different names we call poop
Most ridiculous experience today: paying $32 to drive over the Geo Washington Bridge in NYC
Best food eaten today: Big Sky chocolate chip cookies
Worst food eaten today: sleeve of mentos...you know I'm bored if I'm eating mentos
Most expensive gas so far: $4.49/ gallon
General attitude check: delirious

5 States Down

2008-06-13T03:54:00.000-07:00

Time now: 6:55 am, Friday, June 13

Distance traveled yesterday: 770 miles

States driven through yesterday: AL, GA, SC, NC, VA

Miles to go today: 523

Sleeping place last night: Holiday Inn Express Woodstock, VA

Lowest/ highest gas: $3.78/ $4.05

Attitude check: Grumpy. In need of some coffee.

Worst state traveled: NC (terrible roads)

Best state traveled: VA (gorgeous scenery...lots of farms :)

Honk if you love farmers!

2008-06-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure how we got from point A to point B but we are actually on the road! We will drive for the next 2 days (probably 12 hours each day) and travel through 12 states. The U-Haul we are driving is ridiculously large and ridiculously full. We had to cut ourselves off from adding just "one more thing" because we added "one more thing" about 100 times.

Thank you to all who have emailed- I haven't had time to respond individually but I appreciate all of your positive feedback and encouragement! It was a strange feeling leaving my house this morning...knowing that our lives are about to change...in wonderful and mysterious ways that we can't even fathom at this point.

We'll keep you posted on the progress! Honk honk!

Save the planet- eat organic!

2008-06-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

I really don't want to use this blog as my soap box but I just can't help myself today. The kids and I ran by Moe's for lunch today...yes, we're eating junk food- we know those days are numbered! There was a hand-written sign on the door that said, "No more fresh tomato products until further notice." Hmmmm....this can't be good. While we were checking out I asked the woman running the register what happened to the tomatos. She told me there was a problem with " the dye" they were using in the tomatos...with a sort of bewildered look on her face. The owner came screeching around the corner to correct her that No No No...it isn't the dye...it's just that there's been an outbreak of salmonella found in tomatos in 22 states so until further notice the government has recommended that everyone stop serving fresh tomatos.....Thank Goodness- it's just salmonella and they're not really dying our tomatos. I feel so safe knowing that the USDA has caught the problem- only 160 people were sickened because of it. Go USA.

I've had a lot of mixed emotions going on inside of me for the last few weeks. Why am I really doing this? Is it the right thing for my family? Is it really just nuts after all? Is our industrialized food system really that bad? How important is the local food movement? The funky tomato scenario is all the confirmation I needed. Maybe it was me coming down from the double shot of espresso I had at Starbuck's this morning (seemed like a good idea at the time) or maybe I'm just really tired from all the chaos trying to get out of town but, honestly, I really could have stood there and sobbed at the cash register if I had let myself...raising my hands to the sky- THIS is why I am moving to a farm!!!

People all over the world... join hands...start a love train! Love your body, love your mind, love the Earth... say "NO THANKS" to funky food. Save the planet....eat local & organic.

So, I promise not to use my blog as a platform....except when I just can't help myself :)

Simple is hard.

2008-06-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

One of the intentions for this move is to learn to live with less and simplify our lives. It's ironic how hard it's been to do that. Simple = Easy...right? Well, not exactly. I feel like things are exponentially more complicated as I try and untangle the web we've spun ourselves into over the last few years. I wish the "simple fairy" would just fly down and figure out how make it happen for us.

This process of simplifying and letting go has actually been a work in progress over the last few years. I've had yard sales and taken countless loads to Good Will, the FUMC rummage sale and needy families. I've stopped using retail as therapy for a bad day. I've gone "shopping in my closet" for functions instead of getting a new outfit. I sold my business. I've stopped mindless spending trips to Target & Old Navy. I'm mindful about cooking food that is in our pantry and eating leftovers. I've learned to say "no" to any volunteer projects that I'm not passionate about. I've cleaned out every closet, cabinet, closed door & chest of drawers... weeded out, sorted out, thrown away, recycled, donated and passed down. I have pondered on Sheryl Crow's song lyrics: "It's not getting what you want....it's wanting what you've got...." reallllllly pondered on those words and have come to truly believe them.

