Where am I?
As of the last 5-6 months a completely legitimate question consistently reoccurs…
Where the hell is….
Well I'll tell ya.
As of today I have finished a eighteen day road trip taking running me ragged up and down the California coast, today we finally arrived to our long term destination.
Ensenada, Baja Mexico.
I am staying on a six mile long, by quarter mile wide peninsula about twenty miles south of the city of Ensenada "con el jefe" of the farmer veteran coalition Michael O'Gorman.
Immediately after our Santa Cruz benefit dinner at Swanton Berry Farm we tumble-weeded down the California coastline for multiple meetings for official FVC missions.
On Tuesday we had meetings at Sword's to Plowshares in San Francisco to discuss veteran case management/funding . (in the same neighborhood that my mando was stolen) :-( www.swords-to-plowshares.org
That night I stayed in the hipster mission district with my good friend Joey Braccio who is also a former Peace Corps volunteer and sudsy swilling cohort who recently moved to San Fran.
On Wednesday we had a noonsies lunch meeting with an organization named Food First http://www.foodfirst.org/ and discussed the possibility of developing the agricultural sector of a monumental project named the "HOPE collaborative" http://www.oaklandfoodandfitness.net/. The goal of the project is to create a network of urban farms headed by farmers from our project to develop the "food shed" around Oakland. In addition we were offered an opportunity to write a book about the experiences of our members as they describe transitioning from soldiers to farmers.
Six hours after the meeting we had a 2100 dinner meeting with a Neem Pesticide salesman in Los Angeles. I grew Neems in Niger, they are an introduced species from India and have a gazillion useful purposes from food, fuel, construction, medicine, and forage. I love everything about Neems!
Another two and a half hours after this meeting we arrived to our final destination of the day at another veteran farmer who owns a greenhouse hydroponic basil and three acre organic avocado farm named Archi's Acres near San Diego at about 0030. (http://www.archisacres.com/)
After an all to brief slumber we gave a TV interview to a local news station in San Diego in the early morn' describing our project work and then had a meeting with the proprietors of Archi's Acres on some ideas how to best start training other veterans to become farmers.
Another four hours on the road after this last meeting Michael and I finally arrived to this little slice of paradise….many I can hear the ocean from inside the house!!
Though again tomorrow appears to be busy, my hind quarters are refusing to sit on anything that has wheels and a motor.
I'm pooped. Time for bed.
But worry not, I do have a few more items to add that are in final draft mode and will be posted soon.
If I had a mando, I would jam :-(
Damn Good Biking
Mammath Mountain
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
11-18-08 Woody was right!!
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California to the New York Islands...
We are currently driving through the San Joaquin Valley leaving behind the secularly spirited Bay Area towards the subcutaneous and smoggy Los Angeles region for more meetings to help progress the Farmer Veterans Coalition.
The passing view from our rented car provides a road side glimpse of one of the worlds most productive agricultural regions, plantations of apricots, plums, and peach tree's add a patchwork of life to a contrasting parched landscape of empty pastures and mountains.
For yet another night the sun is setting on a unfamiliar western horizon, and once again I hum quietly Woody's timeless lyrics.
As I was walking those ribbons of highways,
I saw beyond me those endless byways….
America really is a magical place.
In the span of a little more than two weeks I have been up, down and back to many of California's most influential agricultural spheres of influence and have met a variety of California's farmers.
Listed but not comprehensive of where I have been.
All over Sonoma County, Davis, Santa Cruz (3 times), Oakland, San Fran', Berkeley, Long Beach, San Diego, The Great Valley, Central Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Bolinas, Los Angeles, and Ontario.
By tomorrow night I'll be sleeping on the beach south of Ensenada, Baja Mexico.
Every day a learning experience, every place arrived another agricultural lesson.
If only seeing was enough...
This land is my land,
From California to the New York Islands...
We are currently driving through the San Joaquin Valley leaving behind the secularly spirited Bay Area towards the subcutaneous and smoggy Los Angeles region for more meetings to help progress the Farmer Veterans Coalition.
