Reflecting on TN, CA, and a little bit of in between

I just had my last day working on Williams Island Farm, and as I sit here in the humid air with billowy clouds above me sad to leave the farm and people I love yet anticipating what’s ahead of me back in California, I’m comforted and restored by what I’ve seen and been a part of this summer. You might expect that after working on a farm for two months in the middle of the summer I would be burnt, sore, itchy, and just plain tired. But, in fact, that is not the case at all- I’m hopeful, energetic, and ready to progress (and well, still a little itchy). I’ve learned a lot, done a lot, seen a lot, thought a lot, and guess what? so to have many others- all over the country. It’s like I’m this microcosm of a greater thing- that thing being the Food Movement and a resurgence of young new farmers. I’m now convinced it’s a movement. For a while I was unsure, but now I’ve been from one coast to the other and seen it for myself. People are learning and caring about food and change is happening. When I left for college in 2007, I knew of two organic farms serving the Chattanooga area and now I can easily name seven, though I know there are more. Community gardens are popping up left and right; just a few weekends ago there was an open-house community garden tour including churches, schools, food banks, and neighborhoods. This isn’t just a boogie, white, upper-middle class fad. Issues such as food deserts, food insecurity, and farmland preservation are being addressed. I read the statistics all the time- farmers markets, CSA’s, farm internships are higher than ever but now I’ve seen it for myself.

This doesn’t mean, however, that I can just sit back and watch the change happen. I’m definitely aware that this movement has long strides to make. It’s easy to get caught up in a bubble of the reality that I want to see, yet it doesn’t take much to realize how the majority is living. Just the other day I took a little visit to a Wal-Mart grocery store with a friend who shops there. I went in with a fresh and observant eye and was quickly reminded of the food that most Americans have access to and choose to buy. My Wall-Mart reality check got me thinking: just as I can go about anywhere in the US and find a Wal-Mart with buggies full of sugared cereals, frozen entrees, and fat-free everything, I too can find farmers markets with cloth bags full of summer’s bounty, artisan cheese, and fresh baked bread. But while Wal-Marts (or whatever corporate food chain there is) are the same everywhere, farmers markets are anything but the same. Yeah maybe you can find squash, tomatoes, and melons anywhere this time of year, but they aren’t the same. Each place, each farm, each product has a different story.

For this reason, I love to change where I’m living. By periodically migrating, I’m able to appreciate each place more while at the same time thinking of ways to improve them. At the first glance, two places seem fairly different, but over time similarities start popping out. I love both Davis and Chattanooga- the landscapes, markets, people, and food- for they each have their own unique flavor yet share similar values and hopes for their communities. There’s a connection, an unknown relationship, and it’s not just between these two communities- like I said earlier, it’s happening all over the country. Sometimes it just takes getting out a little bit to realize.

In honor of my love for both these places, I invited the Island women farmers, Beth and Ashley, over to share with them a taste of my experience working with Annie. We prepared a delicious Mediterranean meal of homemade falafels, dolmas, sauces, and Island veggies. The highlight of the evening, however, was teaching them how to make dried flower wreaths like Annie’s. I had been talking these wreaths up all summer long. Though we certainly don’t have the variety that Annie does, we did our best collecting what we had throughout the summer- straw flowers, yarrow, wheat, dogwood buds, and laurel branches. Since I had attended one of Annie’s wreath workshops (which luckily I sent my wreath home so we could have it as an example), I had an idea of what we were doing. At first they were doubtful, but as their wreaths slowly filled out the women were amazed with their efforts. As we continued making our wreaths, I showed them pictures from the Davis Farmers Market- in particular Annie’s flower bouquets, wreaths, and vegetable displays. They were both shocked and inspired by the variety, the bounty, and the beauty. They kept asking, “And Jeff and Annie do all this?” They have help, but yes, they are renaissance farmers. The evening ended in the best way possible. We had apricot tart (with the Good Humus apricots that I brought home and froze) and watched the latest cut of The Last Crop. For them to see the Mains in all their hard work and to hear their words was indescribable; it brought out emotions in me I didn’t even know I had. I think they were not only inspired as farmers but also assured that I was returning to good people in California. In sight, sound, taste, and touch I was able to share my California farmers with my Tennessee farmers. I can’t imagine a better way to end my summer.

With that said, I’m headed back to Davis in just a few days and will be working at the market and going to classes soon. I’m grateful for what I’ve learned and gained from being in Chattanooga but excited for what lies ahead. There’s a lot happening in this country with food issues and I’m ready to jump on. I hope that wherever you are you can appreciate the community you have and then take a step back and see your place and effort as a piece of this greater network. I think you will be amazed- but don’t get caught just watching.