So, as I'm packing for our big move on Thursday I'm wondering why it is that we still have all this STUFF?!? Yo Sheryl...when you have 30 t-shirts in your closet do you really need to want that many because you've got them? I guess the bigger question is why as Americans do we feel that we need all this stuff?....obviously I think I need it or I wouldn't have it.....or... maybe... I just want it....thus the untangling begins. It's hard to be simple!

First on the list to go....cable tv...really- it's gone! We've talked about doing it for years...even threatened the kids a few times with it but we've really actually done it! It's amazing how you don't really even miss it...ok, so maybe we've missed it a little but not nearly as much as I thought. And, perhaps if I don't have someone telling me why I need all these things then the list of what I want will become more clear. Maybe I'll be able to recapture my own sense of style which was so much part of who I was when I was younger rather than falling into the "Pottery Barn" version of life we're bombarded with now. It's sad how homogenized we've become...did you know the Target in Keene, NH has EXACTLY the same merchandise as the Target in Dothan? Did I expect something different? I must have because I couldn't help feeling disappointed when I made this realization.

Second to go- marketing by email...I have been consciously unsubscribing to all of the Gaps, JCrews, Banana Republics & Anthropologies telling me about their deal of the day. Thanks Bluefly- I'll pass on the extra 15% and by the way, unsubscribe me from your list. Even Oprah and a whole bunch of other "self-help" e-newsletters that I've subscribed to haven't made the cut. If I can figure out how to remove myself from all of the catalog mailing lists I'll do that too....although I think this might be a little trickier. It would be interesting to save all the paper catalogs I receive in a year (I'm sure the number would be staggering) and figure out the carbon footprint that me & my little bitty old 349 S. Park self has left on the planet.

There's a whole lot of other stuff to be worked out too....we sold about $25,000 worth of loot for a mere $500 at our garage sale Saturday (and were skipping to my loo to get that) and left the rest on the front porch for the Rescue Mission to pick up tomorrow....admitedly the pile is growing as I'm continuing to pack.

I believe the first step to change is recognizing the need for it and then setting your intention to make it happen. My intention to simplify is there and the wheels are in motion to make it happen....and oh boy- I definitely recognize the need after going through this packing experience!

Feels Like Home

2008-06-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Mass was immensely successful. We loved the house- it felt just like home! We spent time giving our new yard some much needed TLC and even had time to get our garden started. None of us wanted to come home. Stokes & I leave Thursday for the big move.... stay tuned for more pics & stories of the journey north!

2008-06-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad that I went up there for the first time. It was sooooooooo pretty. I went to my school while I was there. It is way different than the school I go to now but it was cool. We also spent some time in New Hampshire and Vermont. I am so glad that I can go to England with my school. My school's name is the Village School. They have a garden on the playground. I have NEVER had a school with a garden and probably will NEVER again have a school with a garden.

Stokes finally figure out how to contribute to the blog

2008-05-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

After fighting my case of computer illiteracy, I am finally able to add to the blog. When Juli-Ann first approached me with the idea of going to farm school, there were so many obstacles that would derail the plan, that it was easy to entertain the possibility. As the obstacles started to dissolve, it became apparent to me that this adventure was a definite possibility. Mudge and Molly sold, Juli-Ann got accepted to the school(first student with children accepted), she visited the kids prospective schools and loved them, etc..... Talk was now becoming action, all the stars were aligning! As any of you who are close to Juli-Ann know, her passion is contagious. As reality started to sink-in excitment became fear, but I have learned lately to recognize fear, and do what you are afraid of anyway. Juli-Ann and I want to instill in Mac and Annie that it okay to be scared about something and still pursue it. Some of the greatest accomplishments come when you learn to conquer the fear to try new things in the first place. If nothing else comes out of this experience, it is my hope that it teaches all of us to seek our dreams and TAKE action to bring them to fruition.

