A change is gonna come...

on May 26. That is the day that I am scheduled to start work at Tree and Leaf Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Purcellville, VA. I'll be working there through October 31, learning everything there is to learn about planting, harvesting, and selling organic vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers. Woohoo!

YES, I am excited! I am on my way to the country, to learn how to farm sustainably and organically, to see whether or not I really want to do this rural farming thing that's been tugging at my heart for years now and that has become more and more insistent in the past 9 months or so. I know it may seem incredibly random, and I don't have a big explanation for it other than... I want to do this. I'm really excited to be moving on, getting out and about to explore new territory and adventure. I have never farmed before. Sure, I've had herb gardens and grown tomatoes, and I can usually figure out what to do with the food once it gets to my kitchen, but I have no clue about farming. I do know that I'm the second generation of my family with no dependance on the land or defining relationship to the seasons or the harvest, but I am keenly interested in living in relationship with the earth. My grandmother grew up in a family of ten children on a farm in during the 1920s. The only things they bought were coffee and sugar, and they had no idea there was a depression going on throughout the country. That's pretty powerful, especially when you consider the economic climate we face today, the rise of small, organic farms, and the unbelievable devilry of Monsanto.

And how does one explain the heart? It doesn't make sense, but the faint tattoo of the country calling to my heart has suddenly grown louder and louder.

This change does bring a lot of questions to the table, like what I'll do with my house and where I'll be in November and beyond.

As for the house, my aim is to rent it out to people I trust to take care of it, enjoy it, and pay rent on time and in full. I have not yet found those people. I did seriously consider selling it, and I met with my realtor to discuss those plans. But after sitting with the idea of selling for a few days, I feel a lot more comfortable with renting it. I know that it could be a huge hassle, especially considering the distance. So I'm aiming to rent it out but am still open to selling it - please contact me if you're interested in living in a gorgeous, redone Craftsman home.

And November? Right now I have no plans beyond work on the farm. A friend and fellow arts educator pointed me to Wolf Trap for possible job opportunities, so I may check that out, or I may winter in Knoxville or DC. I really don't know. I just finalized these plans this week, so I'm still excited about it all and haven't thought much past them. If you have more questions for me, feel free to post them here or e-mail me- I need people to ask me challenging questions since I know I haven't even begun to consider all points of the situation. And that's all for now.

Further up and further in!