Farm Week 3 Recap & Rethinking Time

Although this week has seemed to pass quickly, it began on Monday with the most physically demanding day on the farm yet. The farm has tunnels that are made with a metal half circle frame, and is covered by large plastic sheets. I'm not sure exactly what the advantage of these tunnels are, but they are used to grow things like various types of tomatoes and strawberries. My guess would be that it has something to do with the tunnel's ability to increase the humidity inside it, or maybe it has to do with the tunnel's ability to shelter the plants from damaging weather like strong wind and rain. The strawberries planted in the tunnels were harvested before I began working on the farm, but farm work is so time consuming and demanding that it wasn't until this week that we c began to clear out the old plants and weeds. The main objective when clearing a field is to remove the plastic covers that protect the crops from intruders such as pests and weeds (a technique used to ensure that all produce will grow organically). However, this is never an easy task when the field has been untended for weeks, and the plants grow stronger and thicker in openings of the covers, and this makes it more difficult to pull the covers up. Add to the fact that these rows are long and numerous, and you have a full day's work load of just pulling up the covers in increasingly hot and humid weather.

On that day I learned that sunscreen needs to be reapplied about every two hours. It seems obvious, but that fact never registered with me until I came home with a blister on my forehead and a pretty painful sunburn. On top of that, I was soaked in sweat the entire day. It was a very challenging and uncomfortable day, and coming home to relax after work was more satisfying than any other day. A job like this really emphasizes the importance of rest - of Sabbath. Providing for a basic need of people (the need to eat) is physically demanding, and it would be impossible to continue without periods of rest. Luckily, the other two days on the farm were less exhausting. These days consisted of picking berries, picking tomatoes, and filling CSA boxes. Nevertheless, these days are twelve hours long and still require a lot of physical labor. 

Participating in a rhythm set by the patterns of nature has allowed me to interact with time differently. Any of the necessary tasks on the farm take a long time to complete. Even picking blackberries can take about half a dozen workers three or four hours to pick all of the ripe blackberries from the bushes. Yesterday we picked tomatoes from the time we arrived until it started getting dark, and we prepared to go home. While this sounds tedious and unpleasant, the truth is that time often seems to pass quickly. I am not quite sure about the reason for this, but I think it is important to take note of this fact so that I don't take the time I have for granted.

Photo taken by me of cherry tomatoes grown in the tunnels

On the other hand, the physicality of farm work also causes me to appreciate the small moments of rest during the day. The classic exemplar of the slow farm truck cruising unnecessarily slow down a country road and annoying fast drivers makes sense to me now. I appreciate those few minutes where I can finally relax, whether it is in the truck or just in the shade for a short water break. I took particular note of this appreciation of the slower pace on Monday when I went to the water pump to refill my water jug. My body seemed to delight in the simple act of driving to the water pump with a cool breeze flowing in from the window. At that moment I felt a bit of peace, and had no desire to rush back to the exhausting work of pulling the covers  in the tunnels. I, of course, did not take more time than was necessary to return to work, but I have a greater appreciation for those moments in time that offer rest. Unfortunately, I must confess that this appreciation has not completely overtaken me when I am on my way home, and I still feel agitated when people are making it difficult to get home sooner. Hopefully my demeanor will improve over time.

Despite the sunburns, muscle soreness, and heat, I am greatly enjoying my time working on the farm. Moments exist when it tests my breaking point, but the opportunity to understand how God can provide and teach through the patterns of nature are always worth the effort. Working on a farm is physically demanding, but it also helps remove me from the distractions of modern life. There is a lot of time for reflection, and there are always news things to see and experience in more natural settings. It is not surprising that authors like Henry David Thoreau and Wendell Berry (among many others) have written profoundly about life based on their experiences in more natural settings.

Farm Week 2 Recap & Community Support in Nashvile

A combination of the Independence Day holiday, and rainy weather limited my time out in the fields this week, yet I feel like I worked as hard as the previous week. Monday consisted of pulling plastic covers off the field that had weeds grown into them so that the field can be prepared for the planting of new crops. The are many rows that span a long distance, which meant hours of pulling and collecting the covers. Once this task was completed the remainder of the time at the farm was spent pulling potatoes out of the ground. The rows of potatoes are plowed so that the soil is broken up which makes it easier to dig up the potatoes, but it still meant the entire day was spent bent over on the ground digging and collecting. I am continually convinced that neighborhoods need to invest in their own local methods of food production in order to simplify and sustainably scale the amount of work for and availability of healthy, organic food.

