Day 7: The Farmers That Feed Me

Today is Saturday, big news I know. But, what that means is that the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market was going today. And, for a change, I actually went to the Saturday market.

Now, this isn't that big of a deal, I go at least once a week, usually to the Tuesday Torrance Market and sometimes to other farmers' markets. After all, I am a farm writer, it is where I go to work; to take photos, interview farmers, and hear the latest news in the farm world so that I have something to write about.

But it is also where I go to get my own farm fresh produce (at least the stuff that I don't grow myself). Using yet another tired, irritating cliche, I believe in "walking the walk." How can I advocate for something that I don't do myself? I am many things, not all of them good, but hypocritical isn't one of them.

I know that I often complain that my work is low or no paying and while that is true, there are so many things I get from my work that I never got from my previous career(s) (ah yes, multiple). I looooooooove what I do. I am not stuck in an office at a cubicle, I have flexibility and freedom that I never dreamed was possible, I am always learning new things and using my brain (although I am not sure that's always obvious to others), and I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world, California's farmers.

I know this blog isn't about farming or farm reporting, my LAFarmGirl blog is for that, but just to give you an idea of how important they are, California farmers still produce over 50% of the fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States. And, I could write endlessly about them, about the struggles they face in keeping themselves in business, to survive against so many factors that make their survival seem impossible, but again, this is not the blog for that.

January 7, 2012, my Torrance Certified Farmers' Market haul

Instead, I just wanted to write about the good day that I had with my "co-workers" some of whom I am proud to call friends. I bought some things from them today. You can see them in this photo. They don't look all that different than the stuff you can buy at the supermarket. But they are different. Aside from the freshness and taste that fresh picked produce provides me, the difference is that I know every farmer that grew them.

There are tomatoes from Valdivia Farms in Carlsbad, organic Satsuma tangerines from Thys Ranch in Fallbrook, grapes from M.B. (Mark Boujikian) Farms in Fresno County, russet potatoes from Zuckerman Farms in Stockton, carrots from Yasutomi Farms in Orange County, and organic strawberries from Danny Hashiba in Pico Rivera.

And, many of them are even more local. Carol Thys lives in Torrance and she treks down to her parents' ranch twice a week to bring fresh fruit to the farmers' market, Mark Boujikian might have a farm in Fresno County, but he lives in Redondo Beach. And, Danny Hashiba farms and lives in Orange County, but he's a mean ballroom dancer who dances locally in Lomita and has won many dancing contests.

It is because of them, getting to know them, that I do what I do, that I write about the important work that they do. They are the reason I am writing another book, they are what keeps me going even when I wonder why I gave up a "secure" benefit-filled job. I do this because their stories need to be told and they are not only too busy to do it themselves, but too modest. And, I want to thank them for doing what they do. As American Farmland Trust says, "No Farms No Food."

Danny Hashiba, not only is he a successful farmer, but he's an awesome ballroom dancer and is as big a smart ass as I am!

Carol Thys, one of the nicest people in the world and she works hard to help her parents keep their ranch going

Day 6: The Transformative Power of Music

Those of you who know me pretty well, know that that I love music. And, on most days, I listen to music from the time I get up, until the time I go to sleep (for my friend Mr. Literal, just trying to get at the fact that it's on most of the time, don't pop a vein).

Whenever people ask me what my favorite kind of music is, I have a hard time answering that because I love all kinds of music with the possible exception of country music and hard core rap.

But, there are some kinds of music that I like more than others. I like "Adult Alternative" which pretty much covers a lot of different styles and groups for me including Snow Patrol, Radiohead, Mat Kearney, Matt Nathanson, Fitz and the Tantrums, O.A.R., Augustana, Kings of Leon, Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver, and even older groups like the Cranberries, 10,000 Maniacs, REM, etc., etc. And of course, I like classic rock, but nowadays the definition of classic rock has changed and includes 70's rock (ouch) and 60's rock is now considered part of "oldies." Used to be (back in my day, another cliche that irritates the hell out of me) that oldies consisted of 50's music which I never liked and still don't.

I also like R&B, especially Neo-Soul and of course what VH1 plays on Soulphrodisiac, sigh....I also like classical music, yeah, you know "real" classical music like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, especially when I am writing, I can listen and not sing along or get lost in a song. I also like jazz, and smooth jazz.

And, I don't think I am unusual in this, what I listen to depends on how I am feeling, what I am doing, or where I am going. It also depends on what kind of mood I am in, or what kind of mood I want to be in because music has the power to transform my mood like nothing else can. I am amazed at its power and it has always been that way for me. I can listen to a song from different times in my life and instantly get transported back there. Or, I can be very sad and put on a song that reminds me of happier times and feel better right away.

