Today reminds me of that very first field walk at the farm (minus the snow!). Now that I have rejoined a few of the things I did pre-EarthDance, friends keep asking me, what did you actually do all spring, summer and fall? I remember one of the early days, when I “actually” helped hand rake the south upper — or north lower or whatever that enormous field is called — because the overgrowth was so dense that plowing was useless. The task put me in a sort of hallucinatory state: First I hovered over a mid-19th century prairie scene, seeing myself in a long skirt and a bandana, strains of “Bringing in the Sheaves” ringing in my ears. Then, when my ears filled with sweat, I heard my wonderful, skeptical, always supportive dad, who raised cattle and grew corn, beans and wheat (and who used MACHINERY, for the love of gawd!) laughing at me, telling me there was sure an easier way to get things done.
I really can’t begin to list everything I learned, but EarthDance has settled around me, making me happier with who I am, more demanding of what I choose to eat, more thoughtful about how and where I spend my grocery dollars, and more appreciative of the people who help put food on my table.
But the best thing about EarthDance was sharing the season’s progress with all of you. Little private rounds of applause when beans sprouted. Gustatory delight when we first nibbled the arugula. Shock and awe when we tugged at some leaves and those outrageous radishes emerged from the ground. Shared worries over drought and blistering hot days, shared relief when the tornado and occasional hailstorms spared the farm. By the time I brought my grandson for a visit in early November (Simon’s picture attached, of course, I’m a gramma, as he demonstrates his spinach harvesting technique), it was all good, all the time. Second plantings showing off, gorgeous pac choi, lettuces and carrots.
I feel so blessed to know you all, to have shared it all, to be forever inspired by what we will all do to keep the earth dancing. Be of good cheer. And go greens!
Young Simon harvests spinach
Peace and love,
Karel
Karel Hippert was an EarthDance apprentice this year on the farm. She was also the editor of What’s Fresh, our bi-weekly e-newsletter that went out to our CSA members with recipes and stories from the field. She sent this reflection as an email to all of her fellow apprentices on December 19th, and I thought it spoke to the comradery and community that grows on our farm alongside the vegetables.
