Putting down Roots

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn

“In nature, nothing exists alone.” Rachel Carson

“You can't start a fire
Worryin' about your little world fallin' apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark.” Bruce Springsteen

To say yes to the right thing, you have to know when to say no.

Today is my last day of full-time employment for the summer. I’m not an impulsive person, so when I quit the job that’s paid me the most money I’ve ever made to grow a garden, raise chickens, and paint, you know I was at some sort of cross-roads. 

I planned and imagined doing this. I just never believed I’d actually do it. 

I went and visited Charlie Wainger’s front yard farm last month. Rain Dog Farm in Redmond sells a fairly profitable amount of veggies and microgreens at a few different farmer’s markets around Seattle and are expanding the sizes of their greenhouses. It was amazing to see what can be done in just a family plot of land - Charlie’s operations are all situated on his mom’s front yard where he grew up.  

“What about this appealed to you?” I asked him.

“Well,” He laughed, “I’m kind of a fixer. I like finding solutions to problems.”

(And American agriculture is definitely a problem that needs fixing.) 

“How did you learn to grow things successfully?”

“I read a book on small-scale farming. Then I just went for it.” he told me as his dog, Ziggy, nudged my leg with a large stick.

I smiled to myself thinking about how many times a book changed my life and was settled and warmed by the thought that there are books out there changing the world all the time in big and small ways. 

Books plant ideas in minds and courage in hearts. 

There’s no other feeling like the right book finding you at the right time. I decided to order that book - The Market Farmer by Jean-Martin Fortier. I haven’t finished reading it yet but I’m so excited about what I have read.

Charlie and his team are industrious and creative workers who are growing good healthy foods in sustainable ways as they build community and inspire others to do the same. He pays his workers a salary so even in the winter months when farm work is slow, they don’t have to worry about money. It’s not just a different way of farming, it’s a more compassionate way of doing business. 

If businesses want loyalty, trust, and competence from workers they should treat them like whole human beings. Charlie lets his workers leave early and still get paid for the day if there’s not enough work because he knows when there’s 12-14 hour days coming, they’ll show up and do what needs to be done. It all balances out. People are worth taking care of. Plus, then workers aren’t forcing 8 hours of work out of just 4-5 hours. It’s more efficient and workers are allowed to spend time doing other meaningful things instead of pretending to work. 

I don’t make a lot of money, especially for the Seattle area - but last year I hit my personal best for annual income. I managed to double what I used to make just two years ago.I managed to save a lot of that money in the past few years. I felt pretty accomplished.  

Despite all this, what I found was that what I wanted more than anything was time and rest.

Four rounds of lay-offs, random administrative changes, plus a lack of solid leadership and direction all left me frustrated and disappointed at work. 

I did so much all day, was bone tired at the end, and never felt like I made any progress at all in terms of any meaningful change.

My market job taught me that I can work all day and actually feel energized by the work I do, so I know this lethargy and burnout I was feeling was not just how it had to be.

On the other hand, in my personal studies, my painting has gotten a lot better than it used to be and that’s just with stolen moments here and there for study. I pondered over and over again how much progress I could make if I actually could devote whole days, and weeks to practicing. 

How much better would my health and life be if I spent as much time doing important meaningful things for me and my family as I spend making money for someone else by selling future landfill fodder all day long? 

My dad is undergoing last shot efforts at slowing down his prostate cancer and has gotten visibly weaker. I hate seeing Pops like that. He’s always been one of the toughest and most hard working people I know. I can’t imagine a world without him. I felt now was as good a time as any to figure out how to better use my time. While he’s still here. 

I’ll still be working the market and doing some house-sitting so won’t totally be unemployed, but this will still be a major change. 

I know I’ve grown a lot because a few years ago, I would be panicking right now. 

I don’t know if it’s that I’m more optimistic or have just accepted that most of life is out of my control so I might as well just enjoy it anyway because worry never seems to help. Or maybe I’ve gotten more confident in my abilities to navigate the chaos. 

The one thing my anxiety is good for is motivation and planning so I already have projects in place and am so excited to tackle them. 

Charlie lets volunteers come out to his farm to help out and learn about plants and soil so I plan on doing that some, and reading a ton about companion planting and friendly bugs and raising chicks. Building the coop and setting everything else will be the toughest part but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.

When I first started house-sitting, the friend I was house-sitting for had chickens. I remember how much fun it was to collect colorful fresh eggs and watch the little feathery dinosaurs peck around the yard. There was a little red one that used to come out and “play” with me. I missed that connection. 

My dad grew up raising chickens and when I mentioned the idea to him, he seemed to light up at the thought. Then I went to Tractor Supply to scope out the baby chicks and ducklings. I was sold. They are so fluffy and cute and so fascinating. I’m looking forward to nurturing my little flock. They will help with garden bugs and their waste is composting gold. I hope to set up a total permaculture system in the backyard. You don’t have to go far to change the world. You can start right where you are. 

 I don’t know how the summer will shape up, but for the first time in a long time, I feel energized and excited for each and every day that is coming. I’ll make sure to spend time painting, relaxing, swimming at the river and cooking whatever the heck I can think up.

I’ll be sure to document it all to share with you all. 

Love,

Gia