Let me tell you a little about this photo… The person in this photo is me. It captured a moment of what I believe to be for myself my true happiness.
I work in corporate America and when I am not working the rat race I get the privilege of spending my nights and weekends building up for days like this.
So I am going to let you in on some details about what it took to find my true happiness.. The answer is in the photo.
Starting with our farm logo sign. I designed that! It took me a few tries but Ryan and I landed on this logo. I love graphic design I even went to college for it and trust and believe I had the piles of student loan debt to prove it.
The EBT signage on the table, now I didn’t design that I just spent time researching if it is something we could take here at the farm. I spent time filling out the application and going through the training. It was precious time well spent.
The vegetables on the table. This is mid way through the market. We had quite a bit left still but what you didn’t see is the time spent growing these amazing vegetables. The time spent figuring out our crop plan that previous winter, the time spent learning how to grow them within the best possible conditions. That is by far my favorite part.. figuring out how to make the best of the best. The countless very early mornings before our corporate careers start, the late nights after work and weekends preparing our market garden plots, planting, and then the harvest days. You may just see a table of vegetables but let me tell you it is so much more than that. It is our belief that we can build something around what truly makes us happy and make it sustainable. One day I know that when someone asks what we do for a living and trust me we are asked often… We can give them a very simple and short answer of we are farmers.
Lastly, let’s talk about me..with a cheesy grin, an old Cubs hat which will always be my favorite, and a peace sign. That is my true self shining through. I like others have my insecurities and sometimes fight with the inner violence of not being good enough within myself even though I am reminded every day by Ryan of how amazing he thinks I am. The peace sign for me is selfishly a reminder to myself that inner peace is my key to staying strong no matter what is thrown my way.
I have found true happiness being on this farm. I no longer need validation.
Moral of the story is… Have the courage to lay it all out on the table… not for them but for you ✌🏼
-Jamie
Moral Of The Story 