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.

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.