I wake up each morning to an ensemble of roosters crowing at the glare of a newly shining day. I sit in my tent for a few minutes, meditating. I try and fail and try again to keep my mind still, to stabilize my intentions for the day. I rise and exit my tent. Outside my door live two mango trees and a few rows of kale and chard. I greet the chilly morning with a grasping stretch and trot over to the barn. I enter and begin making oatmeal and boiling water for tea. I put the necessary ingredients together and sit down accompanying my fellow workers. There is Mike, Liberty, Jane, Sadie and Pedro along with the head Margie. Pedro is the hardest working person on the farm. He is a migrant worker from Guatemala who rises each morning at least 6 and begins his morning round of checking the eggs. A very little man, about 5' 1'', he stands very tall in my book. He's a gracious fellow with a silly laugh who enjoys his beer in the evenings, but works hard during the day to make money for his family back home. Mike is a thirty five year old farmer, or soon to be. Originally from Florida, he has a master's in tropical agriculture, but will be heading up to New York to begin his own 1 acre farm. He is the most educated and knowledgeable person who is accessible when Margie is not around. I ask him all sorts of questions and hes got a wealth of knowledge. Liberty, I know I have mentioned before, is a Wyoming girl who has graduated college and loves life. Her laugh is hearty and filled with warmth, but she prospers in the outdoors as she describes from her jobs in Rocky Mountain Trail Alliance where she lived in the Rockies doing trail conservation work the past two summers. Sadie, I have also mentioned, is down here farming for the third year in a row. Originally from South Texas, then Pittsburgh, she has traveled extensively and lived in some very interesting and meager settings, but I think she is gaining a bedrock with her boyfriend and may make this her home. Margie grew up in Cuba but migrated here when she was in high school or college. After years of biology lab work she quit and began Bee Heaven Farm which is committed to supporting local, organic agriculture in Southern Florida. Jane is a fellow Michigander, originally from Detroit. She is an aspiring farmer as well, planning on moving back to Michigan this coming spring. We talk a lot about Michigan and its really nice to have a friend who knows the blessings of Michigan to identify with.
     After breakfast, there are a few routes of action I will take depending on the day of the week. Mondays I will chill because I take them off. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I will go work in the field harvesting, planting, or weeding. Fridays is CSA pack day which means 419 boxes need to be given their "share" of the harvest and we pack those practically from 7:30 to 4 in the pm. Saturdays is market harvest day and Sunday has been the market day, which we leave early for.
     That's all the logistics. Now I want to focus on the imagery that makes it what it is. After working in the sun or the barn all day, I like to go on a bike ride. I set out to blow with or against the wind. I see hundreds of acres of plant, flower, palm, tree nurseries. The fields of green are accompanied with providential skies of evening. I ride and ride, fast or slow, usually trying to challenge myself, then just cool off. Cars and trucks, barking dogs, gas stations, old country bars, warehouses all cycle on my path over and again. A few unique things, but all in all, its a continuation. I arrive home to do a few stretches, push ups, and sitting. I usually take a shower and then head to a communal dinner with my co-workers. We have a good time, joking about the day, the boss, and its always an enjoyable time. I eat well, and then one of us does the dishes. We usually scurry off to our individual activities after dinner. I usually play banjo or read, but others with write emails or letters, read, and Pedro will drink beer with his buddies. We head to bed around 9:30 to 10:30 and get our nights rest. I usually fall asleep to dogs barking in the distance, faint echoes of music, and the easily forgettable sounds of crickets chirping.
I hope that gives a better picture of my life here.
Love,
Tommy

Good Evening,
   I hope everyone is doing well. I seem to think this is all about me, that it is a one way radio, but I don't want that to be the extent of my trip. I must tell you that when I hear people tell me that they have been reading my blog, it is very rewarding and satisfying, it keeps me going when I'm tired and hard on my luck. I want people to send me emails if they so desire, if they have questions or comments or just want to check in with me: tommyhoward39@yahoo.com. Hell, give me a call, 248-885-1284. Seriously.
     I think that dialouge will contribute to both our experiences. There is a threshold of knowledge possessed by all of you and I would like to tap into it and let you tap into mine. I hope you consider this and act if moved to do so. 

