News, Long Overdue

I won't be farming this year. There, I said it.

Back in October I started thinking about applying for a full-time job with the Town of Black Mountain, where I'd been working part-time since last January as a School Garden Educator. Initially the thought that this would prohibit farming was at first difficult, but the more I thought about it this shift made a lot of sense. I don't oown the land I was farming, the tractor I'd been using last season was not going to be available to me anymore and Erin, who had been my most wonderful assistant all season, was moving back to Tennessee. I have a very social nature, I loved the farmer's market and interacting with CSA members, but much of my time last year was spent in an open field. It just didn't add up.

The new year has already been an exciting one for me - I moved and changed jobs all within the first week. You can now find me as Health Services Program Administrator for the Town of Black Mountain at the Lakeview Center in Black Mountain most any day of the week. So far, things are great, I'm happy to be able to use my farm experience to support the Black Mtn community garden and to continue to support the school gardens. Some days I feel like I'm paid simply to be a member of the community as my new job brings me into constant contact with local business owners, community members, local government, kids, dogs and ducks.

I still visit my old neighbor Louise, who I had a harder time leaving than the garden I have to admit. And I'm looking forward to going to the farmers market as a shopper, and having a big garden for myself this year!