well to be honest, I'm not sure if I've EVER felt this tired. I think it's a combination of sun, not quite enough water, not quite enough sleep last night, my recent whirlwind of travel, and, most of all - the fact that I worked my butt off today.
I'm super ready to shower and fall asleep on the couch, but first, let me tell you a few things:
-- my weekend in Florida rocked my socks off. The train was sooooo awesome, and being in my own house and seeing my old friends (who have known me for life) was so special. And you know what else? I think I'm exactly where I need to be right now, and that feels really, really good.
-- today I tilled up the area around the three sisters garden rows (it's a garden that uses corn, pole beans, and squash to complement one another - the corn acts as a trellis for the pole beans, which is turn fix nitrogen into the soil for the nutrient hungry corn, and the squash act as a shading agent, delaying the growth of weeds. It's an old native american tradition that I'm uber excited to be trying!) with this awesome new manual tiller I bought (it has a handle like a shovel, but then at the end has kind of a spiral of 4 spikes that you kick down and then twist to break up the soil. This is especially important when you have hard clay soil the way we do). Then I planted winter squash :). Next I hilled potatoes with Leland, mulched the 3 sisters garden, hand watered the new bean rows that are beginning to germinate, helped Leland bag greens, and watered the greenhouse periodically throughout the day. All in all, I very long, very great day.
-- Will Hooker, who is this lovely professor from NC State the specializes in permaculture came out to the farm today to help our friend Eric Henry look at the land next door. He also came and took at my gardens and was very helpful and complementary. I think he's a really great example of someone who pairs knowledge with humility and kindness in a really incredible and effective way. <3
Well... off to clean my body, and rest my soul. G'night!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
FLORIDA!
So my big surprise was that I took an all-night train to Florida the night before last, & surprised my friends and family in Gainesville! This had me peeing my pants for a number of reasons, but primarily because a.) I really love trains and b.) every single one of my beloved high school friends happen to be in town. :)
So I'm here! Currently lying in my bed, in my bedroom, in my parent's house. It's funny when "your house" is no longer the same as your "parent's house." For me the transition was almost unnoticeable, and pretty painless. But - it's also strange to be here in some ways. I spent some time with Haley (best friend since 3 and soulmate of life), Siss, & Erin, and while it was completely lovely, I realized yet again that we've all changed SO much over the past four years since we graduated from high school. It really made me wonder - at some point will this place not really feel like "home" at all? No way to know, clearly, but interesting to ponder. For now, I'm pretty much just thrilled to be here, and soooo eager to take in all around me in this familiar, yet eternally-fabulous place.
p.s. - trying super hard not to let a frustrating boy situation get me down. I will not worry, I will not worry, I will not worry.... or will I? ;)
So I'm here! Currently lying in my bed, in my bedroom, in my parent's house. It's funny when "your house" is no longer the same as your "parent's house." For me the transition was almost unnoticeable, and pretty painless. But - it's also strange to be here in some ways. I spent some time with Haley (best friend since 3 and soulmate of life), Siss, & Erin, and while it was completely lovely, I realized yet again that we've all changed SO much over the past four years since we graduated from high school. It really made me wonder - at some point will this place not really feel like "home" at all? No way to know, clearly, but interesting to ponder. For now, I'm pretty much just thrilled to be here, and soooo eager to take in all around me in this familiar, yet eternally-fabulous place.
p.s. - trying super hard not to let a frustrating boy situation get me down. I will not worry, I will not worry, I will not worry.... or will I? ;)
Friday, May 21, 2010
on the verge of sweet, sweet dreams
Well holy CRAPOLA I am tired. Every muscle in my lower body is aching from bending over all day over plants, weeds, and rows of mulch. The day felt like it was about 1984927492 hours long, BUT: we got the entire upper garden mulched (FINALLY!!- this is a major success, as I have been weeding all week long), peppers planted, cucumbers planted, organic insecticide sprayed (to help address our squash pest issues), and the day planned out for tomorrow. The long work day was followed by a delightful evening with Eliza and her partner Margaret. We ate goat burgers (produced at the farm!), our squash (sauteed), and a salad made of my co-worker Leland's homegrown lettuce. Followed by cookies and strawberry smoothies.... mmmmmmm. :)
I'm feeling really happy, and satisfied with the efforts that I put into work today. Earlier in the morning, I was feeling pretty discouraged about the amount of work we still had left in the gardens. But, just as it happens so frequently around here, the afternoon was a whole different story - all hands on board in the garden, and all tasks completed!
I love it here, I must say - even on these endless summer days.
p.s.- Today I created an awesome surprise plan that I will reveal at a later date. teehehe.
I'm feeling really happy, and satisfied with the efforts that I put into work today. Earlier in the morning, I was feeling pretty discouraged about the amount of work we still had left in the gardens. But, just as it happens so frequently around here, the afternoon was a whole different story - all hands on board in the garden, and all tasks completed!
