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Wit Meets Grit - Rolling up our sleeves and having fun.
Uncategorized

A few of my favorite things…

Regardless of work, personal life, health, or weather- there are a few things that always make me smile.

The first being the four feathered ladies that live in my backyard… their little chicken personalities always make me laugh- from their array of noises to their sideways glances- I am equally amused every-time I am in the yard with them (especially when they try and eat Dan’s toes and he has to run to save himself.) One of the best parts of my day is when I go out in the yard to call them in… they always get uber excited and half the time they fly to me. I have attempted to upload a short video of me feeding them meal-worms- hopefully it works!

The second being my great friends. There are so many great people in Charleston and I am lucky enough to know a few of them. Whether I am in need of volunteers for a garden work day or under the weather with a cold (like this past weekend), someone always comes to the rescue!

Here are a few pics from my last impromptu garden clean-up.

September 12, 2011by Nikki
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Uncategorized

Memory

In 2004, my best friend Jennie and I spent a summer backpacking through Europe. We visited Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, England and France. I could tell you hundreds of stories about that trip but there is one that is sharp in my mind today.

While we were in France, I took a train to visit my Aunt Nawal in Paris, where she lived with her husband and son. Since she had lived in Paris for the last half of my life, we never really had a chance to get to know one another as adults. Beyond the childhood memories of her, the things that I always stuck out in my mind about Nawal were that she loved to laugh, she was extremely beautiful and she had voice that could bring a room to tears.

We spent the day, just the two of us, catching up on the years since we had spent time together- looking through photos, talking about relationships, debating choices we had made, and laughing at ourselves. For the first time, we learned about each other as women and as friends. Although I had planned to head back when it got dark, we ended up opening a bottle of wine and enjoying an impromptu dinner. As anyone that has ever known Nawal or myself, you can only imagine how many dirty jokes we exchanged, giggling like school girls. As the second bottle of wine opened, we started talking about our family. Through this conversation, I realized how close my Aunt was with my father, even though they have ten years between them. She helped me to understand a lot of things about him that I would have never known otherwise and for that I am very grateful. After we finished up dinner, I had to run to the station to catch the last train, feeling the warm glow of a fantastic evening. After than night, I saw my aunt three more times, but nothing that could compare to our time in Paris.

Throughout all of these years, she has been battling with cancer. When I saw her in Paris, she joked about her wig and made light of the changes chemo was causing her body but she did not dwell on the subject or pity herself. Her battle lasted so long, I started to think that she was going to win, despite what I was told by my family. Monday I received the call that she was gone.

When you lose someone that is so far away, it is hard to embrace the sense of loss. I have spent the last two days thinking a lot about her but unable to grieve, until my father shared the most beautiful recording of my aunt singing the song Memory. I cannot upload it here but I will share the lyrics because the could not be more heart-breakingly appropriate for our beloved Nawal.

She dedicated the song to my father: “To my big brother Gregory: the best pilot, the best lawyer, and the best big brother in the whole wide world.”

Memory:

Daylight
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day . . .

Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn’t give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me
It’s so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You’ll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun

May she rest in peace.

September 8, 2011by Nikki
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Eye Candy

