So today was day 4 and I had the privilege of spending another day on the Grassland Organic Farm here in Skowhegan, Maine. Without hesitation today was one of the types of days that had kept me up all night with excitement before I had left on my journey. Great weather, family farming, learning and capturing.

It started off with coffee and a bit of internet activities followed by some breakfast compliments of Sarah. My fav… two eggs over easy. Cedar… the Smith families’ daughter of 3 years was doing what most kids do at her age and buzzed around the house with tons of energy (I am pretty sure she has a solar powered motor somewhere on her body). I noticed I tend to feel and act a bit younger when I am around children and I think I like it. It sort of keeps things loose. I will certainly miss the younger family members while I am out on the road.

Since Garin had been out working for several hours already I had decided to take the opportunity to visit the garden and see firsthand what goes into growing fresh organic produce. I want to tell you first that Sarah and Garin have recently brought a new baby boy into the world less than two weeks ago and Sarah was up and working hard in the garden. When I say garden I don’t mean the garden most of us have in our backyards for a spring and summer activity in a 4x6 box. I am referring to a couple of acres that will be used for gardening. I found this to be more than impressive that a woman could not only have recently given birth, be hard at work and not complain or become dramatic not even one time. It truly spoke volumes about the way things operate here on the farm.

I also got the chance to meet Joe who was constantly smiling, had child like blonde hair and an outfit that screamed “I like dirt”. I got the impression she truly enjoyed her work on the farm and had some obvious experience as well. It turns out that not only has she taken some very interesting nomadic journeys and worked on organic farms around the country. I enjoyed our conversation because we had a common ground based on both of our travels and the emotions and feelings that are associated with traveling alone. We agreed on things as interesting as understanding that the only thing you can truly count on when traveling alone is your intuition and that coffee table books are hands down the greatest things ever invented. It was nice to spend a day on the garden with the girls. I think I prefer the tractors and the cows… but it was nice.

Later in the day I was able to sit down with the Smith family and conducted an interview with them learning about their perspective, experiences and thoughts on camera. This was the first time I was able to do so based on the fact that my first visit was with the Amish and I certainly could not video record them.

The smith family was great to get on camera as they were essentially as natural as a family could possibly be. What I captured was exactly what you see here on the farm. A good, honest, hardworking organic farming family that wants to do good for everyone they meet including me. At one point in the interview Garin had mentioned that he thought what I was doing was essentially connecting two worlds to create one for the better and that was gratifying to me. I hope he knows that I am doing this for the hardworking farmer like himself.

But tomorrow I must move on. I will certainly miss Grassland and the kind and wonderful family that has taken me in. I have learned and shared so much in just a short visit and I will certainly carry these memories with me for a long time to come.
Until next time… Take care… and take action.