Week One

I know many folks are steepling their fingers under a firmed jaw, staring out a window, pondering as the leaves rush to their autumn grave. Thoughts to Steve drift from their mind up to the chilled October air of Michigan, warming their way through the Appalachian mists and then east to Pittsboro. What is that young pioneer been up to in his first week?

Steve arrived safe and sound in the twilight after 13 hours of driving. All items in said S-10 truck still intake, thank you road gods. His drive was beautiful and he was welcomed warmly with a glass of vino and good friends.

Steve's first week included a whirlwind tour of Pittsboro, a meet and greet with Doug Jones, farmer king who also gave him a dresser to use, a vermiculture class with the teacher being a fellow Fenton-ite from Michigan, digging of trenches to solve a water problem at the plant with Amanda, his new buddy of compost and vermi-passion, driving the big biodiesel truck with Evan and learning, yet again, what it's like to be a truck driver (Steve used to deliver granite to the Chicago area for those that do not know). And well, folks that's not all.

Steve was lucky enough to arrive on site just two days before the Piedmont Halloween Party! Steve wore a purple wig and I'll get a picture of that hopefully soon for all to reminisce to the time when Steve had crazy 80's hair. The band played. Zafer, Lyle's son, got up to play guitar with the band. The mayor, Randolph Voller (OH, yeah! We're distantly related the mayor of Pittsboro! Uncanny!), dressed as a drunk Santa was present and full of jolly. Even one of Pittsboro's fine judiciary members came to actually judge the costume contest! What a concept! The folks that actually run the town are out with the commoners all active in pursuing a bigger vision of sustainability. That is true American democracy in action! The kings are in the fields with the peasants!

By nights end, everyone was warm with wine and good company and Steve was playing bass with the band, warming his cold fingers with each THAWAK to the strings. Turns out the band is losing their bass player and Steve has a new bunch of music friends to jam on with.

And wait, yes, there's still more. Yesterday Steve has a meeting with Lyle, Jeff, and Doug to discuss the farm's beginnings. Odd to be discussing beginnings in this time of seasonal death, but alas, even under frozen ground, fall plantings are still stirring, waiting... It was a wonderful meeting Steve tells me, and he is inspired to the umpth degree.

All in week one, my friends.

J and pup are getting on. J loves her new job baking. It's like being back in Grandma Nellie's kitchen but we're cooking for 100's! I not only bake the classics, bread, cookies etc... but I've tried my powdery hands at a Lavender Vegan Cake, Gluten-Free bread, Challah, as well as Knishs. J hopes to continue baking once down south it is so much fun! We're keeping warm as frost crisps the morning ground to a white crunch here in Michigan, and keeping ourselves busy watching our Tigers in the World Series! Go DETROIT!!!

Till next time.

The Call to Adventure

"The call to adventure signifies that destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of this society to a zone unknown." -- Joseph Campbell.

Today, Steve has heeded his call to adventure. At 6:30am he set off into the sunrise into this zone unknown so "doors can open where there were no doors before." (another Campbell nod, if I may.)

And always on this road of adventure - the hero's journey - the hero himself is fraught with obstacles great and small, with tests that tempt his will and shatter his thoughts of what was. The giant river snake may steal his mighty sword. The crushing storm while at sea may all but drown the hero. The outlaws may have their way with his purse of gold on the trail through the forest. But the true hero never lets these obstacles get in his way. In the end the princess is always saved, the castle is always standing and the hero is a greater, deeper and more profound person than when the journey began.

And just as it is in mythology, it is in life, we have found these past few months of the first steps of the hero's journey. Our hero, Steve, has had to slay the leaky basement river giant. The crushing storm came in the form of an ovarian cyst rupture in the night from his queen, j. And the outlaws took $$$$.$$ to fix the car. Yet, the hero is off to new lands: To North Carolina! Off to more new adventures: To BioFuel Mania. To a farm of plenty. Off to new townfolk we hope to bond with readily.

Everyone light a candle, say a prayer, meditate, or have a moment of silence for Steve's journey. His queen, jeannie, and faithful steed, ellie girl, are awaiting their reunite with baited breath. Until then queen jeannie will bake bread with the castle chef Fouad Catrib and rub down a few knights and maidens in distress until such time as they can't take it anymore, j finds a job downsouth or the castle is handed over to the new lords and ladies.

Until next time... when they all live happily ever after.