Chicken Party!

Need I say more?!

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!

Gobble gobble!!!

On the farm it's all about harvesting the best, organic produce and what better way to celebrate then with the biggest harvest party of the year: Thanksgiving! Lucky me, I got to celebrate American and Canadian harvest this year!!! Mmmmm, pie.

We organized a potluck style Thanksgiving and I made my Mum's famous sweet potato pie (after harvesting over 100 yams!) and kale chips as an appetizer.

And dinner wouldn't be complete at the farm unless there's plenty of garlic around!

This year I brought up some Canadian garlic I got at a market and we made a special place in the top garden for those big, northern bulbs to do their garlicky thing and thrive over the winter. Now, Yael has over a dozen varieties of garlic and she's known as the garlic guru in these parts. Everyone is always surprised that there's more than just the "grocery store kind"! There is actually over 300, try a new one at your market and thank your local farmer for all the love they put into those bulbs!

***

Then comes Hanukkah! Actually, this Jewish holiday of 8 crazy nights doesn't start officially until this Friday, December 11th. But, the Berniers are going down south so they decided to celebrate early with friends.

Yael made a beautiful (c)hallah bread, potato latkes and all the fixings needed for a fun, delicious celebration. Several families joined in the fun and we lost track of time and forgot to play dreidel. The kiddies got pretty sleepy so maybe I'll get to play this family tradition next year!


A Merman, named Arlo, showing off before bedtime!


~HAPPY HOLIDAYS~

Fantastic Mr. Thief!

Just as I was starting to fall in love with California all over again, my faith was tested. On November 29th, at Reading Cinema in Rohnert Park at approximately 7:35pm I was robbed! I had just finished watching the incredible Fantastic Mr. Fox and I was all jazzed up from the hilarity and energy that gets under your skin whenever Wes Anderson is involved. I sang and skipped back to Santa Rosa 11 miles away and only when dinner was served did I realize that my purse was missing.

I must admit I was in the fault because I had left the purse on the seat and wasn't paying attention because I was still laughing and dancing after watching my new favourite film of the year! Go see it asap! I called the theater and they said I could come back and look in the theater while the new film was being viewed. 11 nerve racking miles later, I was on my hands and knees where only crusty popcorn kernels roam... The kind supervisor, Heidi said I could return after the movie to look with the lights on. Round 2 and no purse in sight!

I decided to take down the names of everyone on duty at the cinema and to go back to Santa Rosa to call the police and file a report. Losing hope I started thinking about what kind of hassles were in store for this little traveler and then made sure to cancel my credit cards. I was feeling rather foolish because I usually travel with my valuables separate, but on this particular outing I had both wallets with me containing $170, my phone and camera; a jackpot for any thief!

The police wanted me to come in person to the station, so back to Rohnert Park I flew...after describing the incident and missing articles they suggested we look in a few trash cans around the cinema and nearby gas stations, but no luck.

As soon as we arrived home the phone rang and they had retrieved my purse! I still don't know exactly what happened but the supervisor said after 3.5 hours of looking, talking to staff, etc. she found it mysteriously locked in the staff safe. After 110 miles of driving back and forth, I had my purse back and all $170 was still inside along with my camera, wallets and all! phew!!!

Now, I'm back with my farm family here in Geyserville, California. I'm departing for LA and San Diego on Friday so I'm soaking in the farm life for the next few days. Here's a few pictures of small, macro details that bring me so much joy:



A beautiful, narcissistic Narcissus!



Spouts in the greenhouse, watered and ready to be planted.



Italian faggioli being dried for next year's seed.



A mini-pomegranate found by Erica.



Mushroom hunting in the garden.



Digging for sweet potatoes.



Erica's twins!

First Stop: Farm Heaven

Beets with a view!

I'm so happy to be back on the farm in Geyserville, California. Last year I spent three and a half months with the Berniers learning how to farm and garden the most delicious, organic produce in the land! I'm back for more farm fun this month.