Despite the hard work at the farm, this week was busy with hosting friends from San Diego who came out to visit and research the possibility of moving out here. On top of showing them the great places to eat at and see in Nashville, they had set up meetings with some local businesses and organizations involved in the community and the growth of small business in Nashville. I was able to tag along for these meetings, and I met people invested in the community of Nashville. Being able to hear their stories, and the positive response from their communities excited me for future opportunities here in Nashville. I am now more inspired to fervently pursue an urban permaculture, and I am convinced that I will be backed by community support. I have discovered a multitude of organizations focused on providing healthy food to all people of Nashville, especially to those who might not be able to afford it, so I know there is a rich network that will help me succeed. I was excited to just spend time with some close friends, but now I am grateful to live here in Nashville, and I feel more energized to start pursuing my calling immediately.

First Week on the Farm Recap

Being able to work on a farm has been an insightful and fulfilling opportunity. I work at the farm three days a week, and work the other two days at my other job installing custom picture frames. Some of the tasks I performed at the farm this week included:

• Trellising blackberry canes that were getting a little wild
• Picking blueberries off of the bushes to be sold at various farmers's markets
• Packing CSA boxes
• Cutting sweet potato transplants and then we planted them
• Picking and planting squash
• Driving a tractor 
• Picking fingerling potatoes

The majority of the time this week was spent cutting the sweet potato transplants, and planting those cuttings and some squash. Also, I was surprised to find out that the farm has actually been inhibited by the unusual increase in rainfall this year, because it halts the planting process and so we are working hard to put things in the ground before it is too late in the season. Farming is a great vehicle for teaching the delicate balance between too much and too little.

I am enjoying my time working on the farm, but there are some moments when the sun is hot with no breeze, and it feels uncomfortable to be bent over picking produce or cutting transplants. And it is during those moments that I like to think about the work that will be translated into meals. I am forced to imagine different scenarios where this food might bring people together over a meal, satiate hunger, be used in an offering of hospitality, or simply provide some comfort to the lonely. 

After reading Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating by Norman Wirzba and Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles I have a better recognition of how food can be the centerpiece of building and strengthening relationships, which gives me the strength to continue working despite sunburns or achy muscles. I am grateful for this opportunity that allows me to work in a capacity that I  believe is an expression of my faith, and I am even more grateful for those who support me on this path I have chosen.

The Next Step Towards My Calling

My interests in growing food and promoting community have led me to take on work at a local organic farm. Yesterday was my first full day on the job, and I can attest to the hard work farming requires. The farm I work at fulfills about 900 CSA subscriptions, and also sells produce at various farmers's markets and to local grocery stores. This demand for local and organic food requires long hours, and many hands. I didn't realize the scale of this particular farm's production when I first inquired about the job, but I am grateful for the experience of growing food and the realistic look at farm life.

Many of the workers at the farm arrive at 6am and work until dark. Many of the hours are spent bent over picking produce in the sun, or packing hundreds of boxes with fruits and vegetables. I am amazed that many of these workers do these tasks for most of their lives. A lot of sweat is required to feed people local organic food, and I have a better understanding of why CSA boxes and farmers's market produce can cost more than the industrial farm produce sold at many grocery stores.

I know this job will provide crucial experience and insight to organic food production, but this type of farming is not the model I want to employ in the future. I wish to start an urban permaculture farm that will serve as a center of education about food health and social justice. This goal does not come from a desire to not work as hard. Any type of farming work or social work will not be physically or mentally easy. But for food production to be considered truly sustainable, it must be designed according to a scale that does not create waste nor deplete natural resources. I do not know how "waste" is managed at this farm I currently work at, but I have not noticed any evidence of permaculture principles being implemented.