     I went to a downtown Miami neighborhood yesterday, my third day in a row in Miami, called Overtown. It is an older section of town trying to burrow its way out of poverty. It is doing so with a lot of urban gardening. They have a large population of Jamaicans and Hispanics that are working together growing a lot of collard greens, okra, tomatoes, eggplant, papaya, and some other fresh goods. This market was really nice compared to the other hectic ones. There were only four stands on the side of a street block selling produce from the gardens on site and our farm with two other prepared food vendors. I met some pretty cool people. One guy was from Vermont, an entreprenuer who told me all about the "Slow Money Movement" that is an economic movement to promote local food. My understanding is that people new to farming meet with investors who are open to this sort of business. They do not expect a 15% returned profit, but rather a 1-5% and are okay with that because they think that it is a worthy cause. Its what I would call eco-nomics. Wednesday's market gave me a chance to talk to a few people and learn about the area and the projects. It was the gardening I am interested in, the urban renewing and reviving gardening that inner cities can use practically.
     Today was a more routine day, we moved 80 tomatoes, 8 varieties of 10, into larger bins because a scientist is coming to pick them up from the University of Miami to conduct experiments on. I was just struck with a very good idea a dinner minutes ago. I think I am going to save some seeds from Bee heaven's large collection of heirloom tomatoes and bring some back to Michigan to plant this coming fall. I know we all love our tomatoes! I think I will do this with a few other more obscure plants so to introduce my friends back home to new asian greens like yukina savoy and tay sai. I have exactly two weeks left on the farm and it it seems like adequate time to do such a project and plan on making it happen.
     WELL, I am tired, fare the well folks,
              Tommy
    

Feeling Revived

January 25th
     I made my way to Miami yesterday. It was the first time I had gotten out of the farm space (farmers markets exception). I road my bike about 15 miles into an aggressive wind that seemed to make me earn every inch to get to the Metro. I bought an all day pass for five bucks and hoped on the last car with my bike. I headed to Coconut Grove. Coconut Grove is a "bohemian" area traditionally with a lot of yoga, Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) medicine shops, cafes, tattoo shops, and bike shops. I found a little Mediterranean restaurant called Alladins and sat down to my first meal out in a few weeks. I had the typical meal, vegetarian pita w/hummous, and talked about Dearborn's Arab population with the waiter. He told me that Alladin's had its roots in Dearborn.
     Soon, I was off, to a local bookstore just to check it out, or so I thought. I ended up buying a play called A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams for, I can safely say, the sole fact that it was placed in New Orleans and as you know is where Im headed. Its the story of two sisters from the prim and proper south. One of them has moved to New Orleans and lives with her abusive and controlling husband, yet seems to be satisfied when her sister comes after losing the family home to the banks. It takes place in the 1950s and gets into the masculine and feminine dynamics of that time. It was a quick read and I think Ill read it again to catch more in the realm of language and underlying themes.
     As I made my way back to the Metro, I decided to go to downtown Miami and venture to a beach, as it had been weeks since my last swim and I was anxious to get back to the ocean. I began scaling this monstrous bridge across toward South Beach. I saw the cruise ship loading docks and instantly was taken back to the days when I was fortunate enough to travel aboard the luxurious titanics of our times. I descended and found my way to another bridge that took me right to the beach and it was glorious. It was warm, not hot, I found a comfortable place to park my bike after receiving a pair of nice complements of my looks by a few transvestites. I was soon undressing to my boxers and walking towards the water which I went out towards where the three or four foot waves were breaking. I enjoyed the thrusts of water meeting my lunges into them as if I was a running back diving for a touchdown into a fierce and burly offensive line. I was whistled in and left prematurely to my desires.
     I stood on the beach just drying off and doing some balancing exercises, then went to the bathroom and got the sand off my feet. Soon I was back on my bike and traveling towards the bridge. I was amazed at the Miami traffic at rush hour and felt "a God among mere mortals" as I quickly made it through the bumper to bumper traffic at twenty miles an hour as people stood outside of their cars dumbfounded. Apparently there was a shooting of a police officer and their was a gigantic funeral in which all the officers in the city had to parttake. I approached ground zero of this event and would swear that the whole city of Miami was a bunch of narks (police). It felt like flying.
      I arrived back at the farm about an hour or so later after the subsequent metro and bus ride. I made some dinner, drank a beer, and finished Streetcar.
     Today was a great day. We only worked from 8 to 930 and then went to Little Haiti in Miami for a field trip. There is a former intern from Bee Heaven, where I am, who started her own CSA on this quarter acre plot. It was cool to see her scale and see how manageable it looked. I have been feeling discouraged about farming as I have been here because of Bee Heavens 419 member CSA, but this woman had only eleven members. It definitely gave me a nice perspective and reinforced the idea that I could infact start something of this nature. Anyways, we then went to a farm called Earth n Us. This place was wild! It had three story treehouses where one of the women their was raised in. It had an assortment of goats, chickens, chinese chickens, pigs, Emus, turkeys, and geese all living togeather in this fenced off area, but seeming rather content and docile. There was an emphasis on permaculture here. Permaculture, as I was being told, is the methodology of creating less work. It emphasizes perennial herbs, plants, and self seeding plants. It was really cool, with just years and years of carpentry and energy just pulsing from the site. It was also in Little Haiti.
     We left and again went to the beach where I got to go swimming and yet again, be called in by the lifeguard. We drove home and I crashed in the front seat, then we go arrived and I was able to get in a bike ride before dark. I made some nori rolls with brown rice, radish, a homemade bean dip, avacadoes, and sesame seeds with some oven roasted potatoes for dinner. It was dank. I am feeling good and looking forward to another day in Miami tomorrow at a farmer's market.
Well, if you've made it this far, I salute you.
Cheers,
     Tommy