I love it here, I must say - even on these endless summer days.
p.s.- Today I created an awesome surprise plan that I will reveal at a later date. teehehe.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
horticultural hotline hailey
Good afternoon, my name is Horticultural Hotline Hailey, at your service!
In all seriousness, I am currently working the master gardener hotline at the extension office. Chuckle if you'd like, but it's a rivoting horticultural world out there, and some of us need to face it head on! :)
For example, we have the case of the missing potatoes. Manny McFarmer dude planted a 150ft row of potatoes... only to find that a little while later they had all VANISHED. Theory #1: bad seed. Theory #2: due to the EXTREME wetness of the spring, the potatoes rotted to oblivion. Theory #3: Manny McFarmer is a senile old bat, and simply forgot to plant the potatoes. Theory #4: something in the "small critter" family found this 150ft row to be a LOVELY dinner treat, and ate them all. right. UP!
Rivoting, I know. However, afternoon shifts are actually pretty nice here - few calls, and lots of time to hang out in the office & play online. Which is a privilige these days, since I am mostly without the net.
Week one at the farm flew by. It's crazy how quickly time can go by, even when the individual experiences seem to drag on forever (i.e.- pulling pigweed, also known as the Blight of Cane Creek Farm). The week was pretty successful though, I must say. Highlights include:
-- LOTS of hoeing (hehe, I know. Farming has an endless potential for sex jokes), weed pulling, and mulching. We mulched our two bean beds (I direct seeded these beds with the help of my wonderful mom, dad, & sister, Chloe, when they were in town for my graduation. Now every time I look at them, I think about my family, which is really special <3). My friend/soulbrother Nicky came up to visit with his partner Addison from FL, and we mulched together on Saturday while adapting our favorite songs to include the word "rock" in every sentence (not quite as random as it sounds - we were picking up rocks to make a border for a new circle garden I'm creating, which I'm very excited about! I'm going to plant flowers and herbs.
-- I weeded and remulched the open beds in the lower garden, which are looking pretty good overall. I can't wait for the flowers to bloom -- we have sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias in the ground, and I'm going to plant a few others soon! (probably some marigolds and nasturiums first, to help with some of our (somewhat pervasive) pest problems)
-- I got the world's worst sunburn.... good LORD. My own fault, of course, for gardening in my scanty summer attire (shorts, a rolled up tank top, and boots), and not wearing sunscreen. However, I luckily didn't peel, and have learned my lesson... only the semi-hard way. :)
-- Despite the health of most of our plants (tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, beans, peppers, and flowers are all looking pretty healthy), we are currently in the midst of a squash crisis. I sent a panicked e-mail to Karen Neill, the Guilford County urban horiculture agent, entitled "help, Karen! - squash crisis." And unfortunately, it really is. Our plants are teeming with cucumber beetles and squash bugs (pictures to follow). Luckily for me, however, there may be more options than I'd originally thought. I'm about to try and track down two organic sprays -- one called bifenthrin (which may be under the names talstar or bifen)and another called sabadilla. I'll let you know how they work, and what tactics we ended up using to apply them most successfully. I'm pretty concerned about this pest problem, because it's only gotten worse since last year. If we're going to be an "organic" farm, then we need to follow the "integrated pest management" principals a little more religiously. However, it's really hard to do in such a limited amount of space!! It's also hard when I'm kind of inheriting a space that's been farmed for awhile, but in exactly what ways I'm not really sure.
Anyway - lots to do, and lots to look forward to in the upcoming week.
In all seriousness, I am currently working the master gardener hotline at the extension office. Chuckle if you'd like, but it's a rivoting horticultural world out there, and some of us need to face it head on! :)
For example, we have the case of the missing potatoes. Manny McFarmer dude planted a 150ft row of potatoes... only to find that a little while later they had all VANISHED. Theory #1: bad seed. Theory #2: due to the EXTREME wetness of the spring, the potatoes rotted to oblivion. Theory #3: Manny McFarmer is a senile old bat, and simply forgot to plant the potatoes. Theory #4: something in the "small critter" family found this 150ft row to be a LOVELY dinner treat, and ate them all. right. UP!
Rivoting, I know. However, afternoon shifts are actually pretty nice here - few calls, and lots of time to hang out in the office & play online. Which is a privilige these days, since I am mostly without the net.
Week one at the farm flew by. It's crazy how quickly time can go by, even when the individual experiences seem to drag on forever (i.e.- pulling pigweed, also known as the Blight of Cane Creek Farm). The week was pretty successful though, I must say. Highlights include:
-- LOTS of hoeing (hehe, I know. Farming has an endless potential for sex jokes), weed pulling, and mulching. We mulched our two bean beds (I direct seeded these beds with the help of my wonderful mom, dad, & sister, Chloe, when they were in town for my graduation. Now every time I look at them, I think about my family, which is really special <3). My friend/soulbrother Nicky came up to visit with his partner Addison from FL, and we mulched together on Saturday while adapting our favorite songs to include the word "rock" in every sentence (not quite as random as it sounds - we were picking up rocks to make a border for a new circle garden I'm creating, which I'm very excited about! I'm going to plant flowers and herbs.
