Kevin's
6-week Reflection:
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| Rainshadow Farm Store |
Last
Spring my wife Katie and I decided that we were going to leave our
jobs, our home and our lifestyles that we had worked hard for in
order to live, learn and work on an organic farm. “Crazy!”.
That’s what we heard from a few, but “of course you are, that’s
awesome!” is the response from most everyone that knew us well.
Over the past few years, admittedly thanks to the local organic
trend, we have become more interested in what we were really eating
and what it takes to grow and raise this food. Finding Rogue Farm
Corps was a real blessing in disguise because I had no idea that
opportunities like this were available. We spent most of last year
researching the organization, the farms, and figuring out how it was
going to work out for our lives. Almost a year later, here we are at
Rainshadow Organics, in our mid-thirties, living in a 10’x16’
tent, learning to do something that we have no practical experience
in, and sharing our daily lives with 7+ perfect strangers. Yep, a
little crazy.
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| Sunrise on the farm |
For
the whole year leading up to the start of our internship, I think my
expectations changed weekly. All I knew was that we would be learning
to grow things. How and where were the unknowns. I had worked a
pretty physical job as a land surveyor for the previous 12 years, and
the standing, bending, lifting and carrying were all things I was
accustomed to. However, I have quickly learned that farming body
mechanics are completely different from any other activity that I
have experienced. I have found myself sore in ways and places that I
have never experienced before. My body has surely gotten stronger,
more limber, and more durable over these first six weeks, and I look
forward to the further transformation over the course of the season.
I felt that the communal living on the farm would be a rather easy
transition. Katie and I have lived by ourselves for a long time going
into this, but we have spent a lot of time travelling and have kept a
fairly social lifestyle. Thus far it has been a good experience
developing working relationships and friendships with our fellow
interns and the farm family.
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| View from the road, across the big field, with the 3 Sisters Mountains in the background |
A
few of the things that I enjoy the most about the program and the
farm are the views, the food, and the opportunity to take on a season
long project that is our own. The scenery out here is stunning, the
mountains and Smith Rock stretched across the farmscape is truly
breathtaking. The food that we have access to is likely some of the
best that I have eaten and cooked with. The idea that we have not
even sniffed the bounty of goods to come this season is so exciting.
The freedom to explore an idea, or hobby in my case, as an
independent project away from farm tasks is exciting. I have decided
to establish a hop garden on the farm, and further my knowledge of
homebrewing this season. The anticipation is to create beers with as
many on farm ingredients as possible over the course of the season.
Some
of the challenges on the farm so far are the weather conditions, the
monotony of some tasks, and the true learning experience. I have
lived in Central Oregon for a few years now, and have seen quite the
extremes. Living and working outside for most of the day has taken
some getting used to. The first week or two after arriving on the
farm were cold and wet, but it has started to change for the better.
I knew that there would be tasks in farming that were not going to be
my favorite things to do. And I knew that I would probably do them
often. Such is the case. I have quickly learned that these things are
an important factor in the success and sustainability of farming the
way that we do, and that is good with me. I have been doing a job for
a long time that was right in my comfort zone. Sure I learned as I
went, but I had confidence in what I was doing and I was good at it.
Here, it’s all brand new to me. It is a challenge for sure, but I
really feel like I have a solid interest in what we are doing and I
desire to develop new skills and build upon the ones that I have. I
don’t know that I am going to be a farmer in the future, but if I
am, I want to be the best one that I can. Until then, I am an intern
at Rainshadow Organics. I am going to learn, embrace the experience,
help the farm have a successful season, develop new friendships and
professional relationships, and enjoy myself.
Cheers
to 2018!
Kevin
Cunnagin