More Business

Running on Empty-Jackson Browne

I think we all can recognize this song, just figured I'd throw it on here, as I came across it through facebook. I kind of feel like it emanates a sense of my state of mind.
     I had good conversation with a fellow intern here at the farm last night that revolves around the themes of this song. We talked about traveling through life and not necessarily knowing what we are doing or where we are going. There was an importance placed on how we feel about where we are and our state of mind. She told me how her mom, though she was not excited about her now 32 year old daughter's exploration early in life, told my friend Sadie how proud she is of her now, because she is her happiest child. Her other children are conventional human beings with families and day jobs, but Sadie is a free spirit as some would say. She has roamed around much of the world with nothing but a backpack, and her gracious, friendly state of mind. She was telling me how she always would rather have done something and not had things work out than never do something because she was afraid to do them. I really vibed with this thought and feel the same about this trip. I have my fears of being on the road, at night, riding across the country, undoubtedly. Yet, I feel that if I never do this then I will almost regret it more. Despite the perils that I face, growing older deprived of satisfaction I gain from experiences like this will serverely disturb me down the road. Thus, I believe I have opened the door to becoming content with my life. Now, I do not want to impose the idea that we all must go on epic journeys like I think is right for me, of course, that is not the case. Rather, I think we all have epic journeys, but they manifest quite differently whether they be raising children, rising on the corporate ladder, or growing spiritually.
     I hope we all challenge ourselves and not settle for a life of drudgery and repetition. There are many routes to success and personal fulfillment, they lurk over our shoulders everywhere, but occasionally have to break the mold to expose them to ourselves. If your not being fulfilled in life, then experiment with the new. Many of us just take it. Day in and day out, the draining, dilapidating effects of never feeling gratification paralyze man. Don't do that, life is too short, and the rewards of stepping outside one's comfort zone are unimaginable.
     The days on the farm have become rather repetitive, with a few quirks here and there. Today was market day, a beautiful day, with a chilly morning. I heard its been catatonically cold in the North this past week. For you all, I'm sympathetic...and glad I am down here. I thought this morning was freezing at 38 degrees, but I suppose thats nothing to complain about. We made it to the market about seven. It was the same market I went to last Sunday, though, it was not nearly as busy and I was fortunate to get out of there at about 3 this time.
     I wish there was more to tell you all, but I can't say that there is. I hope your all staying warm up there.
Peace,
Tommy
    

