Finding a Farm

We sit in Tulsa, at another point of transition for what feels like the 10th time in the past two years. Really, it's been far less, but in between teaching semesters and farming and traveling we sit and wait. Plans up in the air. Living with such a sense of personal freedom is something I love. I get the sense at times that some friends and family think that we're living irresponsibly. But I see it as living freely. During these times between adventures I am so thankful that our families are so welcoming and supportive.

Working on Finca Ipe, we really connected with the way of life -- being so close to nature, working hard within a tight-knit community, and learning and practicing how to live sustainably and grow food organically. We want to continue down this path and now we seek to learn the skills of organic/biodynamic farming. We've sent around 15 emails to farms in New England, California, Illinois and Oregon. And we've had a few follow-up emails since. But the time ticks by. We're ready to get to a farm now and start working, but it looks like most farms want help beginning in April or May. There are a few however that need help sooner. And those are the ones we're applying to, keeping our fingers crossed.

Some days I feel a little down, concerned with 1000 questions: Where will we be in a few months? Will we like it? Will Booster be okay? How long will our families put up with us before they feel like we're too dependent on them? What's the bank account look like? Will farming be something that we still like doing after a year? And these questions go on and on.

The good thing is that generally I feel positive about what we're doing and how we're living. I feel excited about what's to come. Friends like Molly, Noa, Jethro and all the people on the farm, who are living similarly to us, remind me that what we're doing isn't as crazy as some may think. Someone told me recently that what we're doing is so far out of the main stream that they're worried. My response is it only feels that way when we're here in an environment that stifles our true sense of freedom and forces many (not all) to live under some illusion that we've only got two options: 1) work like crazy in jobs that we hate in order to make money, so we can feel secure and successful (which are possibly more illusions), and continue to pursue happiness (it's unfortunate that our country was founded on the belief in the "pursuit of happiness" rather than happiness itself) or 2) be homeless. Maybe I've been clumsy in summing up these options. But, the bottom line is that there are more options than we perceive and sometimes in order to have great adventures we must be willing to be considered fools.