The passing view from our rented car provides a road side glimpse of one of the worlds most productive agricultural regions, plantations of apricots, plums, and peach tree's add a patchwork of life to a contrasting parched landscape of empty pastures and mountains.
For yet another night the sun is setting on a unfamiliar western horizon, and once again I hum quietly Woody's timeless lyrics.
As I was walking those ribbons of highways,
I saw beyond me those endless byways….
America really is a magical place.
In the span of a little more than two weeks I have been up, down and back to many of California's most influential agricultural spheres of influence and have met a variety of California's farmers.
Listed but not comprehensive of where I have been.
All over Sonoma County, Davis, Santa Cruz (3 times), Oakland, San Fran', Berkeley, Long Beach, San Diego, The Great Valley, Central Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Bolinas, Los Angeles, and Ontario.
By tomorrow night I'll be sleeping on the beach south of Ensenada, Baja Mexico.
Every day a learning experience, every place arrived another agricultural lesson.
If only seeing was enough...
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A Day of Rest 10-13-08
So now I am staying at a very beautiful location in Sepastobol, Northern California, the redwoods are towering above lush vegetative damp corridors, the weather is unseasonably fair, and while the rainy season progresses another season comes to a turn away from home, and my village in Africa.
Today was a good respite. Though Matt's land tenet is to say for a lack of a better word….Crazy? It can't spoil my determination to simply rest. It has been a taxing couple of weeks, we definitely hit some lows, the worst of worst about the mando, but you know the work takes my mind away from the challenges and increases my determination to stay the course.
If there is anything I have learned over all of my travels this year is that its not simple to take the road less traveled, the road carries baggage, and who cares about the destination, it’s the journey that means everything.
Today was a good respite. Though Matt's land tenet is to say for a lack of a better word….Crazy? It can't spoil my determination to simply rest. It has been a taxing couple of weeks, we definitely hit some lows, the worst of worst about the mando, but you know the work takes my mind away from the challenges and increases my determination to stay the course.
If there is anything I have learned over all of my travels this year is that its not simple to take the road less traveled, the road carries baggage, and who cares about the destination, it’s the journey that means everything.
Founding Fathers of Agriculture
10-10-08 Founding Fathers
Hello all.
Yesterday on 10-9-08 the boss, another veteran, a reporter and I had the privilege to meet and spend some time with a gentleman named Warren Weber at his 100+ acre Marin County farm near Bolinas directly NW of the San Francisco Bay area.
Warren is considered to be the first organic farmer in California and at a youthful 68 years young I observed an incredibly intelligent, well educated, and a thoughtful individual who started out in the 1970's as an idealistic "long hair" practicing a niche market by growing organic. A couple of decades later an older, shorter haired founding father of the Organic movement hosted the well known "organi-philiak " Prince Charles on his farm in Bolinas during his regal road trip around 'Merica to observe our nations organic farms.
In the sun room of his converted late 19th century Druid hall turned home we weaved in and out of many topics related to our project, his personal history in agriculture, and each of our own personal histories and agricultural experience. This conversation was an invaluable lesson in organic agriculture history as he chronologically weaved through the 80's & 90's and then finished on contemporary trends and potential avenues for the future of sustainable agriculture in America.
During our farm walk I had the opportunity to speak with Warren alone and surprisingly we learned we shared a few things in common, geographically speaking we are both from Missouri, each of us have each lived in Charlottesville VA, and though I didn't attend Cornell, my wonderful fiancée did. Aside from that it was about all we could agree on. Just Kidding. Warren was a gracious hosts, and he gave me a several things to kick around the brain box. After explaining my Peace Corps project and my desire to return and finish my work sometime in the near future he provided me with some potential contacts back in Charlottesville that focus on rural international -agricultural development.
Aside from farming, Warren's current endeavor is to transition all of Marin county's agriculture into organic production, currently at about 25%, he has also pioneered an initiative to develop Marin's own specific organic requirements tailored specifically for communities needs.
Afterwards, leaving Warren behind, the four of us all had a delicious lunch with the South African reporter who shared her experiences as a young woman living through aparteid , and later immigrating to the States because of the struggles there.
