Heather in the strawberry patchYes, I'll admit it. I want to be a farmer. I want to work my butt off and sweat and get dirt under my fingernails. I want to grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables, to be able to tangibly see and taste the (real) fruits of my labor. I want to have a real connection with the land, not just the one in my heart. I can't explain this desire; I don't have the knowledge or the background. My parents grew up on farms although I did not. Recently though, someone was nice enough to tell me that it's simply in my blood, and that was enough explanation for them. I can go with that.
I truly believe we each have a path that we were born to, and if we stay true to ourselves in each moment we will find it. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart." I won't give you my explication on the first half of that verse--that's a big enough topic for another time. However, the second part is sometimes taken to mean that God (Life, the Universe, whatever you want to call Him/Her) will give you what you want if you are faithful. I think it means that God places our most authentic desires, dreams, and paths in our hearts. When we step out of our way, and God's way long enough, and stay open, it can help to clarify where we need to be. And if we ask, we will get the help we need to find the courage to step out on that path. Our path can change with time, and that's okay too.
In high school they voted me "Most Likely to follow the Dead." I wore tie-dye t-shirts, ripped jeans, and bandannas all the time. While there is a hefty amount of hippie in me, I probably couldn't identify a Grateful Dead song if I heard one (I'm working on it). Back then, it was a Willie Nelson thing for me. I don't remember exactly how the gardening/farming thing started, but it was back in high school, back when I first learned about organic and sustainable agriculture. I attempted a huge organic garden the summer before my junior year. I think it did pretty well, considering we lived on a heavily wooded 1 1/2 acre lot, had that lovely red Carolina clay, and I was gone for an entire month that summer [and paid my sister to weed the garden--learned my lesson].
I went to college with a declared major in Environmental Science and an Agriculture minor. I left college with an Art major and an English minor. Some of you are scratching your heads at that, but, as it turned out, I was good at art (who knew?). And as all of my high school teachers and professors told me, I was good at writing. (My friends keep telling me that too, thus the blog!) Not to mention I love reading. Art was a very therapeutic path that was right for me at that time, I believe. Somehow, someday, all of this will tie in together. But the question at this point was--"you have an art degree, what are you going to do now?"
So . . . after moving to VA when I got married, I got a 'job for now' with corporate America. I was good at my job. I worked my way up fairly quickly. 8 years later, my 'job for now' had become a 'let's see how it goes' career. I enjoyed a lot of it, worked with lots of wonderful people, and I had a great paycheck. However, it took getting sick, slowly, systematically, for me to notice what the stress was doing to me. What spending my life energy in a job that didn't feed my soul was doing to me. And I finally got it. The message was "Heather, wtf?" So I took the general chaos that a change in management can cause as my cue to leave.
I was lucky enough to land, at least temporarily, in a place I like to call "Heaven." The uninitiated call it Belvedere Plantation. It's a strawberry farm just a few miles southeast of town. I work as a field guide, helping the pick-your-own people. The breeze carries the scent of the strawberries when I get close to the fields, and I just close my eyes and breathe it in. And there's usually some honeysuckle nearby (evidently a weed to some), and I catch a whiff of that now and then . . . honeysuckle and strawberries--happiness. I have a farmer's tan now . . . heck even a name tag that says "Farmer Heather." The family that owns the farm is really great . . . 3rd and 4th generation run it now. Great bosses and fun just to be around not to mention hard workers, which is a given but also earns my respect pretty fast. I get to eat strawberries right out of the field, and OMG-- if you've never had a fresh-picked strawberry than you don't know what a strawberry tastes like. Heaven.
Tasting the fruit of my labor
I know some who won't come out to pick because they say that it's too expensive--that they can get cheaper berries at the store. Well, that may be true but you can't get berries this good, food this good, off of a truck coming all the way across the country. Food that's bred for travel isn't bred for taste. I've been spoiled I guess--I'm used to splurging occasionally on organic strawberries which are considerably more expensive than your bargain variety, so for me this is cheaper and better in so many ways. They aren't certified organic, but the farm uses a lot of sustainable methods which makes the hippie in me happy. And they are local, which those of you on the localvore train will know means a smaller carbon footprint as well. Most importantly, it helps support the livelihood of farmers in my community, farmers I now know by name and with whom I have worked alongside.
I am also volunteering this summer to help distribute our CSA shares. We joined this CSA last year and I've really enjoyed it. I hope someday to grow for this or another CSA. Last year we were the 'grab and go' folks but this year, by sticking around, I'm meeting lots of wonderful people, growers and members alike. More good stuff to come on that topic.
Tomorrow promises to be another sweltering day on the farm. But it's heaven, for another day. I am dreading the fast-approaching end of strawberry season since that means another job hunt. But, the dream is alive, as the Universe keeps reminding me. For those of you also waiting on yours, take heart. Just be. Just open your heart, it's a start.