While local organic food is important, and a far better option than industrial, chemical farming, I can't help but feel that it is not enough. Permaculture needs to infiltrate the various aspects of our lives, and it should influence the way we design our lives: from the way we design our homes to the way we organize community life. I am willing to go so far as to say that permaculture can guide us closer to living in a way that reflects the kingdom of God; especially if we bear in mind the three main permaculture principles (care of the earth, care of people, and share the surplus), and how these principles reflect the gospel message of salvation and redemption.

A New Setting

My life has changed significantly since I last attended to this sadly neglected blog. I would have never guessed that I would be moving out of California when I wrote the last post in November, but here I am adjusting to the next phase of life in Nashville, TN. The move resulted from a somewhat spontaneous circumstance that began with research on home purchasing in San Diego. Home prices are out of our reach, and we were hoping to find a home with enough available land to transform in to a small-scale city farm. 

Out of curiosity, the home purchasing research pointed us towards other metropolitan cities with a lower of cost living, and Nashville (particularly east Nashville where we now live) seemed to offer the creative culture that we enjoyed in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Keegan happened to look on the Vanderbilt University job board, and her ideal job was the top listing. Considering that we are young, and that there are fewer logistical aspects involved with us moving, she went ahead and applied. Several weeks later, we received word that she was selected and that we would be moving to Nashville in about a month's time after that.

The current plan is to save up and purchase a home to cultivate in a few years while living in an apartment, but until then I have been pleasantly surprised at the large number of like-minded people and organizations located in Nashville that are dedicated to sustainable food production and food justice. There are numerous ways to get involved in these types of service, and we were able to volunteer on a Sunday afternoon to help an organization transform a family's home into a site of food production based on permaculture design.

In the mean time, I have found a job that provides a small income for me until I find a job that I'm truly passionate about. I am currently looking for jobs in sustainable food production, teaching, Christian education and publishing, or any of those related fields. Nashville appears to offer many opportunities to work in the fields of Christian publishing or food production, and I feel confident that I will find my way into working with both of my passions of teaching Christians about the rich history of our faith and working to feed people in a way that is healthy for all of God's creation.

Greatest Job

During Thanksgiving week I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with my paternal grandparents listening to some of the incredible stories from their lives. I live about 200 miles away from my family, which isn't necessarily too far but far enough that visiting requires some planning, so time spent with my family throughout the year is limited. Recently my grandfather has been restrained from getting out of their home due to health concerns so my grandparents were delighted to have visitors, and I was just glad to hear about a life deserving of a movie (or at least a book).

Past visits have brought about remarkable stories that I love to hear over and over again, and this time I wanted to record some of those stories. Accompanied by my girlfriend, pug, parents, and one of my brothers we listened while my grandparents recounted some of these life events, and some of them were recorded thanks to smart phone technology (you won't often hear me admitting gratitude for smart phones, but I can sometimes admit the ease they can offer in certain situations). Of these stories I am particularly fascinated by my grandfather's brief history as a moonshine runner, which is sometimes overshadowed by the time he wrestled a black bear for a carnival as a means of travelling across the United States. Not only did he wrestle the black bear, but he also transported the bear in the cab of the truck he drove to each destination and gave that bear one bottle of soda a day.

Some people may question the veracity of stories like these, but knowing my grandpa and the rest of my family, I have no reason to doubt them. Especially when considering the humility of my grandfather. Near the end of our visit last week, my dad asked my grandpa which job he enjoyed the most. And my grandfather did not hesitate to answer, but the answer was not bootlegger, bear wrestler, Air Force pilot instructor, nor even the time he had a job rappelling cliffs to place dynamite in rock walls. His answer was his last job as a custodial worker at a school.

I was amazed and taken aback. I admire all his stories of adventurous and dangerous jobs, but he relishes the time spent maintaining the school property and developing relationships with the staff, faculty, and students at that school. And the love he put into that school is apparent in the awards and praise he received during his time there and when he left to move closer to family a few years ago. It's that kind of love and service that I believe the kingdom of God is built upon. Hopefully that humility will come with age and experience, because I often seek out those opportunities that contribute to an exciting, adventurous life but often these opportunities overshadow and distract me from seeking the real opportunities to love and serve others. I certainly do not suggest that the kingdom of God requires a dull life, but the wisdom of others often reveals that a life of service to others is a life well-lived. Ultimately, it's the healing and joy given to others that will matter. It is lessons like these that I am thankful for family and friends to love and to learn from.