I decided to move outside to sleep. I still have a good few weeks, two and a half, before I set off to New Orleans, but I want to get acclimated to the outside noises and being alone in a tent at night. Last night was gorgeous though, very temperate and a full moon. I did not put on the rain fly and my tent is virtually a mosquito net without it so I was just staring directly up at the moon. I had a very long day, but a good and fulfilling one, as well. I spent to morning reading a book about entitled Food and Healing by Ann Marie Colbin written nearly twenty five years ago. She must have been on the leading edge of nutrition back then and I found she had some very promising revelations in her work. One thing that I thought was worthy of mention was in regard to the Macrobiotic diet. "Macrobiotic" means literally long life and that is what it hopes to accomplish. It was a diet made popular in the by George Ohsawa in the early part of the 1900s. It is an Asian rooted diet that bases itself off of the yin and the yang. It is more of a philosophy for life that has a large focus on food. It emphasizes many whole grains, some vegetables, a few beans and legumes, seaweed, and fermented soy. However, it is not completely vegetarian and reccomends fish, eggs, or local rasied poultry or native wild game 2 or three times a week. I like the emphasis on local that suggests that eating things from the area you are in is what will make your body react best. I think thats true.
     I went on to work the afternoon on my own weeding and thinning long rows of chard and kale. It was slow work, but the time seemed to move rather quickly.
     At 4 o'clock, I set out on my typical bike tour of which I went farther than I typically do. I passed peacocks, papaya groves, semi trucks, and huge hundreds upon hundreds square acre farms that bordered the Everglades National Park. It was a great ride, I flew down those rodes with no shirt on and just continuously pushing myself, but enjoying the view and simplicity of riding. I even saw a chicken cross a road. I came home played my banjo under the moon and just celebrated in gratefulness.
     Today, was another long day. We worked on harvesting a "brassica" mix which is a mixture of vegetables from the mustard family. This included turnips, mustard, pei sei (sp?), yukina savoy, and arugula. This took much of the day to divide into 8 oz bags for about 250 shares in the CSA.
     Alright and now for the exciting stuff. I went on a bike ride that was shorter than yesterdays because we were scheduled to have dinner at another local farmer's home. I was trucking along, doing my thing. I see two dogs that are behind a fence and think little of, except for one thing, their curiously not barking as I ride by. So the fence goes on for a good acre or so, and then, I'm getting to the point where I usually have continue on as they are left there to another escapee. However, I see that the littler of the two big dogs is all of a sudden climbing under the fence! I then just go into ultra speed from a rather mediocre middle gear as he continues to gain ground on me and I hear him growling and panting. Within seconds I am out of reach, I made it away, but with a brain that got completely flooded in adrenalin. It was a good experience in the end. I had been expecting this to happen at some point because there are a lot of stray dogs living around here and I felt a satisfation that I was able to get away.
     When I returned, it was not long till, we were off to a man named Robert's house. We pulled into this thickly wooded, tropic setting. We approach this old timey, one storied, Florida house with a porch spanning the whole front. It had a rich bronze texture on the inside wood panneling and ceiling with windows lining all rooms of the house. Robert is a farmer who attended University of Florida and got an agriculturalist degree in Tropical trees and that is exactly what he knows best. We walked around his property and he recited the latin names of all sorts of palm trees and other trees with certain facts about there uses and native lands. He gave us exotic fruits to try and pointe out trees like the Macadamian nut which I never even thought of where it came from which is native to australia. He said "when our country's economic collapse occures I will hopefullly be able to provide for 50 people here." I asked him another question about why he had some poisonous tree that could not be touched or god forbid tasted. "Cause God made it" he said "and everyone else is tearing down species, I'm trying to save what we can."
     We ended up making these awesome grill smoked pizzas on a this large barrel grill. He had prepared extensively for us. He had made all the dough and had it risen by the time we arrived. He made different toppings all neatly lined up for us to choose from. It was rad. I liked that experience a lot. I met an old bamboo farmer from Davy, FL who I talked to about New England and he sang Peter, Paul, and Mary songs as I'd take a turn and play a newly formed banjo song. It was good times.
     Well, another long day awaits,
Peace friends, buena noche mi familia
          Tommy

     Today, I sort of hit a wall. I had been doing well, wanting to work hard and getting along with everyone. However, today was different. The morning at least. I was feeling rather exhausted, the effects of not eating a good breakfast, I'm sure. I was thinking about how I wanted to leave and that a month seemed to be such a long time. I was on edge, frustrated, I wanted to go bike, but I had to discipline myself with weeding and fertilizing. As the day went on, my nerves were calmed down by a fellow intern named Liberty. Her boisterous laugh and high energy sort of freed me from my negativity and anxiousness. She has been here since October and as I voiced my want to leave, she explained how there were things that were positive in being here for a longer period of time. One that I found resonance with was when she told me how seeing the plants grow up and produce gave here a satisfaction and gratefulness for her work. I felt a keen sense of truth in those words. That the suspended time and energy she focused into this job did manifest itself and perhaps that was my shortcoming, was a month would not give me the chance to see much of the work I did come to complete fruition. Regardless, her company seemed to soothe my mind and make me forget the seconds, minutes, hours that passed and just stay centered and productive.
     This week will be much more demanding than last week. The number of workers we have went down from  9 to 4 with the others having left or taking off a substantial part of the week. I know I just need to take every munute at a time, slowing down to appreciate the great weather, good food, and time to think, read, write, and play banjo. I'll be just fine, I know.
     On the Diet section,
This morning I had two pieces of freshly baked bread covered in almond butter. I had some coffee.
For lunch I made a chick pea and freshly sauteed greens, seasame seeds, coconut butter, and cumin cuisine
For dinner, I really made a mistake. I was cooking some sort of fried rice, eggs, onions, brown rice, a spice packet, and I meant to put coconut milk in there like a lot of thai restaurants use, but I put some sort of cream of coconut junk without having read the label and it ended up containing 240 grams of sugar! Absolutely ruined. I was fortunate I was only cooking for one other person. Either way, it was a small tragedy, a lot of good food, pretty much wasted. I also tried a Japanese beer called Sancha, a pilsner, enjoyable.
     Goodnight,
             Tommy

