People probably say this a lot, but I work with a group of really talented folks. We’re a pretty diverse group from all over the globe. Throughout the day we end up in lengthy conversations, you know to keep from actually getting anything done. Oftentimes talks turn to culture, religion, and food of course. Yesterday, I found out that two of my suitemates are Buddhists. So naturally, we got to talking.

The core belief for Buddhists is karma. Life is cyclical. And to get to a better place next go around, you must have good karma. So I started thinking, when is the last time that I did something purely good for someone else? I couldn’t remember. None of us could.

It was easy to think of the last time something good was done for me. I was on one of my farm visits, as a Food Warrior Intern, and the owners, Jacqui and Alex, were just the sweetest couple. They wouldn’t accept my apologies for my late arrival, they spent a good hour showing me their crops, answered all my picky questions, and in the end, sent me home with two huge bags of beautiful, delicious vegetables.

I bet if you asked Jacqui or Alex the same question regarding when they last did a pure act of good, they wouldn’t remember their kindness towards me or think it even a worthy answer. But sometimes it’s the small things that matter. Part of the ethos of small farming is making conscientious choices. Instead of harming the land and exploiting it for all its resources, you kindly take what’s within reason.

While Jacqui and Alex have worked in the food business for years (they met while both working at Whole Foods), they hadn’t planned on becoming farmers. Because Jacqui’s just so darn nice, she couldn’t say no when her neighbor asked her for a favor, to go work on her farm for the season. Sure enough she fell in love with farming, and three years later she and her husband started Front Field Farm.

Right now there are three female employees (go girl power!) helping out during the weekdays and just the two of them on the weekends. Their five rescue dogs are surprisingly inefficient at keeping deer out, so they sleep inside. They built a fence for the deer. Maybe being reincarnated as a dog wouldn’t be so bad.

The couple and the farm will be moving soon, closer to their Athens market. They got lucky and found some land they purchased from a former farmer. They explained that he’s been so kind and has been very helpful. He’s actually offered to till some land for them so they could put in a summer crop of potatoes.  It kinda makes you wonder, is it luck or is it all just part of the cycle?

Lee Carella

Winter 2012 Athens, GA Food Warrior

This post is from one of the interns in the Real Time Farms Food Warrior Internship Program. These interns are collecting data, pictures, and video on the growing practices of our nation’s farms, gathering food artisans’ stories, and documenting farmers markets. We all deserve to know where our food comes from! Boring legalese we feel we must include: this was written by a real live person who has their own opinions, which we value, but that do not necessary reflect, though they may (or may not), reflect the values and opinions of Real Time Farms. That is for you to guess and us to know.