Taking the Veil

Pictured here: cornfields looking over the Pacific Ocean, taken last August at the UCSC Farm and Garden.

Since last weekend's celebration and symposium up at UCSC, I've had the opportunity to talk to a whole lot of the farmers I know who graduated from the apprenticeship program there. I had run into Joe Schirmer, of Dirty Girl Produce, who attended the program in the Nineties, at last week's Sunday market. He was wistful that he'd missed the proceedings, but when you have to get up well before dawn to get to the Saturday farmers market in San Francisco, well, staying up late on either Friday or Saturday's not going to happen.

But I weighed it out to him: I had had only one day, and Joe had had the blessing, the luxury, the privilege, of living in the program, at what is arguably one of the most beautiful farms in the world, and studying under people who have intense commitment to what is REAL and MEANINGFUL, and who are doing what is really, if there is such a thing, God's Work.

When I say "real and meaningful," I mean they wake up early and get out of bed, and go move the earth and their bodies and grow food that feeds people. Food that pleases people. They tell the truth, they're real, and they are not a bunch of puff-ball fame-seeking egos. The work, as I have been witnessing from my perch since 1999, is creative in the most essential meaning of the word, and the community is collaborative in the most fluid sense of the word.

I'll write more about one individual in particular involved in the program, but that will wait.

At yesterday's market, I was sharing my joy with Kurt Christensen, of Oso Velloso Farm, who graduated from the program back in the Eighties. Now Kurt's not only a farmer, he's a talented landscape designer, and everything that pours from his abundant well of creativity is aesthetically beautiful and nourishing on some level. I reiterated what I've said many times in the last week: "It was like being at church, or how church should feel."

Kurt left to go pick a few more berries from his new farm location, just a mile up the coast from the market, and I headed over to visit with Betty Van Dyke and Mike and Teresa, who hadn't seen my calendar proof yet. About an hour later, Kurt came back and said, "I was thinking about what you said about it feeling like church. I'm on the Board of Directors, and we're looking for new people. If you really got that inspired, maybe you'd consider being on the board, too."

Well, the only other board of directors I have been on was filled with fractiousness, lies, and back-stabbing. (That was with CASCC, the deservedly defunct "Culinary Alliance of Santa Cruz," under the cancerous leadership of  Chef Lynn Sheehan. Not that I'm bitter or anything, but as soon as she took over and installed her boyfriend as the Secretary, the newsletters stopped, and the membership evaporated. This has been confirmed in recent conversations with UCSC people and friends I knew from The Culinary Alliance of Santa Cruz County. Let it die a merciful death, like Jim Denevan's Out Scamming in the Field. Oh yeah, that's what a young lady farmer at the Back-40 called it. With REASON.)

Prefacing my consideration for Kurt with my lack of education, credentials, and every other hindrance I could think of to my participation, I just said, "I always want to be useful. I always want to be of service. If you think I could be of service, then I'll think about it."

He said, "I can't think of many people who could be of more service." (I'm guessing having a blog and a big mouth are good for something. Heh.)

And then he went on to tell me about the other board members, who are all friends, and most of whom I already know and like. It doesn't sound overbearing, and it doesn't sound like it's about politics and posturing. Again, the nature and history of the organization is to educate and collaborate. It was the Board who oversaw the development of the incredible Back-40 celebration itself, including the massive feast and Midsummer Night's party.

They only meet once a month, and I'm going to the next meeting. I'm sure you will be reading a lot more about this program, which I am convinced is one of the most important of its kind on the earth. The details can wait...I'm just sharing the happy news.

Pictured above is Jennifer Eckhert, whom I photographed her last summer up at the farm. I've been waiting for a chance to use it, and realized today that it's the same Jennifer who works with my friends at River Cafe & Cheese Shop, as well as being the honey-bunny of Christof Bernau, who teaches the apprentices in the CASFS program.

So that's all for today. Passion and caring are really moving me along.      

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Life is action and passion; therefore, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of the time, at peril of being judged not to have lived.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Thanks for visiting.

Comments

[Nathan]

Beautiful entry, I was sad to miss the events up on campus but your reporting eased the sting a little.

The Jennifer in question must be J. Eckert. When she took over the River Cafe stall at the downtown Farmers Market, she recognized me, and we realized that she babysat me about twenty years ago in Coronado, CA. It's been a joy getting to know her again up here.

[Someone You Know]

Did I miss the post where you went from being a cheerleader for Outstanding in the Field to a passer-on of snark? :) (I'm asking seriously, as we attended some recent 'festivities' and came away feeling rather... polarized about the whole thing.)

[Tana]

Dear "Someone I Know": when I resigned from Outstanding in the Field, or rather, QUIT WORKING WITH JIM DENEVAN FOREVER, it's because of the way he does business. I do not believe it's sustainable, to put it mildly.

I have been hearing horror stories lately, which go to a pretty long list of my own experiences. I really love the women who do the ACTUAL WORK, but wish they'd leave and start their own deal without Jim. He's a hindrance.

Not trying to be snarky at all, but someone needs to put the bell on that cat.