Then after the meeting we headed back up north and visited a lovely urban garden named "Crescent Moon Farms "where a young couple has converted their lawn to food production for the local community. With less than 1/2 of an acre in production they produce a plethora of peppers, herbs, vegetables, along with roughly fifty chickens for meat and egg production.
They even had an old beaten up Romanian mandolin that could hardly hold a tune, but was enough to eek out one little "friend of the devil" with the natives.
Later that night Michael the FVC boss packed our stuff back up and meandered back to Santa Cruz for another two hour drive, the second trip already that week, ending in three two hour each direction from north of the Bay Area. Yikes!!
Though I have been out of my village for six months now, I would think that they would be proud of me for continuing forwards with my dedication to agriculture and my continuation of what they taught me about the importance of food security.
I feel blessed to have gone so far on this omnivore's odyssey first learning from the most resilient, revered, and innovative farmers, of Niger. Now I am continuing the education my villagers gave me, but learning from their American contemporaries how to feed my own village and others.
Hello all.
Yesterday on 10-9-08 the boss, another veteran, a reporter and I had the privilege to meet and spend some time with a gentleman named Warren Weber at his 100+ acre Marin County farm near Bolinas directly NW of the San Francisco Bay area.
Warren is considered to be the first organic farmer in California and at a youthful 68 years young I observed an incredibly intelligent, well educated, and a thoughtful individual who started out in the 1970's as an idealistic "long hair" practicing a niche market by growing organic. A couple of decades later an older, shorter haired founding father of the Organic movement hosted the well known "organi-philiak " Prince Charles on his farm in Bolinas during his regal road trip around 'Merica to observe our nations organic farms.
In the sun room of his converted late 19th century Druid hall turned home we weaved in and out of many topics related to our project, his personal history in agriculture, and each of our own personal histories and agricultural experience. This conversation was an invaluable lesson in organic agriculture history as he chronologically weaved through the 80's & 90's and then finished on contemporary trends and potential avenues for the future of sustainable agriculture in America.
During our farm walk I had the opportunity to speak with Warren alone and surprisingly we learned we shared a few things in common, geographically speaking we are both from Missouri, each of us have each lived in Charlottesville VA, and though I didn't attend Cornell, my wonderful fiancée did. Aside from that it was about all we could agree on. Just Kidding. Warren was a gracious hosts, and he gave me a several things to kick around the brain box. After explaining my Peace Corps project and my desire to return and finish my work sometime in the near future he provided me with some potential contacts back in Charlottesville that focus on rural international -agricultural development.
Aside from farming, Warren's current endeavor is to transition all of Marin county's agriculture into organic production, currently at about 25%, he has also pioneered an initiative to develop Marin's own specific organic requirements tailored specifically for communities needs.
Afterwards, leaving Warren behind, the four of us all had a delicious lunch with the South African reporter who shared her experiences as a young woman living through aparteid , and later immigrating to the States because of the struggles there.
Then after the meeting we headed back up north and visited a lovely urban garden named "Crescent Moon Farms "where a young couple has converted their lawn to food production for the local community. With less than 1/2 of an acre in production they produce a plethora of peppers, herbs, vegetables, along with roughly fifty chickens for meat and egg production.
They even had an old beaten up Romanian mandolin that could hardly hold a tune, but was enough to eek out one little "friend of the devil" with the natives.
Later that night Michael the FVC boss packed our stuff back up and meandered back to Santa Cruz for another two hour drive, the second trip already that week, ending in three two hour each direction from north of the Bay Area. Yikes!!
Though I have been out of my village for six months now, I would think that they would be proud of me for continuing forwards with my dedication to agriculture and my continuation of what they taught me about the importance of food security.
I feel blessed to have gone so far on this omnivore's odyssey first learning from the most resilient, revered, and innovative farmers, of Niger. Now I am continuing the education my villagers gave me, but learning from their American contemporaries how to feed my own village and others.
Monday, November 24, 2008
HOME!!! Where is that again?
hELLO folks, me here.