If there is a song I know and like, I cannot help but sing along, often at the great discomfort of those around me. I might be at the age where I forget what I went into the other room for, but I still remember the lyrics to songs. I always tell people that once my ability to do this starts to go away, you will know my memory is going.

For the past year, one of the songs that keeps playing in my head is Let Go by Frou Frou (with the amazing Imogen Heap), especially the line, "Oh let go and just get in. Oh, it's so amazing here. It's alright because there's beauty in the breakdown." This video has the lyrics included, hope you enjoy it :)!

Day 5: Memories of Maggie

As I have been working on building the content for my blog, and sorting through photos to post here, I have been coming across so many that make me both smile and tear up. And, not surprisingly, many of them are of my sweet Maggie.

One of the reasons I smile is that nearly all of them are when she was either sleeping or her eyes were closed because she was terrified of the camera. I literally couldn't even hold a camera up; if I did she would start shaking and run and hide so there's lots of blurry photos of her fleeing or of her tail as she flees.

That was one of the best things about getting cell phones that had a camera on them. She didn't know I was taking her picture because she wasn't afraid of the phone at all. Even then, she was hard to get a picture of and didn't like it too much. Hmm, kind of like her owner, it is one of the things I dislike the most.

I came across this one today, very bittersweet for sure but it makes me laugh. It was taken almost exactly 5 years ago today. I notice that I had the same New Year's garden flag out then that I have out now. I am nothing if not consistent!

My Ms. Maggie, January 7, 2007, celebrating the New Year in one of her favorite spots!

 

 

 

It makes me smile because I love seeing her in one of her favorite places. She always loved to be out on the porch with me and like me, always made herself very comfortable out there especially when we would sit in the sun.

She has been gone now for a little over 2 years and every once in a while, I still find myself looking for her to come greet me when I come home from somewhere, or wishing she was there to snatch up the crumbs that have spilled on the floor.

And, because this blog is about celebrating the good things that have happened in my 50 years, I am going to celebrate the fact that she was part of my life for nearly 12 years, instead of being sad that she is gone

Day 4: Still Seeing Sunsets With My Dad

As those of you who are my Facebook friends know, I take and post a lot of sunset photos. I do live close to the Pacific Ocean and I do like to watch the sunset.

So, when I was thinking about putting this blog together I was telling myself not to overdo them and at least wait for a week before writing about them or posting a photo of one. Not surprisingly, I couldn't wait and it is only Day 4 and I am already there!

 

 It wasn't my intention to go and watch the sunset today. Although to be honest, it's not really something I usually plan for, it just happens. It just seems to call me. As I wrote the other day, I live in the area where I was born, where I spent my earliest years, and where that sunset was a big part of our daily lives.

This was (and still is) due to my dad. He is now 80, and he lives in a beautiful house across the street from the ocean. He's also that rare creature in LA; a native Angeleno, which means he's been seeing them set over this same ocean his whole life. I can't even begin to count the number of sunsets he has seen in his life. He never tires of them, nor does his enthusiasm for sharing them ever wane.

Which brings me to why I am already celebrating the sunset. I am proud to say that I was at the Redondo Beach Library doing some research for my book, returning some library books, and renewing my library card and it was almost sunset. As I walked back to the car I looked towards the ocean and that was it, I was once again called to it, and headed towards the Esplanade to see it.

Since it is Wednesday, I wasn't sure my dad would be home. This is his day to volunteer at the hospital; so I drove by and was a little surprised to find him watering his grass. So I pulled up into the driveway and he asked what I was doing in his neck of the woods and I told him, "I came to see the sunset." He looked at the sky, then looked at his watch and said excitedly, "we only have about 5 minutes, let's go down and see it!"

It was a beautiful sunset, and it was even more so because I got to watch it with him. I never imagined that I would still have such a gift in my 50th year, that he would still be here to share it with me. As I wrote the other day, I don't use the word gratitude easily or often, but I am truly grateful for this gift.

Day 3: The Fulfillment of Long-Time Friendship

As I wrote yesterday, this whole holiday thing really has me off schedule, and I am a day behind on everything, Why? Because I thought it was Monday and it isn't. I thought I still had an "extra" day this week. I was wrong. I should have just read what I wrote yesterday about Mondays and I would have realized this sooner.

Add the summer like weather which has given me an early case of spring fever, and I have been hopeless about staying on top of my deadlines. Maybe that's why I had to stay up until almost 1 a.m. to finish my part of the book chapter we are working on. The good news is that I did.