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A little nature therapy and floral pallette cleans A little nature therapy and floral pallette cleanser to bring some positivity back to social media.
The sweetest harbinger of winter. This year our sa The sweetest harbinger of winter. This year our satsuma overflowed with enough fruit that we were able to harvest 15 pounds to send to our friends at @growfoodcarolina (even after Wren bit into about 6 oranges before I could catch her). It was fun being back on the farmer side of things, if only for one sale.
Feeling gratitude for another turn around the sun, Feeling gratitude for another turn around the sun, although admittedly the last two years have probably aged me at least ten. Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and parenthood have all broken and reshaped me in ways I am still coming to terms with.  To say the experience has been humbling and life changing is an understatement. It has been an incredible dichotomy of being pushed outside of myself while forced to look deep within simultaneously. I've spent the majority of my life focused on growing professionally and often ran out of time to nurture my spirit. My daughter has been a gift in so many ways, the most surprising one....her influence in helping me to take care of myself so I can better take care of others. Cheers to personal growth and self discovery no matter how uncomfortable and disorienting in can be...and to the family and friends who have helped support me while I figure it all out. Most of all, thank you to my amazing mother who brought me into this world 38 years ago and taught me what unconditional love looks like.
🌞 Happy Spring 🌞 🌞 Happy Spring 🌞
Happy Floral Friday! Thankful for farmer friends l Happy Floral Friday! Thankful for farmer friends like @feastandflora for bringing flowers into my life while my garden takes a little baby break.
Hurrication vibes. Grateful for a safe sanctuary i Hurrication vibes. Grateful for a safe sanctuary in the storm, especially now that we have our little bird. Road tripping with a 3 month old, two dogs, and a cat is not easy but somehow we made it to Greenville and back. Our nest in Charleston made it through the storm just fine (minus a few plants). My heart goes out to those who didn't fare as well, especially all of those on the islands 💓.
When a flower captures your mood perfectly. These When a flower captures your mood perfectly. These first few months of motherhood are channeling the wild and chaotic energy of the Passiflora. There is nothing like having a tiny human to put things into perspective and force you to use every minute wisely. Currently sleep is top of the list (something passion flower can help with).
Orange you glad it's almost the weekend? Orange you glad it's almost the weekend?
May Day...Beltane...Floralia. Today marks the half May Day...Beltane...Floralia. Today marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. While I may not dancing around a bonfire, I quietly celebrated the seasonal change today listening to the birds and tree frogs, admiring the flowers in the garden and feeling my darling little baby kick.
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At 35 weeks along, we've been trying hard to prepare the nest for our little bird. Work has kept me incredibly busy, so the time is slipping away too quickly and I'm almost surprised to find myself so pregnant. .
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Soon I will be celebrating a new season in  my life and one of the greatest adventures yet. Thankful to have @danfield42 by my side and incredible group of family and friends supporting us.
Yes, I'm growing more than a garden and no there i Yes, I'm growing more than a garden and no there is not a watermelon under there 😉. We are expecting a baby girl the first week in June and I'm getting excited-terrified-overwhelmed for this next grand adventure. .
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The last several months have been challenging both physically and mentally, making me so thankful for the support of family and friends.
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This is only the beginning of the journey with my darling @danfield42 and our little bird. Shout out to everyone who has showered us with love and positivity!
Spring is in the air! With a little one on the way Spring is in the air! With a little one on the way, my ability to handle the pollen or dig in the garden has been limited but it won't stop me from a good nature stroll and flower forage.
Farm Feature Friday. While my work centers around Farm Feature Friday. While my work centers around food systems, I often find myself further from the field and more on the organizational development and operations side of things. When I have the opportunity to visit farmer friends, yes even in winter, I jump on the chance to get outside and revisit farm life.

Today I had the pleasure of squeezing in a very quick visit to @wildhopefarm while in Chester, SC. Wow, what a slice of farm paradise!! Caught up with my friend Shawn Jadrnicek and met Katherine "Peanut" Belk, who together shared the plans for their new wash pack line and loading dock. This beautiful diversified fruit & veggie operation focuses on a CSA farm share (including Charlotte, NC) and one farmers market but they also host dinners, wellness retreats, and birding walks. Definitely a place to revisit when there is more time! 
Last month I caught up with Laura Mewbourn at her farm @feastandflora in Meggett, SC while interviewing her for an article. Her flowers have been featured in all kinds of amazing bridal floral images and her efforts with @lowcountryflowergrowers have really paid off. It is incredible to see how much she has in production and awesome to see her employing other new young women in farming.

Check out their great IG feeds and give them some love 🌱💓
Building community in the food system...one confer Building community in the food system...one conference, one meeting, one meal, one person at a time. @southernsawg #ssawg2019 bringing together so many inspirational people.
SC --> GA --> AL --> MS --> TN --> AR road trip to SC --> GA --> AL --> MS --> TN --> AR road trip to the @southernsawg #ssawg2019 conference with a pit stop in Birmingham to check out @jonesvalleyteachingfarm
Bald Head Island was hands down the coldest beachc Bald Head Island was hands down the coldest beachcombing of my life but well worth it to see dolphins putting on a show while we explored the odd variety of flotsam and jetsam. Throughout our  treasure hunt we reminisced about the years living on a sailboat when so many of the islands were still wild and everything was an adventure.
The government (and most of Washington DC) may be The government (and most of Washington DC) may be shut down but thankfully the @usbotanicgarden is still open. Their conservatory is home to awesome plants like this cleistocactus winteri and its noodley appendages.
A new year unfolds full of hope and potential. A new year unfolds full of hope and potential.
Baby Kelley...coming to Charleston in June! The do Baby Kelley...coming to Charleston in June! The doggos have mixed feelings about a new sister...the cat refused to get in the picture. @danfield42 and I are so excited to grow our little family 😊
This one goes out to all the plants I accidentally This one goes out to all the plants I accidentally forgot to bring inside or didn't cover in time.
Not even freezing temps could keep me away from a Not even freezing temps could keep me away from a beach sunrise. Beautiful start to another great day at the @buildwealthsc #opportunitysc conference.
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