Grower

More Notes from the Field:  End of the Season

My hands are stained with dirt from each harvest, my nose is covered in freckles, and the cuffs of my work pants are filled with soil. I wake up, and am out the door before the sun rises. My day is made up of a million movements; I bend, I harvest, I lift, I carry, and then I repeat. I'm amazed by my own strength. I relish in the abundance of the season. I marvel at the potential of the tiniest seeds. As I enter into the twentieth and final week of the CSA, I'm feeling overwhelmed by the passage of time, and reflective of my experience as an Assistant Grower. Last Friday, I joined the farm crew for a field walk. We planned for our last distribution, and discussed the winter share. While walking through each section of the field, I could vividly remember seeding many of the plants that are currently being harvested. I observed the remains of shriveled tomatoes and discarded kale leaves. I recalled conversations and jokes shared in the carrot beds. I was reminded of my first weeks of work spent transplanting seedlings, and learning how to drive and operate our tractors. I arrived to Waltham Fields Community Farm in May as a newcomer to the crew, a stranger to the land, and an unfamiliar face to shareholders. Five months have passed, and Amanda, Dan, Erinn, Andy, and Larisa feel like family. I have cultivated and harvested our fields. I have spent every Tuesday for the past twenty weeks stocking and re-stocking distribution bins, and getting to know many of you. We've exchanged recipes and shared laughter while braving rainstorms and unbearable heat. My relationship to the farm and this community has grown tremendously. Let us continue to celebrate this growth as we shift into a time of rest and dormancy. In the coming week, we will begin planting garlic. During the winter months, the garlic will slowly gather the potential energy needed to shoot up in the spring, and transform from one clove into an entire head. Who knew that garlic could serve as such a wise and patient teacher? Here's to learning from the land, taking time to stop and reflect, and looking forward to the possibility and flavor that each new season holds. -- Lauren, 2011 Waltham Fields Assistant Grower For more farmy farm, click HERE!