As a first-year farm hand, I was overwhelmed at first by the size of the field. I had the realization that the only way this field would be planted was by Andrew and my own bare hands. This should not overwhelm the first year farmer. Take one bed at a time and before you know it, half of your field will be planted. It is a journey watching the field ever expand and become the vision Andrew is dreaming. I never thought I would be so excited to go to work everyday just to see if the seeds we planted the other day had finally popped up. It is quite fun.

Andrew and I have been finding our rhythm. I have found that transplanting is very hard for me and I can only do it for a short while before my lower back starts to hurt. Andrew can also transplant about twice as fast as me. I have been getting much faster and efficient, but I still do not feel very comfortable performing this task. I seem to like the brunt work which involves moving wheelbarrow loads of soil, creating beds, and irrigation work.

Andrew is a super kind farmer and he usually tries to makes the job as easy for everyone else without thinking of himself. He is a truly selfless friend. In the coming weeks I hope to attain the farming touch, with a little practice anything is possible!

This is my first entry of the Freshmen Farmer Blog. My name is Ryan Montgomery,  and I am going to be Andrew’s main helper on the farm for the season. I have known Andrew since I was two and we have been pretty much best buds ever since. Andrew told me he was starting his own farm about 5 months ago and asked me to help. I kind of was hestitant at first, but then I jumped on the chance. I figured this would be a great adventure and something I needed to experience in my life. I am very… Read the rest of this article »

Reposted at InTheLoop.GrowOrganic.com I am pretty new to the “Buy Local” or “Know Your Grower” concept, I joined my first CSA only last year. In that short amount of time I have become a huge supporter of the local food movement. Joining and volunteering on a CSA farm was so influential in my life that since becoming enlightened to the movement I have changed my career path, my eating habits, and my leisure activities to align with the movement, even my politics have been… Read the rest of this article »

Today was just one of those days where I looked at the field and all of the transplants that are strong and healthy, and I thought: “Man, this is awesome.”  Today was the romance version of farming. And how could it not be romantic when you’re doing exactly what you love?  It doesn’t matter that my wage per hour would probably qualify me for a host of government programs (alas, no subsidies for the vegetables I grow - does that make any sense!).  This is the only job I’ve… Read the rest of this article »

I’m learning my limitations.  If you come out to the farm you’ll see a large area that I turned under in February with a digging fork.  My back made it through the work gracefully.  Today I was preparing the ground in the greenhouse, to make way for some snap bean transplants (yes, it seems to make sense to me to transplant them for an early planting).  And, I got that familiar feeling in the lower back that says: “hey, man, quit digging or I’ll make you quit.” So… Read the rest of this article »