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.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November...

Anyone have a big exciting Guy Fawkes bonfire? We did, but only incidentally. It was a gray and rainy Saturday, and farmer Kelly took the opportunity to set the burn pile alight. I was working market, however, and so I missed the festivities. It's November, which means it's NanoWriMo time again. I think the story I've started is probably more of a novella than a full-fledged novel, but that's just fine. I've been writing everyday, but my output has been severely reduced over the summer, and now I'm finding it really challenging to find the time to write seventeen hundred words a day, but I'm managing(even after starting over after two days and having to make up the page count, because I'm a stickler).

On the farm we've been continuing the same program we've been on. We're taking in the last of summer crops; we took in the flax and field corn this past week. The corn didn't do great, but we've gotten enough to make cornmeal for the farm, and I think that was really our intention. The sunflowers didn't make it. They went moldy before they finished maturing, and were consigned to the compost on the same day I harvested the corn. Tant pis.

Flax, wheat, and corn:



I've been as busy as ever. Contra dancing, knitting and crocheting, reading, both fiction and some seminal farming books, cooking, baking, and pickling, and yoga. Yesterday, Maggie and I went hiking in the Elwha, which is really beautiful. The mountains are just beginning to show signs of snow at the peaks, and the deciduous trees and ferns make an incredible contrast with teh vibrantly green moss and Doug Firs. There has been a great deal of reading aloud, including, but not limited to, a read aloud children's book group, which was a great deal of fun. I read several Just So Stories, and some poems from Where The Sidewalk Ends. That was the sort of book club I can get behind.

What else am I reading, you say? Why these:

The beginning of my first knitting project:

I'll post more pics of my handiwork when I've finished.

On a recent Monday off(Hooray November) I spent some time walking through the outdoor sculpture garden in PA. I took some pics, which I present without commentary:


That one's my favorite(What? Oh yeah, no commentary. I did say that. Fine. I retract my previous statement.).

Some pics of some recent bakes; I've been doing even more bread than usual the last few weeks. Ciabatta al Funghi:

Roasted Beet Bread:

Perhaps the simplest, but most delicious loaf I've made since I came to the PacNorWe. A pain au levain:

These are bay laurel cuttings that Kelly took from a job, and is rooting next to the greenhouse. The day he put these in the ground, the wind carried the scent of them over to the wash station where Kay and I were cleaning produce, and all day long we'd get a whiff, and wind up smiling like schoolkids. It was fantastic. If you've never had the chance to smell real fresh bay, not California bay, but the Mediterranean variety, seek it out. It's a whole other thing.

Bodie and Willow, Newfoundland and Pony, from next door:


Some shots from around town and the farm, which make me smile; just looking at them is enough to make me smell woodsmoke:





It's easy enough for me to remember to be thankful for where I am. In considering what I'm to do once the farm season is over for well and for good, I've been thinking about the logistics of returning to Georgia long enough to grab my bike, and drive across the southern edge of the country, but haven;t quite worked out the details of what that trip would entail(aside from wool and waterproofs). It's all still theoretical, but the more I consider it, the more I like the idea. It would give me the chance to visit with everyone, and catch up, and it would be an experience unlike anything else, I'm sure. I hope you guys are all doing as well as I am. I really miss you, and wish we had the chance to talk more often(i.e. at all), but I know we're all busy. I love you, and hope you're all looking forward to the holidays; I can't wait to see some of you in California for Christmas. I just want to know, who's bringing the tree?

I am in Portland, and I am in love...

My view from the car window as I left Grandma and Saba's yesterday.

This place, this state, this city, are too cool for words. So I'll not even try. After a long day driving yesterday, I had a short one today, and now I'm going to relax, and go see what I can of this cool new place, and enjoy myself. Some pictures for your amusement.







A brief anecdote from yesterday, and then I'm off. I stopped to pump gas in LA, at the very end of Sunset Boulevard, which made me think of Miah. I pumped the gas, and saw that my total was exactly seventy five dollars. I thought to myself, that'll never happen again, only that afternoon, I pumped my gas, in the middle of the desert in the middle of the vast expanse that it California, and my total? That's right.