But where?
Ensenada Baja Mexico!!!
Been living it up pretty high on the hog here. The weather is spectacular, the ocean (a stones throw away from the house) is refreshing after my daily run, and many a sunset have been enjoyed to a glass of wine. Today i even squeezed in a farm visit and discussed food production with the natives.
but here is the best part. I'm coming home!!!
I booked my flight, from December 14th-December 23rd I will be back in Missouri and visiting my family all upright and actually able to walk.
For those of you just tuning in I returned home from the Peace Corps in June after sustaining two fractured vertebrae.
So if god willing I get another mandolin be prepared for a full on onslaught of the old characters like Rob Nold and the "Asian Sensation" Andrew Weii flying in from Indiana for a serious jam.
So so so stoked. I'm homesick, its been far to long away from home.
But where?
Ensenada Baja Mexico!!!
Been living it up pretty high on the hog here. The weather is spectacular, the ocean (a stones throw away from the house) is refreshing after my daily run, and many a sunset have been enjoyed to a glass of wine. Today i even squeezed in a farm visit and discussed food production with the natives.
but here is the best part. I'm coming home!!!
I booked my flight, from December 14th-December 23rd I will be back in Missouri and visiting my family all upright and actually able to walk.
For those of you just tuning in I returned home from the Peace Corps in June after sustaining two fractured vertebrae.
So if god willing I get another mandolin be prepared for a full on onslaught of the old characters like Rob Nold and the "Asian Sensation" Andrew Weii flying in from Indiana for a serious jam.
So so so stoked. I'm homesick, its been far to long away from home.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Harpooning Baja Mama's!!
As of the last 5-6 months a completely legitimate question consistently reoccurs…
Where the hell is….
Well I'll tell ya.
As of today I have finished a eighteen day road trip taking running me ragged up and down the California coast, today we finally arrived to our long term destination.
Esconedo Baja Mexico.
I am staying on a six mile long, by quarter mile wide peninsula about twenty miles south of the city of Esconedo with the head honcho of the farmer veteran coalition Michael O'Gorman.
Covering many miles, and meeting with many folk along the way for official FVC business we tumble-weeded down the California coastline on Tuesday had meetings at Sword's to Plowshares in San Francisco to discuss veteran case management/funding . (in the same neighborhood that my mando was stolen) :-( www.swords-to-plowshares.org
That night I stayed in the hipster mission district with my good friend Joey Braccio who is also a former Peace Corps volunteer and sudsy swilling cohort who recently moved to San Fran.
On Wednesday we had a noonsies lunch meeting with an organization named Food First http://www.foodfirst.org/ and discussed the possibility of developing the agricultural sector of a monumental project named the "HOPE collaborative" http://www.oaklandfoodandfitness.net/
to create a network of urban farms headed by farmers from our project to develop the "food shed" around Oakland. In addition we were offered an opportunity to write a book and have it published by our veteran farmers explaining their experiences transitioning from soldiers to farmers.
Six hours after the meeting we had a 2100 dinner meeting with a Neem Pesticide salesman in Los Angeles. I grew Neems in Niger, they are an introduced species from India and have a gazillion useful purposes from food, fuel, construction, medicine,and forage
Another two and a half hours after this meeting we arrived to our final destination of the day at another veteran farmer who owns a greenhouse hydroponic basil and three acre organic avocado farm named Archi's Acres near San Diego at about 0030. (http://www.archisacres.com/)
After an all to brief slumber we gave a TV interview to a local news station in San Diego in the early morn' describing our project work and then had a meeting with the proprietors of Archi's Acres on some ideas how to best start training other veterans to become farmers.
Another four hours on the road after this last meeting Michael and I finally arrived to this little slice of paradise….many I can hear the ocean from inside the house!!
Though again tomorrow appears to be busy, my hind quarters are refusing to sit on anything that has wheels and a motor.
I'm pooped. Time for bed.
But worry not, I do have a few more items to add that are in final draft mode and will be posted soon.
If I had a mando, I would jam :-(
Where the hell is….