I am so excited about Juli-Ann and the kids adventure in Massachucetts, but I am equally excited about my adventure right here in Alabama.

Mac's scoop on the trip to Mass.

2008-05-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

My first reaction to this idea was WHAT!!! WE'RE MOVING TO WHERE!!! So as you can see I was as suprised as you are. When I thought about it I said to myself "Hey I'll be like Marius and Christiaan Heersink except I'll be moving to Massachusetts instead of Holland. Now we have got an awsome house with a 40 acre yard to play in and for an extra bonus it has woods behind it that I can use WOOH! The bad thing is that we have to leave our friends and dad here in Dothan. Only for a year though. My dad also will be coming to visit frequently so that is good. And thats my scoop on the trip to Massachusetts.

What I think about next year.

2008-05-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

I think it is going to be a fun adventure. I am sad that my dad is staying here and that I am going to be away from all of my friends for a year. I really like our house up there. I think it is going to be so fun. I am going to meet new friends and people. I want to see what it is like.

52 Creamery Hill Road

2008-05-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

Luck is on our side. Our friend Bill Lamb (a current Farm School student) found this house for us to rent. It's only a mile from Maggie's farm where Mac & I will be in school and about 15 minutes from Annie's school. We must have been living right- can you imagine a more picturesque New England setting? The house sits on 40 acres which will be great fun for Mac & Annie to explore. We couldn't be more excited.

The prize does come with some questions about what we're able & willing to live without- namely: air conditioning and a dishwasher. It will be interesting to see how we manage...stay tuned. The owner is willing to let Pierre & Lulu come with us. Anyone willing to make the 2 day drive up with them?

Mac, Annie & I are headed up May 31 to stay in the house for a few nights, get our bearings in the area and decide what furniture we need to pack up & bring with us on the next trip in June. Let the adventure begin....at 52 Creamery Hill Road, North Orange, Mass.

So you want to be a pharmacist.....

2008-04-15T07:51:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first entry in my new blog....our year on the farm. It is my intention to keep everyone updated about our adventures on the farm by posting pictures, notes and anecdotes through the year. For my first blogging session I've decided to give you all a little history on how all this came to be and some of the reactions I've encountered since announcing my decision to leave for farm school.

I was accepted at the Practical Farm Training Program at The Farm School in Athol, MA in December of 2007....Here are snips of some of the conversations I've been having since then:

"So you want to be a pharmacist....." No, actually it's Farm school, not pharm school...
"Girl, I've got some land & a tractor & I can show you how to work 'em & save ya' the trouble of movin'..." Well, there's a little more to it than just learning to drive a tractor...
"Did you say Charm School?" Nope...you heard me right...I said Farm
"Green acres is the place for me...." From henceforth any person that sings this theme song to me will have to pay me $1 which will go into the tuition fund....
"You're moving WHERE? To do WHAT?" "Does Stokes know about this?" "Is this a cult?" "Are you having a nervous breakdown?" "Is it just a mid-life crisis?" "You gonna' get ya' some overalls?" "You gonna' learn how to milk a cow?" "Do they offer pedicures at Farm School?"
"So....how did all of this come about?".....

I thought you'd never ask.......

How it all came about:

First of all, let me say....I know. I know. This is "nutsy crazy" as Mac & Annie would say.

If I weren't me I'd be talking about myself too!

"She's lost her mind." "Massachusetts is really cold- what is she thinking?" "Did you see her the other day- she had on designer blue jeans and high-heeled shoes- doesn't dress like any farmer I've ever seen before." "She's just taking this organic vegetable idea tooooo far."

Believe me....it's all run through my head too.

