Wit Meets Grit - Rolling up our sleeves and having fun.
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Home
About
    About
    Publications and Projects
    Accolades
Consulting + Project Management
    Organizational Management + Evaluation
    Facilitation + Meeting Support
    Food + Farming Projects
Public Speaking
Photography
Stories from the Field
    Food + Farming
    Life + Love
    Health + Wellness
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Publications and Projects
    • Accolades
  • Consulting + Project Management
    • Organizational Management + Evaluation
    • Facilitation + Meeting Support
    • Food + Farming Projects
  • Public Speaking
  • Photography
  • Stories from the Field
    • Food + Farming
    • Life + Love
    • Health + Wellness
Wit Meets Grit - Rolling up our sleeves and having fun.
Food & Farming, Health & Wellness, Life & Love

A daring adventure.

Remember your first love? Jumping in with both feet, opening your heart completely, and floating in a sea of possibilities? It is an incredible feeling and often a time of discovery and growth in our lives that teaches us about our selves in a way that living alone never could. Although in the beginning we adamantly believe it will last forever, it is more common that eventually we will out grow the relationship and move on, leaving a part of our heart behind and always looking back with at the fond memories.

When I first heard about Lowcountry Local First, I definitely had a crush. My introduction was in 2008 at a Sustainability Institute awards ceremony in which Jamee Haley was accepting the Sustainable Communities Award and I had the honor of receiving their Leadership Award. Hearing about the incredible things Jamee had already accomplished with a small but mighty group of volunteers and board members in such a short amount of time, I knew the organization was one to watch. And did I ever watch.

As they developed a Sustainable Agriculture program, I stood eagerly on the sidelines, looking for an opportunity to get engaged. When I spotted a poster in Kudu coffee for their Growing New Farmers program, I immediately applied and before I knew it I was one of the first apprentices in the program. It was a wild ride and true adventure as we all blindly navigated uncharted territory.

Nikki FarmingFrom early mornings harvesting squash blossoms at Joseph Fields Farm to late nights texting chefs about produce, it was a crash course in food systems. Farmers, chefs, apprentices, and staff were all learning side by side to understand what it takes for farm to table to succeed on a larger scale. Although I had really liked previous jobs, this experience was my first career love. For those of you that know me well, I am not one to settle for a job. I grew up watching both of my parents pour their hearts into their careers and I have always sought nothing less than a profession I can be passionate about. When approached with the opportunity to come on-board as the Director of Sustainable Agriculture in 2011, I jumped in with two feet.

12891500_10154046662257389_897871014529749141_oOver the course of the last five years, I have had the honor of working alongside some amazing individuals to serve the hardest working people in the South. No one can appreciate hard work, long hours, and risk like a small business owner and even more so if that business happens to be a farm. When you see ways to make it easier for them to succeed, it is hard not to bend over backwards to do whatever you can to help.

581672_10150728888293288_1002618534_nJust like the businesses that LLF serves, the staff of the organization also must have an all-hands-on-deck attitude and be prepared to put in the sweat equity to build something great. Anyone that works in a small to mid-sized non-profit will tell you that the industry is more competitive and demanding that any corporate position they have ever had. It also an industry that provides you the opportunity to serve the community, build meaningful relationships, and be a part of something greater than yourself. And if you are up for the challenge, you can also build a career, as I have had the awesome opportunity to do.

Reflecting on 5 years, 142 new farmers, 40 farmer workshops, 18 interns, 15 conference presentations, 10 different states, 8 incubator farmers, hundreds of farm tours, thousands of emails, and over a million dollars of funds raised, I am proud to say that I am now a food system leader.

13173100_10154143614617389_3316062361144290121_oThrough all of this, I have had the pleasure of working alongside some the most intelligent, fun, passionate people that I am proud to have not only as colleagues but also as friends. The most incredible part has been watching the organization and staff grow alongside the businesses, farmers, and community members it supports. It is this success that has given me the courage to take the same leap I have watched so many others bravely take before me.

While my love for Lowcountry Local First is still strong, I know that there is value in knowing when it is time to leave. The decision to move on has not been an easy one, as should be apparent by the fact that few of you probably even realized it was happening. It has been a slow process of first letting those most impacted by my decision know, one conversation at a time. Through these conversations, I gained confidence that there were enough opportunities out there for me to launch my own business.

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With that in mind, let me introduce you to Wit Meets Grit, a business that provides me the opportunity to share my knowledge, experience, and support to others working in the industry. At this point, my goal is to keep my mind and heart open to the possibilities. My passions are as diverse as they are deep; to know the best path forward I need to welcome all kinds of opportunities. I hope to continue to work with so many of the incredible people I have met over the years and utilize my skills to rebuild the food system throughout the Southeast. Why Wit Meets Grit? Well, you can read about that here. What kinds of things will I be doing? To start the net will be cast wide with evaluation, farming and food system projects, freelance writing, public speaking, and photography. Through out the journey I will be sharing stories through my website.

I have such deep gratitude to Jamee Haley, Lowcountry Local First, my colleagues, all of our supporters (especially the farmers and my mentors Joseph and Helen Fields), and of course my family and friends for giving me the wings to take this leap. I am one of the lucky few that has had the chance to truly love their job and while a piece of my heart is being left behind, I look forward to this next chapter in my life spending even more time embracing my passion for the outdoors. Thank you all so much and wish me luck!

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July 2, 2016by Nikki Seibert Kelley
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Nikki@WitMeetsGrit.Com

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Perspective. The last two years have provided it i Perspective. The last two years have provided it in spades. I've always known the people in our lives matter but in the past it always felt "safer" to be independent and keep a bit of a wall around myself. This approach also made it easier to put my career ahead of everything else. At the end of the day, society has long rewarded the "busy" workaholic, the overachiever, and the self sacrificer. I've been lucky enough to have a career I love, working alongside people I can call friends, and be able to make a difference. Yet it is even easier to overextend yourself professionally when you love what you do and the people that you serve. Pregnancy, motherhood, and this pandemic (especially the family getting COVID) all came together to give me one hell of a reality check. There have been oodles of good times, giggles, and pleasant surprises but also A LOT of work and abrupt change. I've always believed that change is good but it sure is hard when you are living through it. Despite the challenges and heartache (and because of them), I've grown to deeply appreciate the people in my life, including myself, but especially those closest to me. The amount of love, consideration, and support I've been shown has deepened my commitment to nurturing those aspects life not found on a resume. Big love to the people in my life.
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.
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