0 0 1 The Journey...From Dirty Hands to Dirty Dishes

The story of , "The Farmer Can Cook", began nine years ago on a historic piece of property in South Carolina. Not only was it my home, it was my farm and my passion. I planned to live there for the rest of my life and ceremoniously have my ashes spread to feed my acre of blueberry bushes someday. Four solid acres of bliss would be my whole life and new career.

I longed to be a farmer since I was a little girl. And, to this day, putting my hands in dirt completely meets my need to exist. I used to think it was the harvest that excited me most but it really was the feel and smell of that loamy soil and the pure joy of seeing seeds grow.

Even the best laid plans don't always come true, even if they are your dreams. After countless years of really, really hard work, pouring endless amounts of money into an old house and early peaceful bliss turning into a busy 4-lane highway nightmare, I sold the farm to a young couple full of naivety, hope and promise. It was bittersweet, but I was somewhat relieved to move on to be closer to family and a much simpler life. 

Memories and experiences during those years formed me into a better version of me. I learned gumption, courage, resiliency, perseverance, the willingness to pursue my dreams and yet understand that they don't have to last forever.  And better yet, they can change into something better.

You can start a new passion, begin a whole new journey and enjoy all the stages of your life differently.

These days I am perfecting my skills in the kitchen because now I have the time. On the farm, I cooked up many a gourmet feast for 50-60 guests at our farm to table dinners several times a year.  We hosted corporate Christmas parties, Thanksgiving feasts for friends, weddings and agricultural tours. I loved being able to cook up something delicious right from the garden.  

"Fresh is always best." 

I now live close to many fresh markets full of international produce. My horizons are broader than ever and I am expanding my scope in addition to the Sicilian and French cuisine I was raised on.  I became an artisan baker at two local farmers markets and it has been a huge success.  My private chef service has taken off and I am doing lots of cooking for others and their guests.

Having owned a beautiful farm kept us looking for something similar here in Georgia. Recently, the opportunity came about to buy 7 acres of beautiful rolling pasture land nearby. Do I dare start again, building my farm from scratch? Should I take a chance late in life, 9 years after I purchased the first farm?  I recently reread my blog posts that kept me sane all those years and it inspired me.  We decided to take the plunge to build our new home and new farm.

In order to do so, I took a break from the many hours of artisan baking, we sold our home, moved 99% of our personal belongings into a 10 x 30' climate controlled storage unit and now live in an RV with a cat and three labradors.  For the next year we are mastering the art of living tiny but it isn't keeping us from dreaming big.  Before we moved, I potted about 100 plants and trees from my previous residence and they now reside on the farm.  My blueberry patch is in as is the start of my fruit orchard.  I have a garden plan to incorporate ornamental perennials, benches, sculptures and obelisks into the landscape.  Le Farm will be a peaceful sanctuary and a sustainable way of life as we grow our own food and share it with others in creative ways.

If I have learned anything it has been that having a farm was always going to be a part of me.  There will be great days and not so great days.  My connection to the earth has always been a strong force within me. It pulls me like a dowsing rod to water. Mother Nature has her hand in mine and we are on a new exciting journey.

Will it be hard? Sometimes. 

Will I have regrets? Possibly.

But,

Will it be worth it? Always.