I want to express my sincerest appreciation to all of you for your continued support.  The love I have received back from many of you over this tough spring has helped me to once again see the light through my seeming darkness in the field.  I'm doing everything in my power to make this an absolutely amazing and maybe even transformative experience for you:) 

This week I'm passing the torch on to Fatima Sidaoui, one of the totally awesome volunteers that help bring you the best veggies we can every week.  In her own words she describes her interest and motivation for working on the farm this season.

"Many years ago when I was little, I used to love spending vacations on my grandma’s land. I enjoyed the limitless sky, the freedom to run and get dirty, learning about her plants, and the laughter all of that brought. Years have passed and I never went back. I became too immersed in school and studying, and too absorbed by the city life that I was completely detached from that experience. I didn’t know how much I missed it, and how much I’ve been missing it until I was again on Candace’s farm. When I had my hand in the soil, I realized how much I miss that connection to our precious earth.

I feel we have become so detached from our earth. We no longer have that special connection that our ancestors had. We have chosen opulence over simplicity. We stuff our bodies unconsciously with food, giving little, if any, thought to where it came from and how much effort was put into growing them. This is why I love being on Candace’s farm. The happiness and calmness that place gives me, I can find in no other place. I have come to believe that we don’t need a lot of possessions to be happy; all we need is a little break from the civilized life, two eyes to see the beauty of nature around us, and a big heart to embrace it all.

 I am learning a lot from being on the farm; Candace has showed me how to be patient when things don’t go the way you hoped, and yet possess enough hope to go on. Being in nature has helped me slow down, take better notice of the simple joyous things around me, and appreciate God’s creation."

 I encourage you to share your own thoughts as to your own personal experiences on connecting with the land.  Our farm team believes it 'changes' you and we want to here how it has affected you too!  Share below...

I also would like to encourage you to extend a special thank you to the volunteers that work very hard in the hot dry sun to help make all this possible each and every week.  Without them it would be extremely difficult to bring this altogether.  Do be shy, introduce yourself and get to know your team of farmers, we are excited to share with you our passion and insights from the work:)

With Love,

Candace

P.S. Thank you for all your rain thoughts.  As my French friend, Gael, says this is 'de l'argent qui tombe du ciel' ... 'money falling from the sky'... yup, I agree, hehe:)

Irrigation!!  It was gettin' pretty dry.  Now...fixing all the little geysers!

Hired a crew of hoers to help me catch up on the weedin'  12 Jamaican men...well trained:)

Tried pruning the tomatoes this year.  We'll see how they do!  Lots of work but they look great...little ones are already starting!

My new helper (or saving grace!).  Gael from France...his last name is 'From France' so I tell him;)  Hard workin' guy

Oh I love farming in the evening:)

Potato Beetles on the eggplant!  Silly little plant munchers!  I'm now desensitized to squishing them.  Tried diatomaceous earth (crushed seashells) to slow em down a little. 

Ahh....freshly weeded crops!  So awesome.  My Jamaican friends informed me 'now it looks like a real farm'.  I was slightly insulted but they did good work, hehe.