Thankful.

Although many people have begun associating Thanksgiving with extra vacation days, excessive eating and discounted consumerism, I still like to focus on the thankful aspect.

So perhaps my year was full of twists and turns down roads I never expected but along the journey there have been delights, silver linings, and so much love. While it is easier to wallow in the disappointments and what-ifs, I think it is far more productive to embrace the hard lessons I have learned and focus on wrapping myself up in the warm fuzzies that I have experienced.


I am thankful for all of the people in my life. For their willingness to love me unconditionally, to accept me for who I am and who I want to be, and all of the support they provide. The fact that my friends are all ages and from all different backgrounds speaks volumes about the ability of others to accept me into their world. On top of having great friends, I also have the kind of family that will come into town and spend the whole time helping me with my job and actually enjoying it. And even more, my boyfriend was willing to add 3 hours of driving time to our trip to help me rescue an injured owl because he knew how much it matters to me. It is these people that make it worth it and their presence in my life that makes every day possible.

I am thankful for having a sound mind and body. So what if I am allergic to everything and have the stomach of a 60 year old... I am healthy enough to pursue my passions and live the active lifestyle that I love. Whether it is genetic, spiritual, or a result of my unique upbringing, I am lucky to have a mix of book and street smarts that has gotten me far.

I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I have been given. Construction Worker, Graduate student, College Recycling Coordinator, Student activist, Program Manager, Cyclist, Case worker, Farmer, Executive Director...just in the last four years. If I keep this up, I will be able to host my own career day expo and a never ending stream of stories to entertain with!

I am thankful for all of the small things. My dog making me laugh out loud, living near the water, sunsets, the smell of tea olive trees, singing out loud to a good song, hot tea, slow-dancing, discovering the broccoli is ready to harvest, learning random facts, and falling asleep on a full sized bed with Dan and both dogs.

I am thankful to live in a place that allows me to post my feelings on a public blog, where I can vote, protest, live on my own, practice any religion I chose, and live without fear of guerilla warfare in my backyard but instead, raise chickens!

There is so much more than I am thankful for... it would take a lifetime to list it all. I hope everyone takes time, if only a moment, to think of how much they have to be thankful for and maybe, just maybe, tell someone else.

Today I had two chefs order 10 pounds of rutabaga.... but I assumed that perhaps they would like more than one. So I went back in the field and harvested more reasonably sized roots. But alas, I did not want this glorious specimen to go to waste.

So I cleaned up my new friend along with the others and then I introduced him to the rest of the farm.

But just when I thought I had a farming ally, my new rooted friend takes my job as the tractor driver! I guess in this economy, its hard for everyone to find jobs... even rutabagas.

Made to Order.

Standing in his field full of crops that he intends solely for donation, Charleston's most generous man shows off his beautiful purple top turnips.

I have had the pleasure of spending the last few weeks out on Wadmalaw Island on the property of a man I shall call Farmer John. We connected through an organized gleaning but he is becoming a regular fixture in my life. He is so genuine, giving, and funny that its hard to stay away! Today I brought one of my friends out with me to visit the property and we were treated to a tour of a number of other farm properties. For anyone that does not have a lot of farm experience, it might seem if all farms are probably pretty similar. The reality is, that every farmer has their own style and every property has its own unique features. I could visit every farm in SC and probably never get bored. One may have a three acre long irrigation pond, the other relies only on rain. Some have animals, others are strictly vegetables. One farmer only grows tomatoes, another every vegetable possible. Organic, conventional, or a mix of both. Most of them will tell you that they way they farm is "the right way"- convinced that they have perfected the exact seed source, planting time, irrigation schedule, pest control, harvesting technique, and packing material. At any given time I have been told it is not possible to grow corn, citrus, pumpkins, bananas, or peaches in Charleston but I have seen them all here. I was told it is not possible to grow organically here but I have worked on two successful organic farms AND those farms are nothing a like. Clearly what works and possible for one person on their land can be drastically different with a different farmer on another property. That is one thing I am really starting to love about farming- that it is a custom operation. You can grow what you want, how you want, and give it to whoever you want.

If I had a farm, it would be designed using the principles of permaculture, with a little bit of everything, and animals galore. I would do it out of love and just like Farmer John, I would give what I could to those in need. Until then, I will continue to learn from the genius, creativity, and ingenuity of the farmers that have spent their life finding their own way.