Time for an update from the right side of the country, no not the correct side, the...nevermind...

How are y'all doing today? I'm doing pretty well, thanks for asking. Just finished visiting with Papa Miguel, briefly, and walked back across the city to J's apartment, that I might write this blog post, and inform you all of the fun and exciting things I've been doing.

Spent the day and an evening in Seattle prior to flying across the nation, and had a good time behaving like I was younger than I actually am. What did I do in whilst in the city? Well, I drank some really fine coffee, and I checked out the Seattle Public Library, which is an interesting building, which seems massively non-functional.

While I was there it rained more vigorously than I've ever seen in that part of the world; maybe it wasn't actually as heavy as it seemed, but it was fairly horizontal at any rate.

That evening I went out to a went to a show with a couple of guys I met at the hostel. It was a fun time. There was a German college student, and a Canadian vacationer, and several bands one of which at least, was awesome. There was poor-quality domestic beer, and of course there were uncountable hipsters. The hipsters seemed less antagonistic than usual, though, and seemed to actually be enjoying themselves rather than the irony of the situation, which was odd, but refreshing.

I've been in DC for a week now, and have gotten to do many of the things I love to do, in this city. I've been to my favorite museums, some more than once. It really is fantastic to be able to pop into the Smithsonian American Art museum, or the protrait gallery, and check out an exhibition in the ten or twenty minutes you have to spare while downtown. None of the possibility of art fatigue you can sometimes get when you're trying to fit too many museum visits into one day.

Some scenes from around the city, including my some shots from the mall:

The Natural History Museum:
Carousel:

These guys, outside the Hirshorn, are favorites of mine. They make me think of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

This piece of Korean pottery is in the Freer, my favorite museum, and is an image of turtle a representative of the dragon king of the sea, who Maggie and I are all too familiar with:

What else have I been up to? I know this will come as a shock to many of you, but I've been pickling things, and sprouting things, and baking bread, although I couldn't bring my starters with me from Washington, so have been restricted to baking with commercial yeast. Curtido and flax seed bread, anyone?:

Produce from the farmer's market:
Spent a lovely evening with Sarah, eating dinner and having several of J's cocktails at Rasika. My favorite was the nutty rickey, but the gingersnap was pretty delicious as well. He really knows what he's doing, as I'm sure many of you know. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, make the time if you're ever in town. Have eaten some other pretty fantastic meals while here, including going out for Ethiopian food for lunch one day, which apparently means that It has become the ethnic food I eat most often...seriously; once a month for the past three months.

The walls and statuary in DC often have words of wisdom to share with us:

I get into Atlanta on the eleventh, and have a show to go to that evening, cause that's just how these things work, but other than that I'm really excited to see you all, and get to spend some quality time with you(without the stress of an impending wedding).

Well, family and friends, I leave you with this image, which sums up how I'm feeling pretty well at this time:

A New Year, a New Plan, a New Journey...of sorts...

A new propensity for using too many ellipses...well I suppose that's not something new, actually. I know it's been too long in between updates, but I've been waiting until I had some news about my plans, and I've gotten the response I've been waiting for, and know what I'll be doing this coming season. You want to know what that will be? We'll get to that, in good time. First, however, an update on what I've been doing, the holidays, and general goings on.

As most of you know I spent Christmas in California, seeing the whole family, and enjoying the bright sunshine, and blue skies, and...wait, it wasn't like that at all. In fact, it was like David and I brought the PacNorWe with us; so that we could share with our families what we've been experiencing. Despite the rain and the gray skies, La Jolla was as wonderful as it always is, and I got the chance to do many of the things I had hoped to do, and some others that I hadn't anticipated being able to.

California in the rain...:




and the sunshine:

Spent several days checking out the museums, as I always love to do when visiting Saba and Grandma Pooh. There were countless wonderful meals. Both at our grandparent's home, and out at restaurants. There wasn't nearly enough time for walking on the beach, but I did have the chance to do a little knitting while sitting atop the bluffs in downtown La Jolla.

Mostly the time I spent in California was nice for the simple reason of being able to see and spend time with so many of my loved ones who I don't get to see nearly enough of. If you were there, rest assured that we did not get to spend as much time together as I'd have liked. Even something as simple as an afternoon walk, whether full of conversation or mostly silent can be an outing to remember if you're with someone special, and all of my time during this too short vacation was spent with people who are special to me. My favorite place in La Jolla(maybe on the planet)?:

The journey back from California was an interesting one. I rode the smallest plane I've ever been on to Los Angeles, where I had a substantial layover, and where I met a pair of farm folk who were also on their way back from San Diego to the peninsula where they live and work at Nash's. I spent another night at the Green Tortoise in Seattle, and began an epic public transportation journey early the next morning. A view from the ferry:

Four buses and a ferry ride later and I made it back to Port Angeles in more or less one piece. It took a while, but cost almost nothing, and it gave me the chance to do some knitting. Being away from internet left me to my own devices as far as knitting projects went, so I devised a pattern, which actually resulted in a hat(which while too small for most heads) I think is really cool.