So, since I thought I had this "extra" day I took some time today to write and send off some old-fashioned, snail mail letters, cards and gifts. I am o-l-d after all, that's how we did it back in "the day" (another expression that irritates the hell out of me).

One of these was for my BFF who is turning 50 on Thursday! And yes, DUDE, I am talking about YOU. Not only have she and I known each other since Jr. High---oh sorry, "middle school" (blech), but she is the first among us to be hitting the big 5-0!!!

For some reason, this is really making the fact that this is my 50th year seem even more real. And it makes another irritating expression; "the years go by so fast" seem so true. I find it so hard to believe that we have known each other for 35 years. I mean, I can still picture us "young" and as teenage girls. I remember things we did, how we looked and how hard we were on ourselves about how we looked, how serious everything seemed to us at 15, 16, and 17 and how we mocked everything and everyone (ok, well some things never change). Man, it really does seem like just yesterday (yet another cliched expression).

And, although there was about a 10 year stretch when we didn't keep in touch, I am very happy to say that we have been in touch for the past decade and have gotten even closer as we have gotten older. There's something so comforting about having someone who knows everything about you, warts and all, and who doesn't require any explanations, because she was there and she still is.

I want to thank you, Ivanna, my BFF for being such a good friend, for your incredible wit that always makes me laugh, for listening when I whine, and when I cry, and when I sound like a complete nut case; and for always, always reminding me to "maintain!" Happy 50th year to you, I am so happy to be going on this adventure into the 50s with you alongside me!

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." ~Lois Wyse

Ivanna and Judi, Magic Mountain circa 1979? (not 1879 like it looks like was at Spilikin Corners)

Day 2: Whoo Hoo! Leaf Lettuce in January

With New Year's Day falling on Sunday, but the "official" holiday being today, I am finding myself completely out of whack and forgetting that it is actually Monday. I never need a reason to try to forget Mondays and this really isn't helping.

I always thought that once I no longer worked for "the man" and was writing full-time, that Mondays wouldn't be as irritating as they were when I had to trek to my life-sucking cubicle each week. I was right; they are not as irritating, only about as irritating as they were when I was a student. And, as I remember it, those were some good days, lots of research and writing and reading, but also lots of fun too.

Too bad they don't pay you to be a full-time student. Hmm---- if you look at the tasks that writers do, they are the same. And, just like students, writers are often not paid. And, if we are paid, we are paid little or paid late.

But I digress (I know big shock). The point is that being a writer and working from home gives me incredible freedom and flexibility in return for the lack of actual money and being able to support myself.

The biggest perk is that I do get to go in my garden whenever I want to and that's good since I can save money by growing my own food.

This morning it was another very warm and sunny January day and I was very happy to see my leaf lettuce doing so well. I know my friends and family who live in colder climates are rolling their eyes and sighing since I do live in SoCal, but even so, the raised beds I have don't get much sun this time of year so I tried an experiment to see if there was actually enough by just leaving them in the ground instead of pulling them out like I did the past two years.

And lo and behold, there was enough sun! Because its been so damp and foggy at night and early in a.m., I also haven't had to really water. Check them out. No bolting to worry about this time of year either.

Day 1: New Year's Day

Redondo Beach, January 1, 2012

This morning's weather and a walk from Redondo Beach to Hermosa Beach for breakfast was the perfect way to start the New Year and the "In My 50th Year" blog. Not only for the obvious reason---it is not only one of the most beautiful places to be, but also because I am living in the area that I was born in and that seems really fitting since I am reflecting on my life now.

There was a time that I thought I would never be back and could write volumes about why we left in the first place, how traumatic that was for an 8-year old, how I came back, and all the drama and comedy that goes with that story. But that is not what this blog is about.

It is about remembering and acknowledging the good. And, since I really don't like to use new-agey words like "gratitude" or "appreciation" to describe things, I will only use them when I really am feeling them. Which is what I am feeling today; I really am grateful and so appreciative that I get to live where I do.

Not that this is a big epiphany (big word I know). There's not a day that goes by when I don't recognize this. I live about 1.5 miles from the ocean, and each day, feel the daily sea breeze (so consistent they even named the local paper after it) and within 5 minutes, can watch the sun setting over the ocean whenever I want to.

It's just that some days, I wonder what if, and dream of living other places, think that maybe the grass is greener somewhere else. But today, when I take the time to really look at where I am and all that is here aside from the beauty and enormity of the ocean, I really do feel gratitude about the place I call home.

Redondo Beach Pier & Breakwater