During his first meeting with us, head farmer Bob Cannard gave each of his new interns the opportunity to introduce themselves to the group and to ask him one question, whatever they wanted. Several of us, myself included, went with general questions of the type “what is your favorite_______?” or “what______do you especially like or look forward to?” However, much to our delight, Bob refused to be circumscribed in such a manner, answering always that he preferred a diversity of anything- the diversity of fruits and vegetables rather than one or two in particular, the diversity of colors (though if he must choose, perhaps he would say green).
With a few weeks behind us now, the interns are starting to understand that we too reflect this appreciation of diversity; we represent a wide range of unique backgrounds, ages, sets of values, and goals for the future. Nonetheless, we each find ourselves here, growing together on the same plot of land, and prospering all the more for having encountered one another.
We thought you Green String supporters might be a little curious about those intriguing creatures- the interns- that you see roaming about the farm whenever you visit the farm store. To introduce ourselves, we have, as a group, composed these humorous, truth-based descriptions of one another, which you may read should you be curious what types of people come to live and work on a farm for their summer vacation.
As a general rule, we are a friendly breed and, though our hoes are sharp, we only wield them against malicious weeds. In fact, we’ve even been known to offer freshly baked bread to complete strangers. So, if you see us around, don’t be shy; we love visitors.
Since there are a whopping fifteen of us, we'll be making this a two part series, so check in later this week to read about the other half of the group.
Aryeh- Within the first forty eight hours of his arrival, this San Diego native was newly christened "Marcus Aurelius." Since then, Marcus has done a fabulous job of living up to his emperor's namesake- he reads Homer aloud at breakfast, manages to leisurely sleep in an hour later than everyone else and is quik to jump on a tractor as if it were his private chariot. Still, Aryeh is rather like a cabbage: many-layered. It turns out he can ride his bike ninety six miles, build beautiful chairs in the woodshop, and isn't even afraid to swim in the compost tea pond.
Courtney- Abbreviator extraordinaire, if Court were a plant, she would be grounded, like a carrot, and generous, like a pomegranate. So let's just call her a pomegrot. Kind, clever, and a graduate of UC Berkeley, this San Fernando Valley girl still gets lost occasionally and hopes someday to open, along with her tent roommate Julie (see next installment), a little farm-stand restaurant called Le Petit Cheesy Robin. Look for it soon...
Ellen- Ellen has the most startling eyes you’ve ever seen and exudes the energy of all her amazing life experiences. She may claim to be stubborn but never hesitates to laugh at herself even while inspiring her fellow interns to become agricultural athletes with her incredible hoeing capabilities. If there were such an animal, this Petaluma girl would be a tropical owl, whose beauty and intelligence emanate from within.
Jason- Old McCobb had a farm, and if you go there, you’ll find Jason and his compost tea…backpack. Papi, as the other interns call him, is considered the oldest and the most dedicated of the group. Creator of the best PB&J and GC (grilled cheese) sandwiches this side of Old Adobe Road, we all think of this Floridian much as we do our compost- multi-layered, full of life, constantly giving, and nutritive to our bodies and our souls. Oh yeah, and sometimes he smells of fish emulsion, but the plants sure do love him.
Micaela- In the light of the morning, we often see Micaela’s silhouette through the translucent walls of the compost toilet, the installation of which she enthusiastically supported. This native of Durango, Colorado is a talented musician and, like an otter swimming through seaweed, weaves her laughter-filled stories and enchanting music seemingly without effort. Micaela hopes to help reform America’s food system, one beloved purple-topped turnip at a time.
Abby- This Minnesota native is, as she would say it, a bay-g (bag) of surprises- sweet and spicy as the lentil-plum soup that has become her signature creation. Yogi, mother to puppies, kittens and all God’s creatures, this talented cook loves to feed people and hopes to have her own restaurant one day.
Erin- Though hilarious, her sense of humor takes some getting used to. Flighty and stunning as a butterfly, Erin learns and teaches as passionately as she spades a garden bed. Her contagious laughter echoes throughout her hometown of Petaluma, where she articulately wanders, searching for the next chapter in her book.