The Walzes returned safely from their trip to Minnesota, and I've been staying with Maggie and the Athairs since. I'm finding it challenging to find a place to live, since I'm only going to be here for a month or so before I take a trip eastward to do some visiting and learning before I start in on my new experience.

I spent New Year's Eve in Port Townsend, contra dancing. It was a relaxing low-key way to spend the holiday, and got to spend some time with some other really special people, who have become an important part of my life.

I have spent most of my time in the last weeks researching opportunities for the coming season, and found a few that suited my needs and desires for a position. It wasn't until the new year, however, that I found the perfect posting. It fit every one of the points for a place to spend the coming season living and learning. To ignore my impulse to make it seem like a mystery, I've been accepted by Jim Rueff and Linda Davis, who run Solstice Farm and Bed and Breakfast. You might have heard me mention them in connection with the FIELD internship program. This is an innovative learning program for aspiring young farm folk, and is an especially perfect opportunity for me given my desire to learn about agri-tourism. I went on a visit to the farm last week, and spent an afternoon with Linda and their interns flipping sheep, trimming hooves, and assisting in any way I could. It was great to spend an afternoon with them, and I'll freely admit that I spent the rest of the week, grinning like an idiot with excitement at the prospect of being able to learn from them, and the other farmers and teachers involved with the FIELD program.

I've been waiting to write a blog all this time, but find it hard to convey how excited I was when I opened my e-mail this morning from Jim informing me that he and Linda were willing to take me on for the season. This internship program is very different from how I spent the last season, it's more formal, and although much of the learning is experiential, it is doubtlessly going to be incredibly educational for me. I'll have the opportunity to learn from a number of different farmers, and I'll have the chance to learn about many of the business aspects of the small scale agriculture industry that I didn't have the opportunity to learn last year. Not to mention the fact that in addition to being a master gardener Linda is a passionate teacher of building, and will give me the chance to do some of the sorts of construction that I'm very interested in learning.

At Solstice they have sheep and chickens. They raised pigs for the first time last year, and will be doing so again this year. They have a beehive, but are planning on installing another(I'm excited at the prospect of this, and not just for honey related reasons; bees are incredible and fascinating creatures, and I'm looking forward to learning more about them). The farm is thirty three acres, and they grow as much of the feed for their flock as is possible to do. This focus on the stewardship of their land, and the care and thought they put into their operation are apparent even from the short time I was able to spend with them. As far as the bed and breakfast, located in the home they built for themselves after years on planning, the only thing I can really say about it, is that it's stunning. It's simply a beautiful home, and I feel truly lucky to be a part of their lives for the coming season.

What else has been going on in my life? Cooking Ethiopian food, for feasting purposes.:

Making summer and nori rolls:



So. After a long time contemplating, living my life here on the west coast for the better part of year, and spending all of my time, working on the farm, with farm folk, and parkies, and fantastic former hippies, artists, makers of all stripes, and other left coast types, can I say I've changed much? That's a hard question to answer. I don't think that I have, not really. What has happened is that this place has focused many of the aspects of my personality that were already present, and revealed some that were concealed from view, but had been there all along. We all know I'm a food person, I think it's a massively important part of life. It connects us all as human beings, we cannot do without it. It bridges cultures and unites us, it nourishes us body and soul, and it as important a thing to dedicate one's self to as exists. not to mention it simply being a way to appreciate and enjoy being alive.

I'm fully well aware of the fact that some of you don't understand my passion for this, and that's ok. I'll not try and convince you otherwise, but I will say this much: I'm excited about my life, and my prospects for the future, and while I have no doubt that to be a success will involve a lifetime of hard work...in what field would it not? I don't know exactly where this is leading. Someplace like Rockhouse? Where we spent so many enjoyable hours as children, where some of my happiest memories can be found. I'm not sure. I do know that I have no desire to be a market farmer, to grow vegetables and fruits solely for the purpose of selling them is not enough for me, but perhaps to be able to share my passion for food, and for the way that it unites us and sustains us will play a part of whatever I choose to do after I've learned what I came all this way for. To teach others, especially young people, the next generation, the importance of supporting those who support us on such a basic level is of utmost importance.

