My Christmas in July list

Christmas in July, you know? When your church or organization gathers food and gifts and such for needy people, things like socks and beans and school supplies for the kids. I thought I'd start a Christmas in July list of my own. Why, you ask? Well...

Working on a farm is pretty awesome. It's challenging, to be sure, but it does have its benefits: stronger muscles, good exercise, character/resolve building, improved stamina, the list goes on. I'm totally down with all of these things, but they all demand FUEL. And lots of it. Holy cow, if you saw how much I eat, you'd fall down. Fo rizzle. And my clothes still fit!

But it's at this point, after a week and a half on the job, that I wonder how I'm going to be able to feed myself and continue to work and pay bills. Sure, we get some free vegetables, and we all need our greens. And we do have some money for communal food that comes out of our paychecks (yay for beans!), but neither of these things cover all of it, and unfortunately if I eat just anything, my body doesn't work nearly as well. And this job demands that my body run as well as humanly possible. I recently remembered why I like to drink kombucha: because it makes me feel alive and well. It makes a huge difference in how I work each day. I tried to ration it and cut down on cost, but it really seems like I need a kombucha every day. I'm brewing some, but it's not ready yet, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up with demand, but I do have a fighting chance now that I'm brewing 3 gallons at a time! Thanks to Katherine, the farm manager here, for an extra kombucha mother!

So just in case you had thoughts of sending me a care package via the Post Office or my soon-to-be-visitors Marcia (Knoxville) or Jason (Asheville), I thought I'd guide you. Did I mention my thirtieth birthday is June 30? ;-)

• My Organic Market! My new favorite place to shop. There's one in Frederick, and it's not too hard to get to. They have gift cards. And kombucha & probiotics.

• Maple syrup, grade B. Along with tahini, it's a major food group. Lots of minerals, amazing taste.

• Lemons, organic. When combined with the maple syrup, it's a supportively yummy drink for a boost during the long hours.

• Kombucha. The best. End of story. If you've never tried one, go experience one at your local food co-op or health food store. I recommend starting with the grape.

• White ankle socks, size 9-11. I underestimated the importance of socks on a farm. There was a lot going on when I moved, and my brain fell out at different intervals.

• Nana's Lemon Cookies: Gluten-free. Fruit-juice sweetened. Uber lemony. Awesome. The oatmeal raisin, ginger, and chocolate chip varieties are also great. Clearly a splurge, but I thought I'd include it, too.

And there you have it, folks. Facing the budget can feel like a door slamming shut, so I thought I'd open a window.
If you'd like to correspond via snail mail, send me your address!

Megan Adair
38287 John Wolford Road
Purcellville, VA
20132