Friends and Family,
Welcome to my new blog. I hope this veers sharply from my various and ill-fated attempts at travel-journaling. As I travel to Chile to work with Driscoll's of Chile for about 6 months, I thought I might give it one more shot. Thanks for visiting A Farmer Afoot. With so many new beginnings, and a few not-so-new, I thought I might list them off here:
First #1: A Farmer Afoot
The first and most obvious is this blog, something I probably should have started a long time ago before stuffing people's inboxes with stories of Panamanian watermelons, microfinance, biting dogs and business school. Better late than never, though. As I steel myself for another plane ride south to Chile, I'd like to open this space for those who care to check-up on me to do so whenever they like. I'll post articles I think are worth the click, photos, and links to even more photos to keep you coming back to A Farmer Afoot. While I'm certainly no farmer when compared to those with whom I've been honored to throw a machete, plant a tree or pick a berry, I did have my own wormbox for fertilizer once. And that's gotta be worth something.
First #2: I have a new sister!
Earlier this month my brother and Jamie Harris married in Nevada City, CA in the classiest, most beautiful and truly unique weddings I’ve seen. And I am in no way biased. Everything came together. There’s nothing better than watching the people most important to you meet your new family, and the Harris’ from Minnesota know how to dance. So that’s what we did, with me spending most of my time on the floor with my new niece-in-law Lex. You’ll see her in the pictures. Nate and Jamie are perfect for each other, and it was obvious all night (or for the past few years). Of course the night finished off in the fine tradition of me sleeping on their extra bed, just this time on the pullout couch in the bridal suite. As I said, classy. They’ll never get rid of me. Never!
First #3: El Mexico Verdadero
Well, maybe. A few weeks ago I returned from a week-long trip to Mexico with a group from Driscoll’s visiting our organic berry growers. We arrived with growers from the States and as we drove across the country from ranch to ranch, farmers swapped evermore clever organic practices. Rainwater flooding to kill pests, worms eating and creating nutritious organic fertilizer, nitrogen rich cover crops during rotations, etc. As one put it, “This is not my land. This is my children’s and my children’s children’s. We have to conserve it for the future.” “Peace Corps with a credit card,” as the organic director mentioned to me. Away from the ranches, I never imagined the heartland of Mexico to be so green, nor the food so good, nor Vicente Fernandez so beloved. I really enjoyed myself and can’t wait to go back someday soon. No dogs chasing me as I ran.
Deja-vu #1: Chile, but for real this time
In the coming months many changes are to come. A few weeks ago it was decided to forego the rest of my rotation and toss me in the deep end to see if I can swim. I’m headed down south to work with our Chilean blueberry partners for two seasons, 6 months apiece starting in a week and a half. “No better place to learn than on the job with your feet to the fire,” as it was put to me. Though slightly anxious about ramping-up so fast, I am truly excited to get out and get going. I should be back by May 2009 and then off for round #2 in November again, if things go well. My own little endless summer. No skis packed this trip, only a bike, some clothes and a computer. I hope you'll be along for the ride through this blog.
Deja-vu #2: As for Planting Empowerment, it continues to grow, innovate and test new waters of social/environmental entrepreneurship in our small way. After taking second place in UT’s Social Venture Competition in May, I joined the other founders, forester, and local crew in our second planting of native species in Panama’s Darien rainforest, this time of the Adelante Fund. Thunderbird sent a journalist out with me and now you can see my wonderful sweaty mug on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHlYxkM8rg
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr0-dept7C4.
We’ve recently revamped the website (http://www.plantingempowerment.com/) with more to come, future possible partnerships with the Inter-American Development Bank and European tree farmers are in the works, as well as a potential documentary for the Sundance Festival. Glad to know the future of this company doesn't depend on my eloquence (see above videos).
And finally a promise: I promise not to make this a farmer's market shopping list of what I did today and yesterday and yada yada. I'd probably lose you all as readers anyway. It may not always be fun to read, but I promise it'll always be fun to write. Come and visit whenever you want. To start with a few pictures, here's a slideshow of my brother Nate and Jamie's wedding: http://picasaweb.google.com/ajwulf/NateAndJamieTieTheKnot?authkey=XNprJeAggd0#slideshow
I'm off to catch a flight. If you're still reading, you're free now. Have a few berries and stretch-out with just a little more room in your email inbox.
Andrew