Is Aaron a farmer?

Not yet.

On the road again...

DC was incredible, as it always is. I simply love getting to see J, and spending time in that city, which I've grown to love as well, is always a pleasure for me. Here are a few excerpts from my journal about the time I spent there, as always if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, and I'll get to them as best as I can.

From Thursday:

I checked out an exhibit in the National Portrait Gallery about The Running Fence, this cool art installation done in northern California for two weeks in the seventies. If I ever have time I'd like to find out who catered the meal that they held to convince all the ranchers to allow them to build this piece of temporary insanity on their properties. It was especially fascinating in that they managed to convince all these people to be a part of this big huge group hallucination, that lasted for two weeks, and then was gone, save for the impact it made in the lives of everyone who participated, or got to see it, or even people like me, learning about it decades later.

Also on Thursday, while glombing WiFi at a coffee shop I found out that there was a show that night, an indie rock/pop act by the name of Owen Pallet. He plays the violin, and uses a whole battery of loop petals to create really beautiful complex music, all by his lonesome. It was a cool show, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, though I'm sure the music would not be to most people's taste.

From Friday:

I went to the air and space museum; when we were kids it was my favorite. I thought it was named, if not for me, then at least the same as me. It was not my favorite as an adult. Like the natural history museum, it just seems a better environment for children, which is cool, and absolutely what they are meant to be, but I kind of wish there was a way to amuse adults as much as the young burgeoning scientists and engineers.

I also saw another indie rock show that night, one that I had been looking forward to, before I even left on this trip. It was amazing, and I'm not even going to try and convey the sheer energy of the band I was there to see, but I will quote these snippets about the night as a whole:

I really liked the first band, good personality, fun music, and great repartee with the crowd, but after their set, when I went looking for merch, the table was bare. It was weird. Here I was, ready to shell out hard earned dollars for a CD, and there wasn't one. The guy had made a bunch of anti-commercial statements during the set, and had talked about how great the venue was for allowing them to do a show, that really was all about the music, and I guess they actually meant it. Also, as an aside, there was no beer at the show, which was actually kind of cool, save for the few who thought it meant they had to get drunk before the show, thus ensuring that they were on their worst behavior the whole time.

And after the show:

I followed the crowd back to the metro station, the area being more obviously pre-gentrification at night (it hadn't seemed so bad in the light of day). The young black folks on the street corners bewildered at the chain of young white folks stretching into the night.

And to finish off Friday:

I made a late night impromptu pizza out of a quarter of the baguette dough, and given the thrown together nature of the thing it was pretty fantastic. Sauteed onions and yellow peppers, little cheese, couple of slices of torn up salumi toscana from J's friend in VA, and a couple of handfuls of spinach dumped on at the end.

Saturday was relatively low-key. I hit up a few art museums, the Freer and the Hirshorn, and then I ate a fabulous meal, that J ordered for me at Rasika. If any of you ever get the chance, go see J at the restaurant, and get the spinach, it's so good.

Sunday was bittersweet, but it was such a good day, that any sense of regret that the DC part opf my trip was coming to an end was completely quashed. Me and J went to a trio of markets in the morning, and then i got to meet Sarah, in the evening. She was perfectly lovely, and as pretty as he has always said. I really enjoyed meeting her, and she seemed like a really great person, and great for him. I look forward to getting to spend more time with them in the future.

We ate at Central, and it was a great meal, everything I expected. I'm not going to do a full run down, because that would take forever, and the barista is fixing me with a baleful stare for sitting in her coffee shop, and doing all of my writing for the day.

I've got to go, and get back on the road, but I'll try and keep the updates coming, so that you can all keep up with any adventures I might have. Once more, let me reiterate, that I love you all, and I treasure the support you've all shown, and I can't wait to get out to California to see Grandma Pooh and Saba.

Journey Day One

In retrospect I shouldn't be surprised by the fact that the journey didn't go exactly as I anticipated it. Here's what I wrote yesterday about the trip.

I arrived safely at my first stop, the Minister's Treehouse, on Beehive Lane, outside Crossville, Tennessee. I have pictures, but they can't possibly do this place justice. I'm typing this sitting in the back of the van, and looking out the window out the house, and I can't even imagine the thought processes that must have gone through this man's mind, the conviction that he was speaking to god. Fanaticism surely, but at least it was a madness of creation rather than destruction.