Dia de Mercado

     Ahh...just cracked a cold one. Got Neil Young radio playing on Pandora. The sun is setting pink and purple. I got tomorrow off.
     Today was a long one though. I got that euphoric sense of accomplishment brewing in my bones. I woke up this morning at 5:55 just before my alarm went off. I had to load the truck and make oatmeal in a fifteen minutes flat. Then I hoped in the van of the farmer's husband and rode forty five minutes watching the sun rise. We arrived at this beautiful community park with big banyan trees (trees whose roots grow down from their limbs, amazing climing trees). It was in an area called Pinecrest, an upscale area with a real interest in Organic Foods and healthy living. The market there usually goes from 9 to 2, but as a result of the Art Fair that was going on, it was extended till 4. It was a beautiful day to wander aimlessly around art and food which is what the crowds seem to do.
     My job was to go up to customers and say "What can I help you with?" as I was specifically directed to by Margie. The market had a few familiar faces I had met when I was at the raw and organic market in Coconut Grove last Saturday. There was the cutest little girl who I had actually played soccer with at the market giving me the whole scoop about the organic flax bread and coconut curry sandwich and completely raw blueberry, pecan crusted pie. I was shocked at how knowledgable she was about nutrition and food and and could hardly believe this was the same little girl who started crying when the soccer ball hit her.
     Our stand was the biggest with all sorts of greens, tropical fruits, herbs, salads, honeys, and beans. It was a long day, but a great experience. I had never worked a market before and I got to see just how much kindness and friendliness needs to be exerted to give off the vibe that will attract customers, especially loyal ones.
     Diet
I mentioned I had oatmeal for breakfast with peanut butter, walnuts, and almonds. For lunch I got a little out of control, I bought a piece of that raw blueberry pie, an Indian desert, two tacos, black bean and mango salsa, and a coconut, macaroon brownie. For dinner, I think Ill have some hummus wrap type deal with some salad greens.
Hope all is well,
     Tommy

Busy Bees

I've got some catching up on the Diet section
January 13th
I woke up to a cup of buckwheat groats with cinnamon, almond butter, and coconut oil.
In between breakfast and lunch I ate some black sepotes which are eaten when they appear overly ripe and taste like chocolate pudding. I ate a lunch of chilli comprised of black beans, rice, garbanzos and some spices.
For dinner I ate a bunch of oven roasted vegetables including turnips, red skin tomatoes, kale, rosemary, olive oil, salad greens, and brownies for desert.

January 14th
I woke up late to a cup of fresh brewed coffee and a few almonds. Then for lunch I had two whole wheat hummus wraps with a bunch of freshly picked greens like beet greens, baby kale, pei sei, arugula, lemon basil...I also had a jack fruit which is a spikey shelled fruit shaped like a football that has a sort of mixed taste between pineapple and dried mango, but I liked it.

     Yesterday was interesting. I worked a lot with Pedro, a Guatemalan migre, espanol for migrant worker, who doesn't speak a lick of English. He and I were weeding out the tomatoes and the beets and we communicated through my butchering of the Spanish language. Either way, I was able to find out about his family and that he loves beer.
    I also traveled with Margie, the owner of the farm, over to a neighboring farm to pick up some green beans. It was a sort of culture shock to see about fifty Hatian immigrants working in the field with two old school buses in the middle wearing many thick winter coats and with one person wearing a santa hat. Margie informed me that they were Hatians because of the way they harvested in circles and plucked out the plants opposed to different harvest groups of Guatemalans or Mexicans that would just go down the row and refrain from pulling the plants from the soil. We drove her truck right over the crops to the middle of the field where we picked up fifteen bushel of green beans, loaded them up, she and the farmer, a white, later middle aged man, chatted for a minute about business, and then we headed off.
     I went for a nice bike ride yesterday as well which was about 12 miles up to US1, Dixie Highway. Homestead is a very minority rich area with large numbers of black and hispanic peoples. I just rode around for a little bit then made my way back for supper.
     Today has been extremely busy. We have been packing boxes for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) distribution tomorrow. I think we have filled 419 boxes of produce today and a few extras. All organic and all local, south Florida, south of Lake Okeechobee. In addition to the produce, the do egg shares, Mediterranean shares, and cheese shares. The eggs come from Bee Heaven, but the Mediterranean and cheese shares come from a Lebanese goat farmer pronounced Honey down the road. A CSA is a partnership between consumers and farmers. The consumers buy shares at the beginning of the season in the farms produce. Thereafter, they are given dividends of food resulting from how much the farm produces. The idea behind it is that the consumers take a part of the risk by investing in the farmer and suffer or benefit with them. I think it is a great way for local farmers to compete with multi-nation corporations and for consumers to feel involved in their local food system while contributing to the local economy.
     Well that is about all for now. I have to go finish dividing the Mediterranean shares.
Adios
Tommy

