Day 6, 7

This morning we began a routine morning reflection. Every day, one of us is expected to share a quote, a poem, do yoga, or really anything we would like to act as a preface to the day. If it is a poem or quote, etc. we can talk through it, go off on tangents... in simple terms, reflect. (Imagine that, reflect at a morning reflection?) Today Susan shared a quote from The Little Prince. I've never read this book, but after looking up some more quotes, I've added it to my to-read list.

“If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”

One can obviously see how it relates to working and teaching in the garden, and I find it to be very much the truth. If this internship was just another job, I can honestly say I wouldn't last a week. It's hard, physical labor outside which is not something I entirely enjoy. However, the knowledge I'm gaining from conversation and the internal growth that is happening makes it all worth it. It's very rewarding to harvest food and give it away (it's one reason the Share Market is my favorite). I get to see the food go someplace good and watch others appreciate what we are growing. Or the Welcome table, where the produce we nurtured is made into something truly delicious and everyone enjoys eating it! There is a passion needed to farm, and without it, I don't think I'd be here. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writes, it's better to share your love and passion for something, so others can be moved to do as you do, than it is to assign tasks to make it happen.

Friday, we harvested two kinds of lettuce and a few other veggies to give to the G.O. kitchen. We took advantage of the beautiful overcast morning and did some work in the hoop house. We weeded and amended the beds, in which tomatoes and ginger were planted this morning. I spent much of morning watering corn, while more okra and corn were planted. Today, squash, lettuce, kale, and onions were watered, sweet snow peas were harvested, and the rest of the tomato beds were mulched.