This is the treehouse:
This is me standing in front of the curious place, picture taken by a random stranger also there to revel in the madness of it all:


A picture I took with the van in the foreground, looking polleny, but none the worse for wear:


The rest of the shots, included my autograph on one of the supports for the bell tower, which in case you were wondering, does indeed have bells. I have more pictures, some really nice, but will worry about getting them all posted, later:



I find I don't have much to say. It all feels too pithy, and snarky, and that's not what I'm feeling. Thoroughly enjoying this, now that I've gotten out onto the road. I've already had a few missteps, and I think the Garmin doesn't like me, but I'll prevail in the end. I'm going to break for lunch now, and then get back onto the road. Been taking pictures, but will probably not post most of them. In order to remind to experience the journey rather than compulsively document it.

I have had naught to eat today but bread. Perhaps my planning has been a little lacking. I'm not entirely certain what I'm going to do when I get to the airport, or how I'm supposed to bring my stuff with me to the condo, but I suppose these little details are all manageable. I need to get back on the road. I'm already running later than I'd like. Listening to American gods, which is fucking perfect atmosphere for the journey I'm on.

I'm not going to mention the natural beauty, because I don't have the words to do it justice, and besides, if you want to see what I've seen, that would be easy enough to arrange.

Well, that took a lot longer than I'd anticipated. I cannot get the network to work, and am incapable of fretting over it. I'll worry about it later, perhaps in the morning. The only thing I really have to add to the two bits I wrote earlier boils down to two simple things. If you've ever got the opportunity to drive through the Shenendoah valley during sunset, you fucking go for it. The second is more prosaic. I had two incidents today. Hardly disasters, but certainly mishaps.

The first resulted after I attempted to toast a slice of bread on the camp stove, with mediocre results. I removed the camp toaster from the stove, and like a jackass, put it down on the floor of the van promptly burning a crop circle into the carpet. Woops. I'll upload a photo on Monday when I'm setting off on the second leg of my journey. This confirms the need for a wash basin, if only to have a place for hot things to be doused in water and rendered not so hot. My first order of business after my departure on Monday will have to be a shopping trip in the suburbs.

The second incident came just after I arrived. Needless to say after fourteen odd hours in the car, I was ready to be on my way, and in my hurry to leave the car neat, but untempting for would be thieves I managed to install a make shift burglary defense, when I managed to break the glass of one of the two framed pieces of art I brought with me. I believe I already said it once, but whoops. So when i pick up that wash basin I'll need to pick up a trash can as well in order to dispose of the hundreds of shards of broken glass which now coat the floor of the van.

Despite those two kerfluffles I'm in high spirits. Excited to be here. All I want to do is close this laptop, and hit the streets, which is exactly what I'm going to do.

It was a good day, and I'm glad it went the way it did. It seemed surreal to finally be doing what I've planned for so long, and I mean that in the original sense of the word: Super-Real. I actually jumped up and down like a little girl when I got to the condo, and I feel like jumping up and down now. Only I'm in a coffee shop glombing WiFi, and it seems inappropriate. On the docket for today? I'm going to get my writing done, and I'm going to check out the venue of the show I'm going to see on Friday night, and then maybe a museum or two. I love life.

...And we're off!

It's funny. This is the second time I'm sitting down to write this post. The first time seemed just fine when i wrote it, but now, in retrospect it seems hollow, and utterly false. We can't have that. Can we? What's the point of keeping a record if you fail to do so as honestly as you're able.

I'm excited. Have no doubt. It's time for this journey to begin, but I find myself oddly sad to be leaving. Not just the people. I'll miss you all, and saying goodbye to you, was much harder than I thought it would be. Even though I'll see you all in September it seems likely that none of us will be the same people then, that we are now. I'm sure I won't be.

This is the scariest thing I've ever done, and while I know, esoterically, that it's a good thing, that doesn't change the fact that my self-preservation circuits are screaming out for me to stop, to stay here, to chicken out, and go back to the drudgery of a safe existence that brings no real challenges, and no real chance at true happiness.

I can't do that.

It's too late for that Aaron. He's already dead, and though I'm sad to be leaving this life, and you all behind, I am truly excited about the possibilities that lay ahead. It's probably for the best that I'm going to have several stops along the way where I'll be able to recharge, and see people I love, because I have a feeling that I'm going to need it.

I leave in the morning. I'm going to leave later than I originally planned, so that I can see Miguel and Mindy one last time before I go. I want to reiterate how much your love and support has meant to me through all of this, and especially now. I may add more to this in the morning, but I have a feeling that I won't. I'll let this stay as it stands, a testament to the journey, and more importantly to the fear of the unknown that we all know so well.