There's this wonderful snippet of Tolkien that I love that's etched into Natural Bridge--it's one of the hobbits' walking songs in Lord of the Rings. It has that mysterious, promising air that yes, even if it takes time, we can one day walk that dream path (full text here) . . .
Tolkien lives at Natural Bridge
I truly believe we each have a path that we were born to, and if we stay true to ourselves in each moment we will find it. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart." I won't give you my explication on the first half of that verse--that's a big enough topic for another time. However, the second part is sometimes taken to mean that God (Life, the Universe, whatever you want to call Him/Her) will give you what you want if you are faithful. I think it means that God places our most authentic desires, dreams, and paths in our hearts. When we step out of our way, and God's way long enough, and stay open, it can help to clarify where we need to be. And if we ask, we will get the help we need to find the courage to step out on that path. Our path can change with time, and that's okay too.
In high school they voted me "Most Likely to follow the Dead." I wore tie-dye t-shirts, ripped jeans, and bandannas all the time. While there is a hefty amount of hippie in me, I probably couldn't identify a Grateful Dead song if I heard one (I'm working on it). Back then, it was a Willie Nelson thing for me. I don't remember exactly how the gardening/farming thing started, but it was back in high school, back when I first learned about organic and sustainable agriculture. I attempted a huge organic garden the summer before my junior year. I think it did pretty well, considering we lived on a heavily wooded 1 1/2 acre lot, had that lovely red Carolina clay, and I was gone for an entire month that summer [and paid my sister to weed the garden--learned my lesson].
I went to college with a declared major in Environmental Science and an Agriculture minor. I left college with an Art major and an English minor. Some of you are scratching your heads at that, but, as it turned out, I was good at art (who knew?). And as all of my high school teachers and professors told me, I was good at writing. (My friends keep telling me that too, thus the blog!) Not to mention I love reading. Art was a very therapeutic path that was right for me at that time, I believe. Somehow, someday, all of this will tie in together. But the question at this point was--"you have an art degree, what are you going to do now?"
So . . . after moving to VA when I got married, I got a 'job for now' with corporate America. I was good at my job. I worked my way up fairly quickly. 8 years later, my 'job for now' had become a 'let's see how it goes' career. I enjoyed a lot of it, worked with lots of wonderful people, and I had a great paycheck. However, it took getting sick, slowly, systematically, for me to notice what the stress was doing to me. What spending my life energy in a job that didn't feed my soul was doing to me. And I finally got it. The message was "Heather, wtf?" So I took the general chaos that a change in management can cause as my cue to leave.
I was lucky enough to land, at least temporarily, in a place I like to call "Heaven." The uninitiated call it Belvedere Plantation. It's a strawberry farm just a few miles southeast of town. I work as a field guide, helping the pick-your-own people. The breeze carries the scent of the strawberries when I get close to the fields, and I just close my eyes and breathe it in. And there's usually some honeysuckle nearby (evidently a weed to some), and I catch a whiff of that now and then . . . honeysuckle and strawberries--happiness. I have a farmer's tan now . . . heck even a name tag that says "Farmer Heather." The family that owns the farm is really great . . . 3rd and 4th generation run it now. Great bosses and fun just to be around not to mention hard workers, which is a given but also earns my respect pretty fast. I get to eat strawberries right out of the field, and OMG-- if you've never had a fresh-picked strawberry than you don't know what a strawberry tastes like. Heaven.
Tasting the fruit of my laborI know some who won't come out to pick because they say that it's too expensive--that they can get cheaper berries at the store. Well, that may be true but you can't get berries this good, food this good, off of a truck coming all the way across the country. Food that's bred for travel isn't bred for taste. I've been spoiled I guess--I'm used to splurging occasionally on organic strawberries which are considerably more expensive than your bargain variety, so for me this is cheaper and better in so many ways. They aren't certified organic, but the farm uses a lot of sustainable methods which makes the hippie in me happy. And they are local, which those of you on the localvore train will know means a smaller carbon footprint as well. Most importantly, it helps support the livelihood of farmers in my community, farmers I now know by name and with whom I have worked alongside.
I am also volunteering this summer to help distribute our CSA shares. We joined this CSA last year and I've really enjoyed it. I hope someday to grow for this or another CSA. Last year we were the 'grab and go' folks but this year, by sticking around, I'm meeting lots of wonderful people, growers and members alike. More good stuff to come on that topic.
Tomorrow promises to be another sweltering day on the farm. But it's heaven, for another day. I am dreading the fast-approaching end of strawberry season since that means another job hunt. But, the dream is alive, as the Universe keeps reminding me. For those of you also waiting on yours, take heart. Just be. Just open your heart, it's a start.
There's this wonderful snippet of Tolkien that I love that's etched into Natural Bridge--it's one of the hobbits' walking songs in Lord of the Rings. It has that mysterious, promising air that yes, even if it takes time, we can one day walk that dream path (full text here) . . .
Tolkien lives at Natural BridgeStrawberry Fields Forever (Love version) - The Beatles