When, with blind faith, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition approximately 2 years ago, I knew my life would change. I just had no idea how much! In January of 2007, during an exercise in class we were instructed to turn to our neighbor and tell them where we saw ourselves in the next 5 years. I heard a voice say, "Well....I think maybe I want to be a farmer...." Awww, I thought to myself....isn't that nice....how adventurously quaint....wait a

minute! Did I just say that? Hold the phone! Who made me say that? Whomever is driving this bus needs to pull over because that is just nuts. I kinda' feel like when God said to Noah, "Man you better build an ark or else....", he probably felt the same way.

If you had told me at that point that I would actually go forward with becoming a farmer I would have asked you what you were smoking. Farm school found me. I didn't even search for it. The farm school website came up on random google searches several times over the next couple of months-fueling my internal conversation about all the reasons that was just complete silliness. On the way to the beach last June, I was catching up on some back issues of magazines and opened up an old Body & Soul to an article about a woman who left her corporate job to attend The Farm School. "Okay, okay, okay!!!! I surrender." Two weeks later I made a deal to sell Mudge & Molly....the wheels were in motion. It's unbelievable in reflecting on all of the things that had to be "resolved'' -and were- for this to happen. My good friend Louise said to me one day, "When you get on the right path everything just falls into place." Despite my best efforts to rationalize, resist, argue and decline....I was on the right path and it was time to build the ark (aka- head north!)

My intentions for next year:

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. My life has been far too busy, complicated, cluttered & stressful...I am recovering from adrenal fatigue syndrome because of it. I'm burned out from running on the never-ending treadmill of consumerism....game over. I want to learn to live with less and value what I have more. Not that this will be easy....gosh darnit- if Zappos just didn't have so many styles to choose from and free overnight shipping!
Live slow. Eat slow. Drive slow. Think slow. Be slow. Pretty much the antithesis of my life for the last 15 years.
Find more joy in my daily life....sure joy always comes in big moments: birthdays, holidays, celebrations & big events. I've always heard the expression, "There's more to life than this." Well, I'm beginning to disagree with that statement...I think maybe there's "LESS to life than this" and it's all the busy-ness, routine, structure & schedules that take away your daily joy.
Savor my last year as a Mom without a teenager! We won't have cable tv next year so we plan on playing games, reading and traveling, having conversations (what a novel idea!), and just enjoying the beautiful part of the country we'll be living in.
Eat great food. As much as possible we will continue our commitment to eat local, fresh, seasonal & organic. We are also excited about all the ethnic food choices we'll have to choose from in Boston!

Our Plan:

Mac, Annie & I are headed to Boston on May 31 for a few days to find a place to live. Stokes is working on a big job right now and is saving his "days off" to visit later in the summer so he won't go with us on this trip. Mac & Annie are excited about being part of the house hunt and we hope to find something we'll be excited to call home for a year. We plan on moving at some point in July- it all depends on when our lease begins. Their school begins after Labor Day and mine doesn't start until October 1. That will give us a few weeks to travel and sight see and get acclamated to the area.

Our doors are open next year for any and all who want to come visit. I can't promise luxurious accomodations but the area where we'll be living is beautiful and full of quaint New England villages and rolling farm land. I'm excited to experience a real fall season!

After farm school?

Well, the honest answer is, "I have no idea." This is as much a spiritual journey for me as it is about animals and vegetables. My life to this point has been pretty safe and predictable. I'm learning to become comfortable in the unknown space....to stretch myself to go beyond the safety of what's known and seek answers in the quiet & still places of my mind. I believe it's there the answer will be revealed....stay tuned.

Thanks to any who have read this far! We appreciate everyone's support & prayers next year as we embark on this amazing journey. For anyone still worried that this might be "a mid-life crisis" let me assure you- this is a mid-life awakening...there's no crisis happening. Stokes & I want Mac & Annie to know that the world is a big place and that it's ok to feel fearful of doing something and do it anyway. We are confident that this a good choice for all of us and look forward to sharing our experiences with you!