Yesterday was a grueling, arduous day of bicycling that had its moments of beauty and satisfaction. I began my trip in Delray to a host of disbelievers, even myself a weary one. 80 miles with a banjo and probably about 100lbs of gear on my bike, it was going to be a long day to make it to Homestead and Bee Heaven Farm. In the beginning I was very observant to the many people who were looking at me funnily, in disbelief, and found it mildly rewarding. The hardest part was when I went down the Linton bridge to get to A1A because I was very inexperienced with the amount of weight that I almost wobbled out of control and into catastrophe. However, I was able to maintain it and started down A1A barely escaping collision. It was a great morning for cycling. Mostly cloudy, with a little sunshine, but I had been told it was supposed to rain. Fortunately, it did not. As I cycled ten miles to the Spanish River, my forearms felt strained and nervous. I took a piss and rearranged things, which unclenched my hands from feelings of desperation. It was a very unsteady ride, a lot of swerving at the beginning, but I grew to become used to it and by the time I hit Miami I felt enough in control to ride in the street where there was no bike path.
     I had a few interesting encounters. For example, I did not know it was cool for people to have a restaurant job and no absolutely no English. I discovered this at a smoothie shop a few miles outside of North Miami. It was a good experience, a chance to use the years of Spanish to my advantage. I ended up spending much of my 11 hours on the bicycle thinking about Spanish and trying to remember what all I could. I met a cool dude in Ft. Lauderdale who saw me parked up against a wall in the shade. He pulled over, I thought he wanted directions, but he just wanted to ask me where I was riding from and tell me how fucking sweet it was. He even offered me to go fishing off of his boat, which takes people out commercially for tours and fishing trips, for free. It was a great offer, I kind of wished I agreed, but ended up declining because I wanted to get here. I figure the trip was about eighty miles. The longest trip I have even done by bicycle, but rewarding and strengthening. I made it through downtown Miami via US1 and then went to South Dixie Highway and took that all the way about 24 miles to Homestead. It was a long trek, but gave me a good template to grasp my capabilities.
     When I arrived last night, I started yelling at the gate. "Hello, BEE HEAVEN! I'm the New WWOOFER."
I heard someone talking on their cell phone and all of a sudden I met Liberty who opened the gate and let me it. I was there. Thank God. I did not want to pitch a tent out here. Anyways, I made it to the barn, where the bunks are and was introduced to the other wwoofers. It was great, food and a bed. All I could ask for. I dug into a pizza, at like 7 pieces, took a shower, and headed to bed.
     When I woke up, it was cold and I had to layer up. I looked outside to clouds and wind. I made some oatmeal and soon met Margie, the owner who welcomed me kindly. I was ready to work. We sat down talked over the days duties. I helped load up the truck for the market, then made some boxes for the CSA shares, and finished the morning by constructing a pseudo-trellis for the tomatoes out of bamboo with Mike and Pedro. At lunch, I talked with the manager Jane who is also from Michigan. We talked about Copper Harbor in the UP, Detroit, the thumb, the farmland, the freshwater, and all the great things about Michigan.
After lunch, I headed back out and worked on thinning a row of beets. Thinning is when you have to remove or transplant a certain amount of the sprouted plant to give usually the more robust plants space to grow and thrive. I was told that Margie said whoever sowed this row used enough seed for 1000 acres and I believe it! There were so many sprouts it was a very timely and tedious job separating them and replanting what all we could. I did that for about 2 and a half hours. I think this experience of farming is great. It really makes me realize the hard work involved in growing good, organic food and understanding the time and energy that goes into it.
     After that, at about 4 o'clock, I was told I could call it a day. I went up to my bunk and read a little of Lance Armstrong's autobiography then took a nap. I'll be eating dinner shortly and know it will be delicious.
Fare thee all well,
Tommy

