My husband is a true farmer. Honestly, he’d be out in the farm fields 24 hours a day surviving on coffee and beer alone without batting an eye. If I didn’t adore cooking and sharing meals with Taylor I’m positive this guy would never eat. Or if he did, it would be delivery pizza eaten on the tractor while still working.
If the farm is our office the kitchen is my happy place. Taylor gets his thrills out in the dirt while I get my inspiration from the comfort of the farm kitchen. I look forward to kicking off my boots every evening and the simple act of mindlessly chopping onions or boiling water for pasta. These moments are complete bliss. Besides, after-dinner farm chores are always a little easier with full bellies and a beer (or two) in our systems.
One of the greatest lessons farming has taught me over the past 6 1/2 years is that it’s truly the simple things that make us the happiest. In my pre-farming life I never appreciated how good standing upright feels, or the glorious sensation of raindrops on my bare skin after a drought-this literally brings tears to my eyes. The taste of strong black coffee first thing in the morning reassures us that it’s a new day, a clean slate, and anything is possible. A pint of ice cold beer after a day of manual labor is so damn tasty it instantly eases all the aches and pains from the days work. These moments and little rituals keep us going. They ground us and we are thankful for how simple life can be when we focus on these small delights. Farming is unpredictable and each season is totally different from the last. It’s difficult to plan for a drought or a rainy season. You never know when the hungry deer will strike or when gophers will decimate an entire field of broccoli. It’s a hard way to make a living and we feel totally crazy for relying on Mother Nature to be our boss- she can be a total bitch sometimes! However, it’s these simple moments that we rely on each day to help get us through.
We’re nearing the end of a long and hot farm season that honestly just about killed us. I keep this blog as positive as I can but it’s been a bumpy road this year. However, we’ve made it over the hump and we can now look back at this season and be completely proud of our work thus far. It’s been our most successful farming year to date and we’re not even through the season yet. We are forever grateful to all of our supporters and feel so lucky to grow food in such a beautiful place. Also, turning our chest freezer into a kegerator wasn’t a bad idea either. I guess we really are getting smarter each season! Anyhow, the moral of this post is basically that hard work, good food, great beer, and a community of rad folks makes the world go round. Happy Friday everyone!
This blog post of “Moments & Little Rituals” makes me love the full bloom of YOU, your farm, your guy, your dog, those white radishes (turnips?) and all your soulful words!! Mother Nature can indeed be a bitch. My Italian grandfather was a fisherman and Atlantic Ocean storms would kill weeks of business at a time. It gives deeper meaning to the small daily rituals & moments that hold it all together.
Thank you for the lovely comment. xoxo
I love reading your blogs to inspire me to cook something new. Today I just loved your blog because it simply inspired me to live a good day. I’m so happy all your hard work has paid off!
This makes me so happy. Thanks for reading along. xo
You have a wisdom that Donald Trump will never know.
this put a big smile on my face. Thank you Jean. xo
Salt of the earth people are the best.
You are connected and blessed !!
thank you for the lovely comment and for reading along. xo
I always enjoy your photos. I love the ones of the two of you, fresh off (or still on) the field. You two make dirt look good!
ahhh! thank you!
She can be fierce, but you coax her into something gentle, beautiful, and nourishing. Thank you for all the gifts of mother nature you cultivate, and the wisdom of simple things and small delights.
Sic pictures!
thanks big guy!
I am so inspired by you two! I love seeing all of the hard-work that you put into doing what you love. Farming is not lost in the PNW!
Catching up on your posts tonight… this one brought me so much encouragement to keep at it, keep grinding, and trust that persistence and faith will carry us through whatever we are facing each day. Congrats on turning the corner on a challenging farm season. Won’t be long before you guys can put the farm to bed, sit back and get some real rest and relaxation while you reflect on all of your success. Well deserved!!
Honoring those simple pleasures–such a good lesson. xoxo
What a pleasure to read your blog! Happy Fall to you guys!