Eco Farm, again

I'm here at ecofarm again. Every January, this conference serves as a yearly reflection on my life- a pause to look back at where I've been, and forward to the possibilities that I am creating for myself in the next year. Over the past six years I've gone from student to professional to student again. From attendee to presenter and back. I've been a farmer, a film maker, an organizer. Thinking about it now, it seems a perfectly even representation of my chaotic self- my ability to shape shift it seems with the seasons. A chameleon for all times. Though sometimes difficult, I try to appreciate the different hats I've worn- my ability to wear boots and heals, blue jeans and business suits. Which costume will befit my next post has yet to be seen. For now I'll just sit by the fire. Waiting for the moment to let the next possibility unfold.

US- China State Dinner Menu

When I first saw the menu for the State dinner to host China's president Hu Jintao in the Huffington Post, I immediately thought-- the Obamas are such foodies! Pretty much all seasonal veggies, and the few accouterments easily preservable from fall. Domestic meat and wine. Nice work White House chef team!

First

D'Anjou pear with Farmstead Goat Cheese Fennel, Black Walnuts, and White Balsamic


Second

Poached Maine Lobster
Orange Glaze Carrots and Black Trumpet Mushrooms

Wine: DuMol Chardonnay "Russian River" 2008 (California)

Lemon Sorbet

Main

Dry Aged Rib Eye with Buttermilk Crisp Onions
Double Stuffed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach

Wine: Quilceda Creek Cabernet "Columbia Valley" 2005 (Washington State)

Dessert

Old Fashioned Apple Pie
with Vanilla Ice Cream

Wine: Poet's Leap Riesling "Botrytis" 2008 (Washington State)

Community Development 101

After seventeen months pursuing an MSc in Community Development, I can boil most of what I'm taking away into two simple words:

Stay Home

My generation, generation Y that is, has been enculturated to believe that success is defined by how far you go in life. Go, meaning of course many things-- how much money you make, how much you travel and, quite frankly, how far away you make it from your home town. In the small town that I'm from, anyone that ended up staying home was immediately chastised- "What's wrong with them" we would all say, "I guess they can't make it in the real world."  Following this logic, most of my peers moved to the city. Metropolitan areas all over the county have played a large role in the depopulation of the rural and peri urban landscape. And who wouldn't blame youth for going? Cities boast exciting nightlife and professional opportunities.

But- after nigh on two years studying community development, I've decided the most powerful choice a young person who is interested in social change can make, is to Go Home.

Olive Oil Take 3

For the third year running Damian and I participated in the UC Davis Students for Sustainable Agriculture olivepick on the UC Davis campus. I took a greater leadership role in organizing it this year, with mixed results. For the last few years two dozen or so students and alumni have harvested a ton of olivesand taken them to a local farmer for pressing. This year, with the expectation that we would have a similar turn out, and with a therefore similar infrastructure to handle the pickings, we were completely blown away by the attendance and subsequent poundage the group harvested. Due to good publicity (ie the announcement going out on random Bay Area listserves) 130 people turned out and collectively picked 7300 lbs of olives. As the day wore on it began to rain and our infrastructure (folding table) proved inadequate, the boxes that people picked into melted, the olives spilled, and our pick overwhelmed the farmer we had contracted with to press. By the end of the day, everyone - particularly myself- was wet, anxious, and upset.

Though it felt like a disaster mid-flight, participants and onlookers were so excited about the turn out from event that we've formed a team to expand the event for next year, encompassing more on-campus programing, agricultural education, and the alumni network. And Damian and I, we went home happy, between the two of us we picked 5 gallons of oil in one day very full day.