I'm just about there. Saturday was a great day, a beautiful, warm, slightly windy day of which I feel I took complete advantage. I began the day at 630 waking up to a few minutes of meditation and then a warm shower. In preparing for my ride, I went and made a juice of carrots, beets and celery with a bit of oatmeal and an apple. I made a little coffee and played my banjo waiting for Paris and his Dad to wake up and meet me on AIA heading south. I enjoyed my first conscious Florida sunrise plucking the infamous beginner tunes of Old McDonald and Skip to My Lou on my banjo.
     At about 820 I decided I was just going to go, I had had enough of waiting around and wanted to ride. I hoped on and began my path southward. I rode relatively slow to the nylon spandex covered roadbikers, but I knew I was going farther and did not hold any competitive angst towards them. It was a gorgeous day, a little chilly right in the beginning, but I wasnt cold being from Michigan and all. You have to watch yourself when you say your cold because you know that all your fellow Michiganders would just scoff at you if they heard you.
     Anyways, I made it to Ft Lauderdale and rode around there for a few miles. A nice city, but I only liked the ocean line, the downtown was not very cool, probably grew in the 1950s and 60s, not a lot of older architecture. The trip to Ft Lauderdale probably took about an hour and forty five minutes. I figure I road about 55 miles or so, but I do not know exactly.
     What I do know is that I will be traveling to Bee Heaven Farm and arriving there by Wednesday to begin my month long, first WWOOFing experience. I am excited to go this farm in Homestead, FL which is about 15 miles outside of Miami. Speaking of Miami, on Saturday, we ventured down there to a completely raw and organic farmers market put on by a farm that is very close to the on Im going to in Homestead. They had the widest selection of produce, guavas, leeches, pistachio ice cream, pies, seaweeds, and all sorts of wonderful obscurities that many of us do not even know of. However, it was very expensive and I was not able to buy much, but still enjoyed playing a game of soccer with some little kids whose parents were working and climbing an epic Banyan tree.
     Sunday, was a very chill day. I told Kyle, "I have never played that much music in one day in my life." And isn't that the truth. I had a wonderful time, just experimenting with my banjo and coming to a greater understanding of music in general. Music is such a precious form of expression that I think needs to be harbored and practiced because of the way it unites and focuses our attentions. I look forward to continuing my music education and coming back to Michigan with a real focal point in which I can share the beauties and inspire others with music.
     I have decided to put in a diet section, that relates the food I eat. I think that some will find this interesting as I will be living on a farm and nutrition is another interest of mine.
DIET-Sunday January 9th
I arose to cook myself a bowl of oatmeal comprised of almond butter and sea salt, A good meal to start the day off with fiber and protein.
For lunch, we made some sushi made of local caught Wahoo, brown rice, carrots, and nori roll. We dipped it in sesame, tomato basil, and wasabi dressing. Not overly filling, but surely nourishing to body and soul. The multiple colors of sushi are always a sight of fascination.
For Dinner, we made some more Wahoo, this time cooked more, with a hummus made of Garbanzos, Cannellini beans, tahini, freshly ground cumin, garlic, lemon, lime, and salt. I love hummus as many of you know and this was legit hummus. For desert, Austin brought over some strange marvel consisting of almond butter, sunflower butter, hemp seeds, coconut oil, goji berries, cacao, raisons, and probably a few other things. It was great. I must say that no where, have I ever seen a culture so obsessed with health food and exercise than in Delray. I am just amazed at how these kids are nuts about healthy food and healthy living. Yoga, massage therapy, holistic medicine, cycling, surfing, coconut nectar... Its really cool to see this coming from a place where no one gives a shit, most of the time, about what they eat or don't eat and how it effects them.
     I have also noticed a difference in who goes to college down here. It seems like a lot of kids my age are not in school, or if they are are in an alternative college aka massage therapy. I have noticed that everyone, literally everyone, with the exception of a few, back in Detroit is going to college. Perhaps, its the weather. These kids have something to do in the winter, whereas the kids in Michigan have nothing better to do in the dead of winter than to go to school. Regardless, its an interesting trend, and I do not know if its good or bad.
    Many Blessings,
                      Tommy

