Working on the Farm

Chicken coop
Originally uploaded by kerner

Washing beets
Originally uploaded by kerner

Yesterday I posted on twitter that I had spent my morning picking green beans, and I almost immediately got a response asking if I had a new job. Um... no. Somehow I doubt I could make my mortgage if I decided to quit the attorney gig and take up vegetable gardening. (Besides, that's hard work!)

Actually, I took the morning off to work at my CSA - we are required to work 12 hours as part of our membership. I spent the first part of the morning picking green beans, while a more mechanically-inclined member got put to work repairing farm equipment, door frames, and more all over the farm.

I cut some salad greens for a while with Karen, one of the unpaid interns on the farm.  She graduated from Rice University with a degree in civil engineering over a year ago, and hasn't found a job yet.  She would really like to teach English abroad, but apparently with all the teacher lay-offs around the country, those spots are getting harder and harder to come by.  To pass the time during her job search, she took a position at the farm for the summer working for room and board.  I am so thankful for my job right now, even on days that I daydream about doing something more creative.

I finished the morning by washing beets... I never knew how much work went into preparing the food on harvest day.  All the greens are washed on a large washing table and spun dry, all the produce is washed and counted, and smaller items have to be counted and bagged or tied into bunches. 

My favorite part of visiting the farm is talking to Curtis, the farmer.  His enthusiasm for his work is amazing.  He is already planning for the winter farm share in addition to growing for the summer season.  Seriously, you have never heard someone get so excited about onions!  But to try to make a living and support a family of 9 (!) by running an organic farm, I think you have to be completely dedicated to your way of life.  It's very inspirational.