Well I'll tell ya.
As of today I have finished a eighteen day road trip taking running me ragged up and down the California coast, today we finally arrived to our long term destination.
Esconedo Baja Mexico.
I am staying on a six mile long, by quarter mile wide peninsula about twenty miles south of the city of Esconedo with the head honcho of the farmer veteran coalition Michael O'Gorman.
Covering many miles, and meeting with many folk along the way for official FVC business we tumble-weeded down the California coastline on Tuesday had meetings at Sword's to Plowshares in San Francisco to discuss veteran case management/funding . (in the same neighborhood that my mando was stolen) :-( www.swords-to-plowshares.org
That night I stayed in the hipster mission district with my good friend Joey Braccio who is also a former Peace Corps volunteer and sudsy swilling cohort who recently moved to San Fran.
On Wednesday we had a noonsies lunch meeting with an organization named Food First http://www.foodfirst.org/ and discussed the possibility of developing the agricultural sector of a monumental project named the "HOPE collaborative" http://www.oaklandfoodandfitness.net/
to create a network of urban farms headed by farmers from our project to develop the "food shed" around Oakland. In addition we were offered an opportunity to write a book and have it published by our veteran farmers explaining their experiences transitioning from soldiers to farmers.
Six hours after the meeting we had a 2100 dinner meeting with a Neem Pesticide salesman in Los Angeles. I grew Neems in Niger, they are an introduced species from India and have a gazillion useful purposes from food, fuel, construction, medicine,and forage
Another two and a half hours after this meeting we arrived to our final destination of the day at another veteran farmer who owns a greenhouse hydroponic basil and three acre organic avocado farm named Archi's Acres near San Diego at about 0030. (http://www.archisacres.com/)
After an all to brief slumber we gave a TV interview to a local news station in San Diego in the early morn' describing our project work and then had a meeting with the proprietors of Archi's Acres on some ideas how to best start training other veterans to become farmers.
Another four hours on the road after this last meeting Michael and I finally arrived to this little slice of paradise….many I can hear the ocean from inside the house!!
Though again tomorrow appears to be busy, my hind quarters are refusing to sit on anything that has wheels and a motor.
I'm pooped. Time for bed.
But worry not, I do have a few more items to add that are in final draft mode and will be posted soon.
If I had a mando, I would jam :-(
Saturday, November 8, 2008
SB Day +2
Scum Bag Day +2.
As you all know after these last two recent blog postings my heart was broken when my mandolin was stolen.
Though its getting easier to accept, I'm not giving up without a fight.
Today I contacted every pawn shop,music store, and dealer and left the general info and contact # Expectantly the pawn shops are anesthetized and unfazed by stolen property, but the music shops wanted to tar and feather the scum bag.
I also contacted my good friends at Picker's Supply and told them what happened and they were in disbelief, and then offered to sell me another mando at a extremely cut rate if I wished to replace the old one.
I'm down but not out.
Currently in Petaluma, tonight we are all going to an awards dinner honoring one of the FVC members for her service striving towards peace.
ok, I've been traveling all day and sitting in this fine park with wireless service in down town Petaluma long enough that my toes tingle. Time to go have a pint, and walk awkwardly until the pins and needles subside.
As you all know after these last two recent blog postings my heart was broken when my mandolin was stolen.
Though its getting easier to accept, I'm not giving up without a fight.
Today I contacted every pawn shop,music store, and dealer and left the general info and contact # Expectantly the pawn shops are anesthetized and unfazed by stolen property, but the music shops wanted to tar and feather the scum bag.
I also contacted my good friends at Picker's Supply and told them what happened and they were in disbelief, and then offered to sell me another mando at a extremely cut rate if I wished to replace the old one.
I'm down but not out.
Currently in Petaluma, tonight we are all going to an awards dinner honoring one of the FVC members for her service striving towards peace.
ok, I've been traveling all day and sitting in this fine park with wireless service in down town Petaluma long enough that my toes tingle. Time to go have a pint, and walk awkwardly until the pins and needles subside.
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