Farming for Justice

August is the true test for any gardener. Everything happens at once- the fruits ripen, the basil begins to flower, and the weeds loyally pop up everywhere. It is the time when the dehydrator is backed up with herbs, flowers, and fruit. It is a time when the kitchen smells of pickling spices and vinegar. It is a time when we compete with the fruit flies for our over ripe peaches on the counter begging to be put up for the winter.

The past two weeks my plate has been full of preparation for farm to table dinners: Starseed’s Annual Fundraiser and NOFA’s Summer Conference. Starseed hosted its first farm to table benefit dinner outside under the tent. To start we served a garden salad topped with nasturtiums, pickled dilly beans, a bread and cheese platter, pesto, cabbage rolls stuffed with quinoa and gouda, and zucchini ribbons. For dessert we served raw vanilla ice cream and blueberry pies.

Thanks to Bread Euphoria, Monterey Chévre, and Sidehill Farm for the local products! I am grateful for all the cooks and harvesters, especially of those wild low bush blueberries. Both events were great successes because they brought people together to share farm fresh ingredients prepared with love.

Finally after weeks of running my engine on full throttle, the full moon in Aquarius pulled on my body to go outside and lay on the Earth. “Slow down!” she said. All of those food projects and social commitments can wait. Take a break, rest a while, and get grounded. Focus on the abundance surrounding you and replace it with any beliefs coming from lack or scarcity.

With every action I take throughout the day whether making salves and tinctures, or clipping people into the zip line at Zoar, I ask myself: “What is the driving force behind this action? Is it love or fear? Am I present or am I focusing on the future? How can I slow down and see the beauty in each moment?”

I like to think of the river metaphor. Are we navigating the river skillfully by surrendering to the current or are we paddling upstream? I admit I’ve been resisting surrender and paddling upstream recently, hence no blog post for over a month. I remembered last night during the Full Moon to swim ashore and rest for a while until I am ready to plunge back in and go with the flow.

Calendula Flower for Salve

Today the flow has taken me to the (flow)ers. It is a flower day on the Biodynamic Seed Calendar: http://www.steinerbooks.org/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=322504

Pollen-loaded Bumble Bee in Tulsi Holy Basil

I harvested calendula, which is wonderful for making healing salves for cuts, scrapes and dry skin. I also made an oil infusion of St. Johnswort flowers, which is anti-anxiety and anti-depression. Chamomile flowers are drying for a relaxing tea. Nasturtiums brighten up the salad bowl, and sunflowers are blooming with all their glory. The bees like flower days, too!