Jesus Politics: Why Christians Should Not Vote At All

*The following post is part of the synchroblog hosted by The American Jesus. And while you are at, go ahead and check out Keegan's post at Paper Crane Library.*

During my research for my Master's thesis on an ethic of nonviolence in and for the Wesleyan tradition, I was introduced to Christian anarchism. My curiosity about this topic stemmed from reading Stanley Hauerwas's book War and the American Difference: Theological Reflections on Violence and National Identity. Hauerwas exposes contemporary American patriotism as a form of religion with its own set of beliefs and idols of worship that has been perpetuated on the basis of owing our allegiance and gratitude to those who have made sacrifices in previous American wars. Consequentially, future wars are deemed necessary to justify previous wars, and we are now in a seemingly never-ending cycle of state sanctioned violence.

Hauerwas does not explicitly espouse anarchism as the better alternative, but his book explains how contemporary American patriotism has captured the allegiance of its citizens, including those who willingly describe themselves as Christians. A narrative has been espoused by many influential American Christians that conflates patriotism with faithful Christian living, and the questioning of the validity of the "Christian" nature of patriotism is an act of heresy. It is in response to the dichotomy between Jesus's model of living and American patriotism that has drawn me towards Christian anarchism that is equipped Hauerwas's suggestion that the Church is called to act as an alternative political reality to that of the United States.

I believe Hauerwas has correctly identified a major issue in regards to patriotic Christianity, and he has provided a compelling alternative to American politics. In the United States allegiance is placed on "American traditional values" and the leaders who remain faithful to them, but not solely on God. The counter-argument is that God places these leaders in power, which results in God's will being fulfilled through the American government, but this argument fails to acknowledge the focus on self-serving policies that guide the presidential debates. Listening to the presidential debates reveals that the major issues are focused on the wealth, health, and prosperity of the United States. In contrast to the inward focused dialogue of the presidential debates, the will of God is focused on humanity becoming a source of service and redemption of all: including those beyond the US border. 

Anarcho-pacifist/Christian anarchist flag

But neither of the two main political parties that plague our media outlets are concerned with universal well-being. They are both in service of the self-serving desires of the citizens of the United States. And even worse, most of the political discourse in the United States buys in to the myth of our "democracy," but our vote is only important if it is cast for a republican or a democratic candidate. There are third party candidates that stretches the political imagination of what is possible, but they are silenced by the lack of attention from mainstream media, and support of these other parties are considered a wasted vote, which would have been better used in support of the lesser of two evils. The fact alone that we are limited to choosing the lesser of two evils is a sign that moral integrity is not a driving force of politics, and I refuse to submit to and perpetuate this broken system. Perhaps, I would be more inclined to vote if other parties were taken seriously, but as it stands the "choice" remains limited and the two leading parties contradict the servant leadership of Jesus Christ. You can either vote for a republican that wishes to increase a military budget, or you can vote for the democrat that permits the secret murders of people in other countries via drone attacks. 

Even the discussion of participation in elections as a political act stands outside of what it means to be a Christian anarchist. A Christian anarchist is not passive (much like a Christian pacifist is not passive either), but is pro-active. Christian anarchy is not withdrawal from political discourse and activity, but rather the Christian anarchist's political activity occurs outside of the realm of the American political system. The guiding principle for Christian anarchists is allegiance to God, and this allegiance alone requires faithful followers to bring healing and redemption to the consequences of laws and policies that shun the poor and needy. As a Christian being political requires hands on engagement with the community around them; to assist in those places where there is life happening, and to try and bring healing to those places where there is pain and suffering. The claim that voting is your highest civic duty contradicts the good news of the Gospel, because it leads us to believe that we have done all that we can to improve our political conditions merely by voting. Instead of actually embodying the redemption of God modeled by Jesus, a vote just means that we expect politicians to take care of it for us and we can go on living our lives without hands on community improvement. Political action can come in the form of protests, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, or simply befriending that lonely neighbor. Whether you vote or not, just remember that the Gospel is political, but only when Christ's disciples manifest the good news of redemption in their lives.