Newsletter 6/13/18 – Blake is home!
All this past winter I was in search of what I thought would be an island that I could call my home; a place surrounded by nature, friendly people, common interests, and community driven goals. Unbeknown to me, the island I was dreaming of was in reality very much a peninsula—a beautiful one at that. I accepted my position here at Red Dog Farm and left sunny California in search of another equal paradise. In early April, upon my arrival in Chimacum, I was greeted with warmth and contagious smiles. The farm crew at Red Dog, which has grown considerably since I first arrived, is full of wonderful people jam packed with knowledge, uniqueness, and overflowing with kindness… here it remains true that good food is grown with plenty of love. I have found my paradise.
My days on the farm are often slow, noisy, and smelly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. In the mornings I start the day with a loud roar, a full load and hot coffee as I roll into the day at a slow crawl. I suppose that’s how life goes on a tractor—it’s a very straight line I walk. This spring I have done most of the fertilizer spreading. At the end of the day the smell that lingers on my clothes and in my hair sure does confirm it… as my grandfather once told me, “That’s the smell of money!” and it sure smells rich. Since the spreading has crawled to near completion I’ve been switching from one tractor to the next and its only getting slower. This time its tilling, and tilling is quite thrilling. I race across each bed at a whopping three minutes per pass—best not to blink or one might miss it. As exhilarating as it might sound it’s actually a very relaxing process; almost too relaxing as the constant melodic hum from the tractor and seemingly endless straight lines tempt to sooth me asleep… time for more coffee.
After I’ve completed my work in tractor world, as I like to call it, and more coffee has been had I transform back into a field crew worker. Just like that I become something new; in which form I can be found cutting loose greens, spinning salad mix, moving irrigation, weeding carrots, bunching kale, eating field snacks, riding bikes, pulling sleds full of fresh veggies, and so much more—the possibilities are endless here! It’s quite nice having many different duties and activities throughout the workday, keeps my mind sharp and leaves boredom in the back seat.
Altogether I’ve had a blast thus far at Red Dog Farm and can’t wait for what’s to come throughout this season… things like new faces, new ideas, and of course organic potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, peas, garlic, squash, onions, sunflowers, et cetera— you name it, I’m probably watching it grow. I have felt at home since day one here at Red Dog Farm within this valley on this three-sided island, I couldn’t have asked for more. I’m a happy farmer indeed, surrounded by beautiful people and beautiful nature. I am home.
-Blake VH
