Back on the Farm

It's April again. A year ago I was moving into a tent at the top of the world, cutting down cover crop, and introducing myself to fifty new friends.

I'm a year older. And, just like the generations of 'farmies' before us, my partner and I returned to the farm last week to cook for the new apprentices. No longer am I part of the buzzing crowd entering the farm center. Instead I am behind the scenes, supporting them as they adjust to their new life. Supporting them as they move onto the top of the world, and introduce themselves to fifty new friends.

Life coming full circle. The passage of time marked by almost familiar faces, home-like spaces, and love shown through the simple act of cooking food.

Round House

Reflecting back, I've oft writen about the want to build a home. Most times, I've written about my passion for tiny houses, small victorians on wheels, built by ordinary people, with sensible ecological design.

Two weeks ago, and a short search on craigslist, brought a different sort of home into my life- a round house.

My partner lived in a yurt for most of his doctoral program. I loved staying over, surrounded by canvas and lattice, a simple pleasing design. A nest. He has suggested before that were it up to him to decide, he would remain a yurt dweller permanently. As this school year draws to a close, and we are looking to return to Santa Cruz, our hometown, and we had been discussing housing options. Enter craigslist. (A foot note here: craigslist is a splendidly dangerous adventure of a website, where I've bought, bartered and sold everything from chickens to cars. Browsers Beware! ) Anyway, enter craiglist. Thursday afternoon I was eating lunch, browsing the sale items on Bay Area list. There it appeared, a twenty food diameter, three year old (off-gassed), well kept yurt, minutes from down town Santa Cruz. I told D and less than 24 hours later, we were shaking hands with its now former owner. Within 48 hours, we had it on the back of a rental truck bound for its new home. Within a week, it was back up at its new site.

And what proud new round home owners we are...

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