Leaving the City for a Farm

So a couple weeks after my school year ended, I found myself away from the textbooks and learning outdoors on a beautiful and diversified farm in the foothills. The name of the farm was “Abondanza”, which means abundance in Italian. It was called such because Daniel, the farmer and my teacher, was part Italian and it was his goal to produce an abundance of food in harmony with nature.

I learned how to make compost that helps grow onions to the size of softballs, how to take care of chickens, and all the various skills that go into running a farm. Daniel also taught me more than just how to take care of the land. He taught me how to be a better a cook, a more centered person, how we are all connected, and how change from one person spirals outwards to lead to something bigger.

It was nice to live in the country. We did do a lot of work, but it was on our own time. The pace of life was slower and more peaceful but with a good sense of community with those around us. I felt the fulfillment of working with my hands towards something good. And finally, the eggs were amazing. With a rich orange and firm yolk, you could only get these from chickens that actually roamed free for most of the day and ate a diversity of food; including bugs and our kitchen scraps.