i have always cooked and been health-conscious. i chose organic options whenever possible, but i didn’t fully understand what “organic” meant. it involves being pesticide-free, non-gmo, and using organic feed for animals. many other practices, like avoiding biomass in compost, also contribute to organic farming.

i had a rough understanding of the industrial food system and its logistic issues. i knew my organic veggies were heavily mechanized and often coated with natural waxes. these waxes can contain small amounts of petroleum-based ingredients deemed safe by the usda. additionally, i recognized the environmental consequences of massive tilling required for large-scale farming. labor issues also plagued the farming industry. i saw major flaws in every level of the agricultural system.

in 2020, while staying upstate near hudson, i learned about CSAs from a friend who maintained a large garden. i helped her with the garden and began to appreciate the karmic and energetic effects of growing food. this experience deepened my respect for the social and political impact of agriculture. i started to understand the seasons in a more intuitive way, reflecting on my own life’s cycles of spring, summer, fall, and winter.

i began researching what farming entails. i explored soil health, weather patterns, regenerative farming, and the specifics of growing each vegetable. i also watched all of farmer jesse’s videos. i fell in love with the idea of farming for the rest of my life.

after watching some farm finance videos on youtube and doing my own projections, i checked the price of renting an acre. i realized that this dream is possible.