I start my day with a strong cup of local coffee, ground at the farm, from Flying Goat (www.flyinggoatcoffee.com). A big bowl of oatmeal with honey and raisins and we're ready to tackle some veggies. The next 4 hours are spent weeding, planting, harvesting, tidying up garden beds and organizing restaurant orders. There have been some long days of garlic planting but I love every minute that my hands are in the crumbling earth, with my face soaking in the vibrant Cali-sun, as my fellow farmhands chatter and sing their garlic cloves into neat rows beneath the moist soil.
Garlic is the name of the game around here, where Yael, aka the garlic guru of California, grows 13 different varieties that she's collected around the world. We plant, we harvest, we clean, we braid, we sell and we eat this magical little gem! Life is sweet and garlicky 'round these parts!
Life is also a bit hectic with so many travel plans up in the air. I was accepted into a Vipassana meditation retreat nearby, but its a 10 day course and I would have to rearrange things. I think it will have to wait until I land in India. I promised my friend Brooking to visit her in San Diego and I've been looking forward to hanging out, drinking big mugs of tea and relaxing into Southern Cali vibes. I'm also considering coming back to Canada for Christmas...and then departing for India via Toronto.

But with all this juggling I must say life is sweet on the farm. Erica, a fellow wwoofer (www.wwoof.org), and I put together a CSA (community supported agriculture) food box for her Green MBA classmates. You'll notice that cracking into one of Yael's pumpkins takes a bit of skill and some handy tools...
Best food in the country, most humble, hard-working family with huge, beautiful hearts and really fun get togethers! We're also making yummy plans for American Thanksgiving and drinking some fab vino!
Life is fabuloso out here; with the farm dogs joining me for runs in the neighboring vineyards, mushroom hunting on the schedule for early next week and some funky concerts coming my way!

On the road again...

“There is something in October sets the gypsy blood
astir, We must rise and follow her; When from every
hill of flame, She calls and calls each vagabond by
name”
-William Bliss Carman

It's that time of year again, when I start scanning flight deals, squirrel away extra funds, lace up my hikers, pull out my trusty backpack and make sure my travel documents are in order. Then comes the hard question- where shall I go?! With 195 countries in the world this is tough to answer. I have been playing around with the idea to go to South East Asia (mainly Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos). While those countries hold an array of colourful cultures, an incredible history and more than this little nomad could ask for in the way of culinary delights, I'm just not feeling the pull to go there right now.

The Land of the Tiger is calling me! India has been my #1 destination for several years now and I was putting needless restrictions on myself to explore this fascinating, mystical country. A country that brings us tea, spices and yoga, where you can lose yourself in the bustling cites or find yourself on a mountain sanctuary.
I'm still working out all the kinks but ideally I would like to spend sometime on an ashram (meditation and yoga), a bit of time backpacking to see the splendors that India has to offer, do some mountain trekking and perhaps a wee bit of scuba diving and then volunteer for the rest of the time.

I have found an incredible project called Navdanya: www.navdanya.org. A progressive biodiversity farm, seed saving bank and Earth University learning center; a women centred movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity. I have applied to intern here and awaiting the approval.


My cross canada plans didn't work out so I am flying from Detroit-San Fransisco and then I'll jet down the coast to visit my friends on the farm, in Sonoma Valley! I am really excited for American Thanksgiving on the farm! A few weeks late I'll head to San Diego to hang out with a dear friend before jumping a plane Asia-bound! This is depending on getting my visa to India processed in a month...

***
I am looking forward to this journey in front of me. There is some fear, much joy and a sprinkling of relief as I head back to my dusty trail to see what the fates have in store for me next!

Please feel free to follow this journey with me and I will try posting a few times a month, depending on Internet access and cyberspace will power.

I wish you all a big NAMASTE and I look forward to when our paths cross again.

Voyage from Marco Aslan on Vimeo.

8 Secrets of Success!

In Transition...

Moving back to Toronto I felt caught within a whirlwind of emotions and ideas. But, once I found how to move with the changes, and let go of the fear that often surfaces during transitional moves, I felt free! Free to explore the possibilities of the city, a new job, a different roommate/home and a new season.

I wish you all happy transitions and quiet moments to feel change and move with the flow of life!

Following is a lovely poem that captures the mood and moment:

Unconditional

Willing to experience aloneness,
I discover connection everywhere;
Turning to face my fear,
I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss,
I gain the embrace of the universe;
Surrendering into emptiness,
I find fullness without end.
Each condition I flee from pursues me,
Each condition I welcome transforms me
And becomes itself transformed
Into its radiant jewel-like essence.
I bow to the one who has made it so,
Who has crafted this Master Game.
To play it is purest delight;
To honor its form--true devotion.

- Jennifer Welwood

Cheers to transformation!!!