Winter Roundup

I was back in North Adams and Williamstown over the winter. In early winter, Katie, Ellen, Anna and I got together a couple of times for "farmer re-inspiration nights". Whether it was Wendell Berry poems, hearing kind words from shareholders, spirited arm wrestling tournaments, or making Almond Joy ice cream (vanilla with coconut, chocolate chunks, and almonds...yum) we worked toward recovery from a long, often discouraging season. There is something so healing about knowing other young women off farming in different places who I can call and vent when the chickens un-plant all of my chard transplants or who can help me celebrate the first cilantro of the season, and who can help me shape my dream of my own farm.

I "farmsat" at Caretaker for the winter, taking care of the beef cows and running winter distributions while Don and Bridget and their kids spent a couple months in rural Chile. I kept busy baking at Cricket Creek Farm, making scones, cookies, crisps, and muffins. My family came up for Christmas on the farm and helped me throw hay to the cows, play with Mylie, the farm cat, and cooked up a ton of cookies, stews and generally relax on a winter farm. Michael and I made this great chocolate bark with pistachios, golden raisins, and a white chocolate swirl. I learned how to split kindling without cutting my finger, got swine flu and spent an entire week reading "living out loud" by anna quindlen, "the red tent" by anita diamant, and "their eyes were watching god" by zora neale hurston, and right when I finished "1491", I got to hear the author, Charles Mann, speak at Williams. Michael and I listened to Dar Williams sing and I proceeded to sing her song February for the rest of the winter, even after I moved back to the Farm School.