Last week brought adventure, change, celebration, and challenge into my world. Monday was… well… Monday. Tuesday was my first interview with Lowcountry Local First for the Farm Incubator Program…very exciting. We had a lunch meeting at Five Loaves (yum) where we discussed all kinds of things from the position to my lifestyle. What was the biggest concern regarding my qualifications? My ability to get a car. How I have managed to live in Charleston and commute to Johns Island this long is beyond me, so I was not surprised when it came up. So, yes, I will be getting a vehicle so that I can participate in the program. I know, I know. I think about half of you are relieved and the other disappointed but I am sure that you all understand. So at the end of the meeting we agreed that I would have a second on site interview with one of the farmers to ensure it was a good fit. Which brings me to Wednesday. The day started off with a little oyster harvesting. Yes, oyster harvesting. Our Habitat Young Professionals group was having its first fundraiser, so we decided to go out on our own and get some “free” food. It was unbelievably cold, fun, and for some, tasty as well. I personally do not eat oysters because I was told to not eat boogers at the age of 3, but clearly that does not apply in this case. Oh yeah, I am allergic, too. So anyways, we harvested enough to fill two large garbage cans full and even found ourselves a quahog clam. After cleaning the gear, oysters, and boats we headed over to Rosebank farms where I met with Sidi, the farmer for Rosebank Farms. In true farm style, he pulled up in a tractor. We toured the stand, met some of the critters (including a duck that thinks its a rabbit), and then saw all of the fields. As I stared across the rows and rows of winter vegetables and listened to him name off the varieties, the whole idea of working on a farm began to sink in. Working the soil, protecting the plants, harvesting the yield, tending the animals, and making the sale. This is exactly what I want to be doing. So when he dropped me off at the front and asked me when I was going to start, my heart sang! (Specifically, Lets Go Crazy by Prince). Thursday I gave my notice to my case working job (it was a stretch anyway but at least I got them to recycle!) and went out that night to celebrate at the aforementioned oyster roast. Friday, I spent most of my day recovering from Thursday and preparing for Saturday, which was the kick-off day for the Bogarden my friends and I have started. The rest of the weekend was spend playing with the dogs, running errands, and planting more seeds.

So what does this mean for me? Well… in the next month I have to tie up loose ends at my case working job, move out of my apartment and onto Johns Island, buy a car, and convince my OTHER current employer to transition my part-time Green Building position into a contract basis one. Change is on the way.

Happy list: Snow in Charleston, call back from Lowcountry Local First position, seeing Wicked this weekend, and the new community “Bogarden” I am working on.

Not-so-Happy list: Sent in a reply to a follow-up letter for a job and never heard back, still have the same cough I have had for a month, and my health insurance keeps rejecting all of my claims.

Although I am extremely excited about my interview for the farm position, I am trying to keep my expectations realistic and not get too hopeful. For now I am investing my energy into the new garden, trying to beat my cold, and trying to stay positive at my jobs.

So this was forwarded to me in an email awhile ago and I have had it in my cubicle.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

I had to laugh at myself the other day when yet another book arrived for me in the mail… I may have a book addiction to go along with my already out of control plant/seed collecting addiction. Looking over the spines of my library, I had to admit that the titles say a lot about my life and when I added my newest bound friend to my precariously heavy shelf, I realized that the three books I am currently reading probably say the most.

Book Two:

Book Three:

They are all fantastic books so far and I recommend them all… especially if you are interested in:

1. Hearing about someones actual experience with transitioning to a simpler, homestead style life.
2. Understanding why we eat what we eat, how US meat is processed, and what it means for our lives.
3. Wondering how our the endearing author of Eat, Pray, Love is overcoming her negative experiences and doubts about the idea of marriage so that she can be with the one she loves.

Clearly, these are all things that I find interesting because I want to homestead, return to my vegetarian ways with a gluten/dairy free twist, and work through my own doubts about people’s ability to truly commit. Now if I can just find the time to read them all… I will be in business.

One of my friends recently referred to me as one of her “non-grown-up friends” which made me laugh and then of course sparked conversation. We started talking about what makes a person a grown-up according to society and how we both feel as though we do not fit into that category. As I steadily approach the ripe age of 30, I am constantly reminded of what I am “supposed” to be doing.. i.e. settling down, making big bucks working an office job, buying a house, getting a rock on my left hand, and making babies. Alas, I find myself far from that scenario… and I am okay with that (to the dismay of many).

It has take me long enough to recover from the socially isolating experience of trying to fit in during my high school years; it is hard to realize that you are most appealing when you just embrace yourself and stop caring so much about other people’s opinions. We are a society of people-pleasers … yet such behavior often leads to unhealthy compromise and self sacrifice. Trust me, I should know, I have spent years playing that role. Not to say that I will stop trying to make people happy but I will no longer do it at my expense.

Many people, especially ones significantly older than myself, are always telling to use my background to get a high paying corporate job or monopolize on the green movement. What they are missing is why I got into this field in the first place… and believe me, it was not for the money. When I chose my major my adviser STRONGLY advised against it because environmentalist were still considered “liberal, tree-hugging, granola eating hippies” at that point (and why is that a bad thing?). This is the pre-al gore time when professors were not allowed to voice their opinions much less teach us about global warming at. Needless to say, I went into the field because I am passionate about it. My goal is to make the greatest positive impact on the largest number of people possible by to shedding light onto the cracks that have formed in our society so that we can work together to fix them.

My passion for making this change far exceeds any desire to hop on the adult train. In fact, I think I am one of many individuals that are redefining what it means to be adult. My adult life means pursuing higher education, doing service work, traveling regularly, living a frugal lifestyle, volunteering in your free time, and saving my compromising for relationships. Most of my close friends live similar lifestyles and those that don’t at least understand and respect mine. Some high-school friends, co-workers, and strangers however have a harder time understanding where I am coming from. A selection of my favorite responses and comments:

Question 1: ” Do you have kids? ” (Of course the answer is no…)
Responses:
” You should have AT LEAST three by now girl, you getting old.” (incorrect english intended)
“Are you a lesbian?”
“Yeah, I guess your chest would be bigger if you did.” haha. That one still makes me laugh.

Question 2: “What do you do for a living” (I just received my masters and I am working two jobs)
Responses:
“A masters, that’s cute.”
“Why do women these days think think they need to be so well educated?”
“I guess your degree didn’t teach you to master the art of getting a full-time job.” This was from a friend, so its allowed.

Interestingly enough, a lot of my friends that are married with houses and kids are always telling me how lucky I am, how jealous they are, and why they should have taken more time to consider what it was they really wanted. The grass is always greener.
(See funny e-card to the left from someecards.com)

This is not to say that I don’t to eventually have/do some of the “normal” adult things, just that I want to do them my own terms at at my own pace. And really, lets be honest. I will never be normal. Where is the fun in that?