Let's Get Fresh: Down on the Farm with City Kitty- Part 1
By Bob Workman on September 07, 2014
Bob’s Note: Over the next two Sundays Let’s Get Fresh is pleased to present BFM Board Member Athena Freedlander’s debut as a blogger. Athena is a native West Virginian who, like many of us, moved away to the big city for a while before realizing that there’s no place like home. You loyal readers may remember Athena as a member of the Market’s A-Team from a blog I wrote last year. Well, as you will soon see, she has really stepped in it this year, literally.
BY ATHENA FREEDLANDER
I moved back to West Virginia a year and a half ago, and knew I wanted to be involved in the farming community. I wanted to learn about the land and our relationship to it- the soil, the air, water, trees, bees, bugs, animals, plants, flowers, weeds, seeds, pollinators, oh my, the list goes on!! I know that sounds overly ambitious, but, MOSTLY, I just wanted to learn how to grow food. Or anything for that matter. The bulk of my ‘experience’, thus far, is laughable at best- a few herbs that I bought at a bodega, a smattering of houseplants, and a couple succulents. As you can see, all things that did not need much attention. Not all are alive today.
I craved a deeper understanding of how we actively take care of the earth and build a food system from the very root.
I have been blessed to be involved in the local food/small farm movement, not only as a conscientious consumer and locavore enthusiast, but also as a board member for the Bridgeport Farmers Market. It is an immensely rewarding experience. I understand on many levels what happens to food once it leaves the hands of a farmer, and ways in which we can support farmers with where we spend our dollars, and the type of businesses we support. I understand food from a big city perspective. I understand it culinarily. I understand it nutritionally. I even understand it in terms of a local economy and food system.
However, regardless of my academic understanding of food and nutrition, I knew I lacked life experience directly with the earth. I couldn’t tell you the last time I dug my hands into the dirt (possibly never, much to my mother’s chagrin). I am an admitted city kitty- or at least have been for most of my adult life. Eleven years in New York City taught me a lot about navigating an urban metropolis. I lived the fast-paced life of an actor/model/restaurant professional, running full-throttle across the city to castings, classes, events, work, work, and more work. It was a very active eleven years! I gained life lessons and learned a heck of a lot about how to live in the city. It was a constant sensory experience. In many ways I still walk through life with that city rhythm. The intensity of urban life became second nature.
Now, that being said, my Metro card and street smarts are of no use when it comes to working on a farm. Growing is an intricate art that takes time to cultivate, and frankly leaves me feeling completely lost without a map. I find it very intimidating. I have a can-do, energetic attitude, but not the foggiest notion of what to do or where to begin, or how to be useful or helpful or practical or ANYTHING to a hard-working farmer.
Farmers are the stewards of the land. They are heroes in my eyes for many reasons (will save that for another blog!). All joking aside, it is a deeply humbling experience to know that your mind understands the importance of something so fully, and you believe in something so passionately, yet you do not have any on-the-ground experience to even be able to confidently plant a seed. Let me just tell you, I am enormously grateful that I had the chance to do some work on a farm recently. It was the best thing I have done in years. Hands down, it was an incredible experience.
To begin my education, I approached one of the vendors of the Bridgeport Famers Market, Sky Harman, farmer and bossman at Harmony Farm in Morgantown. Sky is down-to-earth and super smart. He grows in a manner he calls “beyond organic”, with tremendous respect for the land, the ecosystem, our health, and the health of the community. His food is clean, grown with great integrity, and he is always open to talk about the fascinating nuances of food and farming. He is a farmer-philosopher of sorts, as I have observed. (If you can’t catch Sky at the market, go to www.harmonywv.comto learn more. His field notes are fascinating!).