I don't know the best way to express how much I love this place, or Grandma Pooh and Saba. La Jolla has always held a special place in my heart, and their home is without a doubt my favorite place on the planet. Whenever I'm here, I feel at peace, and I know J and Rach, feel exactly the same way. I'm always so happy to arrive, and so sad to leave, but leave I must. I'm on a journey, and perhaps, I'll be back this way sooner, rather than later. I'll do another series of journal excerpts since I chose not to do daily posts while I was here, but even if I were to paste them here in their entirety they could never hope to capture the joy I've felt while I was here.

On dinner and a show, Friday night:

There was salmon, topped with diced fennel and fronds, a little Riesling, and baked in a packet, en papillote style. There were big fat spears of local asparagus, perfectly ripe, and delicious, especially when dipped in the dill mayo, served with the salmon. Boiled potatoes with butter and parsley, and, thank you god and Ruth, apple crisp for desert. It was a perfect meal. As delicious as any I've ever, or likely will ever, have. It left me feeling satisfied in places other than my belly is what I'm trying, so ham-handedly, to say. After dinner we loaded into the car, and headed over to the neurosciences institute for a concert, a Mozart duo for violin and viola, which while not thrilling, had a nice second movement. The middle piece was a Schubert trio, which to be perfectly frank, was a little boring, except for one piece, in the second movement where the cello took the lead, and the other two strings played off the theme. The final piece was a Beethoven string trio, and it was magnificent. Exciting, and beautifully performed.

On Opera and expectations:

It(La Traviata) was quite an experience, not really what I was expecting, and I while the first act didn't grab me, after that it picked up, and I rather enjoyed the rest of it. More than I had hoped to. The music was lovely, and the woman who played the part of Violetta was amazing. Oddly enough I found myself humming snatches of the music to myself for the rest of the day. Like most opera, I assume, it had it's funny moments, but was after all a tragedy, and ended poorly for all involved.

At the opera I met the Gulls, Einar and Sally, good friends of Grandma and Saba, they were fascinating folks, and I would have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them better.

It's Monday evening, and I've been driving pretty much non-stop since ten this morning. I haven't made it nearly as far as I'd have liked, but I'm going to drive for another hour or so, before I crash for the night. I made some poor navigational decisions earlier, and am now in a position to make some choices about the course of my trip. I want to drive through San Fransisco, but that will involve logistical challenges. Maybe I'll do it, and damn the troubles.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Grandma and Saba for putting me up, and for supporting me, and I can't wait to see you both again in September at Rachel's Wedding. I love you all, and I'm really excited. I'm almost there.

We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the Desert...

What a great day. Beginning to end, a series of experiences I wish wouldn't end. I woke up in Vegas this morning, and did my daily writing quota, and the Fern and her daughter Carly took me out to see what little we could manage to, given the fact that I was only in town for half a day. It was nice to get up, and to be able to relax for a little while instead of getting straight onto the road. They took me to the Bellagio, to see the Chihuly ceiling and the arboretum, both of which were quite impressive. Then we walked over to Caesar's palace, and had lunch at Mesa grill. It was really tasty.

All too soon it was time for me to leave, but I really wished I would have been able to spend some more time there getting to know everybody. I want to thank them all for their hospitality, for putting me up on essentially no notice, and for taking such good care of me while I was there. I felt really welcome, and it was all I could have hoped for in a brief Vegas interlude. I can't wait to go back.

I hit the road, drove south and west, and was in California in no time at all. The drive today was so much shorter than any of the other day's I've had that it was inherently more pleasant. Even stuck in California evening rush hour, wasn't that bad, relatively speaking. I arrived at Grandma and Saba's house at about eight, and Grandma was putting the finishing touches on dinner, and what a joy it is to be here. I really love this place, like no other on Earth, and it really is an inherently relaxing place for me.

This will probably be the last blog post until I get back on the road, on Monday, because I'm going to take these last few days to really enjoy myself, and to relax, before the final push, and then the work will begin in earnest. I'll still be keeping up with my journal, so I'll share anything fun and exciting with you all when I return.

Oh, and I did indeed stop in Barstow to get gas, because really, I'm a big nerd, and how could I resist?

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.