     Today was a beauty. I woke up a little later than normal, about 10 AM. I woke up to an empty house in which I was able to make coffee and eat some oatmeal while playing my banjo and enjoying the dogs. It was a little windy today, which meant waves. Ahhhhhh.... I went to the beach soon after and still feel a swooping motion as I sit still writing this. I really had a nice time. I met some friendly Canadian kids from Montreal who spoke French and we played volleyball. I then found my friends Sady, Hayden, and Kyle who were surfing, swimming, or laying out and got them to play a little soccer with me. It was a very active day because after the beach, I returned to the Nuccilli's and put on a good amount of gear in the panniers and went riding for about ten miles. I am planning on riding to Ft. Lauderdale with Kyle's friend Paris and his Dad. This will amount to about 60 miles there and back and be my first good ride since the Tour de Troit back in late September. I am looking forward to it and know I need the conditioning very badly. Fortunately, I have been eating very healthy and feel like my body can handle long tests of endurance.
     I have not heard back from the lady from Bee Heaven Farm yet, but should be hearing back from her soon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I am feeling good, positive, my emotions are running high. I am getting into a groove. I think I am preparing subconsciously as well. For example, my dreams were very circling around traveling and for some reason Gainesville seemed to be attracting me. I also believe my body is getting ready, sleeping extra hours because deep down it knows...
     Blessings to everyone,
                         Tommy

Preparation

     Yesterday and today have been very busy days of preparation. When I arrived, my bike was in serious need of attention. The chain and gears were especially grimy and covered in solidified oil and dirt. I spent a good half hour or forty-five minutes just scrubbing them off with a tooth brush and rag. The chain kept skipping as I would accelerate and I was uncertain whether a new chain was needed. I went to a bike shop and learned that typically when you get a new chain you need to also change the gears because they wear together and have this inseparable unity. However, the mechanic told me that I would probably not need a new chain or gears, but would have to change the ratio of the gear I was riding. I had previously been riding at the top gear, but he explained that the gear had been warn down too much (causing the skipping) and that I would have to go to a more middle of the road gear.

     Anyways, I am learning a good deal about bikes and mechanics through just trial and error, questioning, and Mr. Nuccilli. I installed the front racks today and they seem to be working well. I am still hoping to somehow strap my banjo on the back rack. A little challenging, since it weighs near 15 lbs all together.
    
     Furthermore, I am hoping to go to a farm called Bee Heaven Farm near the Keys. If I get the position I will be starting about Wednesday which means I will be leaving here probably on Monday. It appears to be a great opportunity to save a little money, learn about Florida agriculture, and meet some new people. I would stay there for about a month and then let the biking begin.
    
     Last night was awesome. Kyle, his buddies Paris and Ryan, and I all went to a local bar and hookah bar called nothing other than the Funky Buddha. It was a brewery and open night was going on. Kyle and his pals played "Aint No Sunshine" by Bill Withers and "Wiseman" by Slightly Stupid. They were a hit in the midst of solo guitarists and raunchy comics. I sat drinking some of the finest local porter and enjoyed the talent and mingling with the locals. Delray is a very nice, hip city with a strong emphasis on health and new age spirituality. The kids that I have met are very interested in nutrition, the environment, and for a few, conspiracy theories.

     I am not sure what we are planning on tonight. I am feeling rather quiet and seem to be bracing myself for lonesome days on the road. However, I am still enjoying my time with these new friends of mine and the weather is always favorable regardless of the storm today.

Genesis

     I am sitting comfortably in the home of the Nuccilli's anxious to begin my bicycling, yet composed and content in my present situation. As I was driving to the Detroit Metro Airport this morning I was struck with thoughts of what I was leaving behind and what awaited me. I was leaving a sense of security given to me by my fortune of supportive, loving parents. I was leaving the people I know best in my hometown and the people who are still getting to know me in Detroit. I'm awaited by a long road of uncertainty and chance. Awaited by an open itinerary that requires resourcefulness and trust, yet restraint and wisdom. My Dad explained to me that he felt like a parent of a soldier in the military. I thought this was a very interesting comment that lead to thoughts of duty and accomplishment. As I arrived at the airport, there were many military personnel and I felt a strange kinship with them. I felt like we both shared a sense of risk and yet, believed that the risks were worthy of the possible rewards. Thinking on it now, our goals, motivations, and beliefs may be considerably different, but the level of our passions and emotions are very similar. I may focus on this comparison more, but just want to say that I wish to be rather militant on this trip. I want to dive into writing, reading, learning, and exploring with a vengeance, yet a righteousness.
        
     My plan as of now is to ride my bicycle from Del Ray, on the East coast in between West Palm and Fort Lauderdale, where I am now, down to the Keys and around the tip to the pan handle and to New Orleans. I will be traveling alone couch surfing, WWOOFing ( World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms), and playing banjo in the street as I make my way across the South.*
subject to change*