June-Factory Reset
When Grandma Jo checked in to see that everything was alright in our world, I recognized that I'd been rather insular. Coming back 'online' after steeping myself in the farm and the the culmination of May's end of the school year festivities, I am reminded of how much energy I get from this community of ours. Communing or even just shooting the breeze with others is so grounding, reminiscent of the fact that our life here is but one of a myriad of tales unfolding amongst each other. It offers perspective on how our journey is part of something much greater.
In times overwhelming or heavy, I tend to retreat deep inside the aperture of my shell, burying myself in our day-to-day routine, busying and ultimately exhausting my mind and heart. It's a pattern which my closest advisors encourage me to break. But as the kids and farm could always use more of my time, this habit is easy to lean into as a coping strategy. Eventually, I come out for air, prepared to jump into reality with a more grounded perspective.
It was last week as I tucked sprouted ginger into prepared hoop house beds, Rich rerouted our irrigation to the freshly planted beds in the field to the north of me, and the kids wove their way in between us in search of 'field treasures', when a woodpecker sounded from the remaining strip of wetland left untouched to the east of the farm. If you've kept up with the story, General Motors unexpectedly clear cut multiple acres of protected wetland and endangered bat habitat this spring. Rich and I spent weeks pursuing information and help, then disseminating the information to our neighbors and anyone along our waterway to effect a change or to submit public comment before the EPA approved building on this space. In the end we took the good with the bad and were grateful to at least have a wimpy strip of the trees and wetland soils left behind. But we weren't sure what life would remain in that space after such disturbance. The hammering of the woodpecker in pursuit of its prey interrupted my thoughts, calling me to listen.
The pecking was coming from the remaining wetland space...signs of life...a sort of heartbeat. I relinquished my hand hoe and paused my rhythmic planting and listened...the distant woodpecker, Rich a bit closer pounding stakes to steady our irrigation rig, the kids' excited chatter and the sound of their garden clogs in the clover and field grasses as they gallivanted. It was like 'coming to' after a factory reset...to wake up to the beauty of reality: we are here, in our Eden, unlocking the potential of another spring season on the farm despite the drama which unfolded next door this spring and which Rich said he is just realizing stressed him and angered him more than he thought. We are here safe and sound, living out our life which we have worked hard to lay the foundation for.
The birds continue to make the most of the wild space left nextdoor. And perhaps we inherited some whose nesting grounds were taken from them a few months ago. The ground is lush and alive in its spring form and the cloud of fear and frustration which we were living under for the past while has lifted due to our recognition that what has been taken is gone and we are safe where we lie. If that is to change, we have proven to ourselves that we can do what it takes to reclaim a peaceful life on the land.
We felt it was our responsibility to advocate for the the land, as well as the creatures, endangered and not, who rely on it. We didn't forecast how much energy we would give in our efforts to get help, or how inserting ourselves and the farm in the matter could activate sadness and even anger in our community. After ruminating over the experience, we agreed that we have a relationship with this land that we are living off of. And we both felt compelled to protect it, despite the sadness of the story which unfolded and the dark reality of corporate greed and faulty government regulation and protection that were unveiled.
Rich and I are both rather allergic to negative energy. And so we are happy to move forward, living our simple life with which we intend to seed goodness through the food we grow, the conversations we share in, the ideas we bring to life, the company we keep, etc. All sorts of ideas arose over the course of the last few months, including moving to a place which better protects its resources and its constituents. Ultimately we felt most inspired to continue to grow this beautiful land which we have become a part of greener with the resiliency of a healthy and happy ecosystem.
And so now that I'm powered on again, I feel interested in writing, I am eager for market season to start next weekend, and I'm inspired by May's mega-list of adventures she has her heart set on jumping into during this, her first summer break ever!
Even while I'm deep in my shell, life carries on. There is another story to come from our life here which has been contributing to my being unplugged and a bit in self-preservation mode. Stay tuned for that story, deserving of its own space next week!
Farm Updates:
-Market Season Begins! Oakwood Farmers Market begins this Saturday, June 3rd :). Market runs from 9-1 every Saturday through October. You'll find us there at 22 Orchard Drive amongst a sea of awesome local vendors. You can still preorder on our site and pick up you order from our market booth.
-In the Field: We have been able to get way ahead on planting and seeding in the field due to a lack of wet spring conditions which typically set us at a slower pace. That is good and bad. Rain is good for many reasons, so we hope to see it in the forecast sooner than later!
-Sheep: We had a pretty great lambing season. The bottle babes were fully weaned the first week of May and they are totally self-sufficient, though they still give it a go, hopeful for just one more bottle, when we are refilling water or moving the group.
-School's out for summer: Just like the good ol' days, it's back to the four of us day in and day out here on the farm :). May finished kindergarten last week and is already halfway finished with her 1st grade summer packet :). That kid is so spongey! She truly soaks it all up.