F1rst P0st!!1! (aren't I clever)

My name's Aaron Strich, and I'm aware that introducing myself on a blog that will be ignored by everyone on the internet, save those who already know and love me is superfluous. My blog, and I'll do it my way. I'm about to embark on a journey across the country to learn about myself, to figure out what it is that I want to do with my life. Though it isn't my only purpose, and it's mostly an unfunny joke, we will see if we can't answer that age old question: "Is Aaron a Farmer?"

I'm a writer, and you'll note I chose that word rather than author, since as yet, I'm unpublished. One day that may change, but I'm not convinced that will be a career that will sustain me in and of itself, but that doesn't mean that I have to settle, and do a job I hate, or even one that's simply dissatisfying to pay the bills. I believe I can find something, or more likely a combination of things that will allow me to live a life that I find both satisfying and enjoyable.

That's what I'm setting out to discover, what exactly such a life might entail. I'm going to Port Angeles, Washington. I leave this coming Wednesday, and I've got a few stops to make on the way, but soon enough, by the end of the month, I'll be on the Johnston Family Farm, as their newest intern. I'll spend the next six months learning what they do, and whether I have what it takes to make farming a part of my life. I know that it will be hard work. Physically speaking it will be as hard as anything I've ever done, but physical labor doesn't worry me; neither do long hours, nor small paychecks.

This blog isn't meant to be a chronicle of my journey, and it's not a way for me to practice my writing, though it will end up accomplishing those two thing as a side effect of it's true purpose, which is nothing more or less than keeping in touch with my family while I'm gone. I don't want the people that I love to think that I've forgotten them, and I want you all to know that you're in thoughts, and I miss you, and I can't wait to see you again.

My journey begins on Wednesday, as I said, I'll drive from North Georgia to Washington DC, to see my younger brother J, which is what I'll refer to him as, since that's his name. That was meant to be a sarcastic witticism, did that come across? Someone needs to go on ahead and work out a series of internet diacritical marks to indicate sarcasm, irony, bon mots, and witticism, as well as one for indicating when someone is pretending to be funny, but is really just being a dick. Well that was an unnecessary aside, wasn't it? As I said, my blog...

I'll spend a couple of days in our nation's capital visiting J, maybe hit up a museum or three, and eat a few good meals before venturing across the nation in a big green dodge van with nothing more than a pantry full of rice and beans, my cooking equipment, some clothes, and a good book or three(actually it's closer to twenty, but what can I say, I like to read). I'll then visit my grandparents in La Jolla. It's been over a year since I've seen my Grandma Pooh, or Saba, and I miss them both greatly.

After that it's a straight shot up the coast to the upper corner of the country where I'll make my home for the next half a year, while I learn about growing vegetables, and raising chickens and hogs. It should be most educational, and I'm really excited to begin my adventure. That's is what it is, in the end. Nothing more or less than an actual adventure, and even if I were to fail miserably, at least I'll know that I willingly took the scary path, the proverbial road less traveled, and no one will ever be able to take that away from me.

I'd like to take this chance to thank all of family for being supportive, even though I know some of you think I'm crazy; I won't try and convince you otherwise, especially given the fact that I don't entirely disagree. Mom, Grandma, I'm looking at you. Becca, Ashley, Matt, I'll miss reading to you every Thursday, but depending on the state of the internet access we'll try and work something out. I want you all to know that I'll be checking here, and you can always leave a comment, or gasp, twenty-first century, call me. Rachel and Tom, I'll be back for your wedding in September, and I can't wait to see the two of you formalize what we've all already known.

Lastly, but of course not least, Dad, Mindy, Thank you so much for all your support in this. Thank you for allowing me the chance to save, and prepare for this, and thank you, not only for allowing it, but actively encouraging it. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for you, and I'm grateful.

I'm not certain how often I'll be updating this; I'm going to be incredibly busy, after all, and in addition to farm work there are still stories for me to tell. I'm going to be setting up a place for you to keep track of anything on that front as well, though kids, it'll probably be best if you pay close attention to any NSFW(not safe for work, i.e. children)tags that pop up. I write everyday, and I'll continue to do so, regardless of how exhausted I will undoubtedly be. I'll keep writing, and I'll keep submitting what I write, since that's the only path I can take that will allow me to improve at this thing I love to do.

I love you all, and to those of you I'm coming to visit, I can't wait to see. In the meantime, keep me in your thoughts, and rest assured that you'll be in mine.