I asked Sky if I could volunteer for a day on his farm. I’m not sure if he thought I was being serious or not, but he graciously said yes and asked when I was coming out! I told him to really put me to work- I wanted no special treatment because I was a novice. I really wanted to get my hands dirty and learn something. I probably should have warned him about how little (meaning none) experience I had. Another thing I will say about Sky- he is patient. Really, really patient. I imagine this is an important quality for a farmer. They do grow things for a living, which is a slow process.
The first thing Sky did was text me saying to wear durable clothes. I thought to myself, do I even have durable clothes? What exactly qualifies as durable? I had to quiet my inner fashionista urge to go buy a cute new farming outfit. Overalls are back in style! I read that somewhere! I decided to go authentic and just wear my own stuff. Old jeans, t-shirt and hiking boots were going to have to work (though I’m told ‘Wellies’ are a good footwear choice).
I laced up my hiking boots which, I’ll admit, had seen very little use. They were brand-spanking new, right out of the box, and still had that new shoe smell (guess I never made it on that hike!). I was immediately self-conscious of this. I knew I was already heading in to a world of hard-laboring, super-exposed farmers, and wanted to avoid any stereotypes of an out-of-touch city slicker. I actually thought about trampling through mud before I got there to try and save face and appear more, um, dirt-friendly. Then I figured, nah, just roll with it- maybe I am a little out of touch, but it’s not a permanent state of being, and I was prepared to throw down and work hard! I pulled in at 7:45am on the dot in classic punctual fashion.
The farm is in Cheat Lake outside of Morgantown, some of the last farmable area not lost to development. It rests at the top of a hill looking out over verdant, rolling, scenic West Virginia. I had a moment when I first got there of such deep gratitude and appreciation for this state. Something about the air and the mountains and trees is truly transformative. It is so very beautiful.
After I arrived, Sky walked me around the property a bit. There were large blocks of corn, many varieties of heirloom tomatoes, various hot peppers; I think I saw some squash, and maybe some cabbage. There were many things I couldn’t quite identify, for they had not yet fruited. Vegetable identification can be confusing in their young phases- some of them look so much alike! How can you tell those dual sprouted leaves apart? It takes a well-trained eye.
There were a bunch of recently tilled beds, rows intact, ready for seedlings. Tables were set up to the side holding these varied and healthy sprouts. Kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, scallion, and so many varieties of lettuces! All were waiting to be planted according to Sky’s plan for the beds.
As I was taking photos of the seedlings, like a farm tourist, I learned my first lesson very quickly- watch where you step!! I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking, and I trampled all over a bed that very well could have had seeds planted in it (FYI: soil should be loose in beds, not compact like after being trampled by a hiking boot.). Sky said there wasn’t, but I’m pretty sure he was just being nice. Not 5 minutes on a farm and I am already botching this thing.
After I made a mental note of all the proper foot paths, Sky informed me that we were going to be planting purple basil. But first we had to soak the seedlings in a bath that contained ‘liquid fish’. Yup, you heard that right, liquid fish. Yum! The perfect pairing for basil! And perhaps a nicely chilled Sancerre! Oh wait- not that kind of liquid fish. It is actually a fish emulsion that I imagine does something nutritious for the roots and soil (One of those neat farmer tricks!) but sounds completely disgusting. I was expecting something really putrescent. First hand, though, it didn’t smell that bad. Just a little bad. And it is good for growing and isn’t synthetic, so I am all for it. Go figure, me a fan of liquid fish. Just don’t put it in my soup!
Next week, our heroine gets her hands dirty in Part 2 of City Kitty: Down on the Farm.
Until then, Stay Fresh!
The Bridgeport Farmers Market Association is the seven member all volunteer board of directors that governs the Bridgeport Farmers Market. It is supported by a wonderful group of community volunteers who help in the setup and maintenance of the market. For more information on the Farmers Market or to see how you can help please e-mail us at bridgeportfarmersmarket@yahoo.comor, better yet, LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You can also check out the Market’s own YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BridgeportFarmersMktor for more BFM video content you can now go to http://vimeo.com/bridgeportfarmersmarket/videos
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