-- I weeded and remulched the open beds in the lower garden, which are looking pretty good overall. I can't wait for the flowers to bloom -- we have sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias in the ground, and I'm going to plant a few others soon! (probably some marigolds and nasturiums first, to help with some of our (somewhat pervasive) pest problems)
-- I got the world's worst sunburn.... good LORD. My own fault, of course, for gardening in my scanty summer attire (shorts, a rolled up tank top, and boots), and not wearing sunscreen. However, I luckily didn't peel, and have learned my lesson... only the semi-hard way. :)
-- Despite the health of most of our plants (tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, beans, peppers, and flowers are all looking pretty healthy), we are currently in the midst of a squash crisis. I sent a panicked e-mail to Karen Neill, the Guilford County urban horiculture agent, entitled "help, Karen! - squash crisis." And unfortunately, it really is. Our plants are teeming with cucumber beetles and squash bugs (pictures to follow). Luckily for me, however, there may be more options than I'd originally thought. I'm about to try and track down two organic sprays -- one called bifenthrin (which may be under the names talstar or bifen)and another called sabadilla. I'll let you know how they work, and what tactics we ended up using to apply them most successfully. I'm pretty concerned about this pest problem, because it's only gotten worse since last year. If we're going to be an "organic" farm, then we need to follow the "integrated pest management" principals a little more religiously. However, it's really hard to do in such a limited amount of space!! It's also hard when I'm kind of inheriting a space that's been farmed for awhile, but in exactly what ways I'm not really sure.
Anyway - lots to do, and lots to look forward to in the upcoming week.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
day one in the "real world" (what does this mean?)
My name is Hailey, and today allegedly marks my entrance into the world of "adulthood."
I am unsure of what this is actually supposed to mean. Nonetheless, here's what has recently happened to cause such an (apparently) drastic change in my life:
Last Saturday, May 8th, 2010, I Hailey Lisbeth Moses graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, with a double-major in Spanish and Peace & Conflict Studies. Less than ONE short week later, today I sit at the desk of Eliza Maclean, my first post-college boss/adopted mother/soul sister and owner and manager of Cane Creek Farm in Snow Camp, NC. I'm here as the new garden manager in an operation that primarily produces grass-fed beef and pastured pork, a job for which I've been (rapidly, effusively, and somewhat-subtly) training for the past 2 years as a farm intern here. I still can't believe all of the complicated reasons and twists that have resulted in my being here, but I can honestly express that I am simultaneously ecstatic and completely (and I mean, completely) terrified to be here. I have become woven into the fabric of life here, and I'm so worried that I won't live up to the astronomical expectations I've set for myself (you know, changing the world and being Superwoman McGardener, and all that). HOWEVER - I also believe firmly in the importance of every minute that I spend touching, healing, and loving the soil in this place. This land is holy to me, and I want to make it my productive, beautiful, and ever-evolving refuge of, quite literally, growth, and the laying down of deep roots.
Join me as I embark upon this road. I intend to make it as far from the traditional notion of adulthood as possible, with an emphasis on local food, long dirty days, and baby pigs named Oscar. Love <3.
I am unsure of what this is actually supposed to mean. Nonetheless, here's what has recently happened to cause such an (apparently) drastic change in my life:
Last Saturday, May 8th, 2010, I Hailey Lisbeth Moses graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, with a double-major in Spanish and Peace & Conflict Studies. Less than ONE short week later, today I sit at the desk of Eliza Maclean, my first post-college boss/adopted mother/soul sister and owner and manager of Cane Creek Farm in Snow Camp, NC. I'm here as the new garden manager in an operation that primarily produces grass-fed beef and pastured pork, a job for which I've been (rapidly, effusively, and somewhat-subtly) training for the past 2 years as a farm intern here. I still can't believe all of the complicated reasons and twists that have resulted in my being here, but I can honestly express that I am simultaneously ecstatic and completely (and I mean, completely) terrified to be here. I have become woven into the fabric of life here, and I'm so worried that I won't live up to the astronomical expectations I've set for myself (you know, changing the world and being Superwoman McGardener, and all that). HOWEVER - I also believe firmly in the importance of every minute that I spend touching, healing, and loving the soil in this place. This land is holy to me, and I want to make it my productive, beautiful, and ever-evolving refuge of, quite literally, growth, and the laying down of deep roots.
Join me as I embark upon this road. I intend to make it as far from the traditional notion of adulthood as possible, with an emphasis on local food, long dirty days, and baby pigs named Oscar. Love <3.
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