From exploring the Western half of the country crammed in two cars with a group of college friends,
slicing my finger off on a 5 week backpacking trip in Wind River Mountains, canoeing and hiking in northern Minnesota during an incredibly colorful Autumn,
slicing my finger off on a 5 week backpacking trip in Wind River Mountains, canoeing and hiking in northern Minnesota during an incredibly colorful Autumn,
climbing in Kentucky with some crazy boys
and wrestling eighty sled dogs over the winter, I've really enjoyed life post-college.
It was wonderful to be home one last time with my whole family. I definitely become a 15 year old around my siblings, all in good fun though. I have a lot to be thankful for, a beautiful, caring, supportive, crazy and wildly energetic family is one of them.
(This picture is of our lodge in northern MN). Family photo coming soon.
In November I decided that I wanted a break from the guiding world, yet I wasn't ready to leave outdoor physical work. As an International Sustainable Development major in college I needed to start "walking the walk" and really experience what this whole "living sustainably" thing actually means. It was time to become a farmer.
Farming was really something that has been on my agenda for a long time. Looking back at old journals, especially from Kenya, organic farming was always on the top of the list for "future goals." (I love lists). Before that there were certainy many influences in my life pushing me towards working with the earth. My mom and grandmothers for one, who are always gardening and tending to plants, as well as professors and friends at St. Olaf. Reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and Omnivore's Dillema by Michael Pollan continued to fuel my interest in promoting local organic food.
After a month of searching I found Sisters Hill Farm through http://attra.ncat.org/ Sisters Hill is a small five acre organic CSA farm with 250 members, tucked back on the hillside of the tiny town of Stanfordville, New York. Farmer Dave has been running the farm for over ten years for the Sisters of Charity.http://www.sistershillfarm.org/. It is beautiful! Many details to come. Check out the website for a thorough history. Basically it was willed to the Sisters in 1917 and now supports their mission to provide organic food to low income families in the Bronx, along with organic food to 250 CSA members.
After four crazy months of dogsledding, skiing and guiding for Wintergreen, http://www.dogsledding.com/, I set out for the east coast in my brand new (well new to me) Subaru Impreza, or Wall-E. 
A few days before I left my grandfather, Win, passed away after five years battling Alzheimer's. It was good to see family during the funeral and say goodbye to him before he passed away and before I left for New York. I will always remember grandpa Win singing and whistling old Frank Sinatra tunes, making us French Vanilla Ice Cream cones after a long day of golf ball hunting, taking me driving in the Bluffs of Redwing, Minnesota and pummeling him every morning with pillows and stuffed animals so we could steal his Wurthers. Grandpa was a beautiful person who's heart poured out with love for his family, friends and strangers. His athleticism, determination to "keep on trucking" even in light of his disability, and extremely giving nature will always be a great influence in my life.
Mark and I set out after the funeral for a rather uneventful "full speed" ahead venture to New York. They say every couple should spend long hours in a car together to see if you REALLY can handle each other. This trial turned to be a survivable experience. Mark is truly my everything, he knows me more than I know myself sometimes. He is so incredibly patient, humble, caring and everything that is good. I owe him a lot for driving all the way out to New York with me.
We showed up late and met Maureen, my room-mate and fellow partner in crime on the farm. She is a environmental educator with an easy laugh and an infectiously positive personality. We have thus far become professional Asian lady bug killers, apartment bleaching fanatics, oven repair specialists, mouse eradicators and super-duper mouse and chicken poop scoopers.
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Farmer Dave, standing a full 15" taller than me! met us briefly on Saturday. Dave is incredible, not only did he start this farm on his own and develop it into a healthy full fledged farm that provides him with a means to support himself and his family, but he also recently built his own home. He is full of knowledge and always willing to share it. I am very excited to work with him.
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