Many Hands

     For the past few weeks I have been concentrating on getting outside more by simply saying yes to outdoor opportunities.  I am not at the point where I would rather be out than in, but I am getting outside nonetheless.  A lot of my adventures have been things that are fun (to most people) like sporting events, long walks and camping.  I didn't want all of my experiences to be that though.  I wanted to go outside to do work.  Apparently some people think that is fun too.  Go figure.
     We belong to a CSA, or farm share.  We pay a fee that enables us to pick up a weekly supply of fresh vegetables from a local farm.  Great Song Farm, where we go, is a special place.   The farmers have built a wonderful community through farm tours, potlucks, musical events and more.  My whole family enjoys going there for pick ups and social gatherings.
     Each week the farm sends out a newsletter saying which vegetables we will be getting.  Included in the newsletter are a few nature based poems and some recipes that incorporate the more unusual produce we will be receiving.  I consider the newsletter a weekly gift.  Every time I see it in my inbox, I read it immediately and every time the same sentence jumps out at me.  It is the sentence looking for volunteers.  The farm wants volunteers on Wednesday and Friday mornings and they sweeten the deal with the promise of a vegetarian lunch.  Whenever I see that request I think of offering to help and then I wait to see if the weather would be a good fit for me.  During my mother's visit, the time had come.
  It was cool and overcast that Wednesday morning.  My mum, Oliver, Ginger and I were ready!  We dressed in layers and attempted to find wellingtons for the four of us.  In the end I wore pink Birkenstock clogs, my version of farm footwear.  I was so excited to do this!  I wanted to embrace being a farmer and reap what I sowed and live off the land if only for one morning.  On the way to the farm it began to sprinkle.  I was discouraged but not defeated.  I envisioned myself working on the land in the torrential rain like Ma Ingalls on Little House.  Suddenly I was wishing I had thought to make and wear a sunbonnet.
     The rain really didn't amount to much and soon we were there.  We met up with Farmer Sarah and Bridget, the farm intern.  The kids were anxious to show Grammie the draft horses that they had come to love on their visits to the farm.  We were all outfitted with work gloves and we began the walk to an upper field.  Today's task...turnips!!!

     It turned out that the upper field was way upper.  It was a hike to get to it and we all ditched the first layer as soon as we reached the turnips.  Farmer Anthony joined us there and gave us our instructions. Our job was to pull out of the ground the remaining turnips.  I could do that!  First we pulled them out and left them in piles along the row.  Next we gathered them and brought them to the beginning of the row so we could work on them all in one place.  There were two different types of turnips so we separated them,  cut off their tops and put them in large bags.  Next, the bags were loaded on the cart that the draft horses pulled.  And so were we!
     Riding on the cart behind the horses was awesome.  I made a joke about not having just fallen off the turnip truck and
everyone looked at me like I had three heads.  I have been known to misquote idioms and cliches but I thought I actually got that one right.  My spirit couldn't be dampened though.  I had found my outside calling!  Turnip picking!!!  Of course the weather would have to be cool and grey and my helpers would have to be adorable and willing and the farmers I worked with would have to be kind and tolerant.  As long as those things were always true, I had found my outside calling!!!
     I was looking forward to the promised vegetarian lunch.  The weather was so reasonable that we ate outside.  In October!  Sarah and Anthony had made a gorgeous vegetable soup full of fresh kale and squash.  They has a salad made from their own greens and shredded beets and fresh, local bread.  It was a feast.  I loved sitting at the table with my mother and two of my children alongside the farmers that we were happy to call our friends.

     While we finished up, Oliver and Ginger discovered a nearby pile of leaves.  Ginger mounded them up and jumped in!  Oliver raked more piles and asked if we could come back the next day.  I sat there and soaked it all up.  Heaven.