Folded Atlas

Traveling miles with each footstep.

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I Threw Away The A

It wasn't easy, just a fabric and a plastic bag... Married in the trash. 6 years ago I started my journey and it lead to predictable places. I'm in a better place than I was. I have a stable job and that was secured from my experiences. Am I Successful? That is open to debate. Am I happy? Refer to previous answer. There are a million and one things I could be doing right now. And they are tangible. I see my alumni and past teammates from the windows of Instagram and Facebook prosper and perish. I look at my stagnant life. Stable... Boring. The greatest years of my life are now sitting in a donation bin for a thrift shop. Someone will find my sweat-stained A and wear it for chic. They won't feel my 2500 hours of laughter, my 2500 hours of stress, my 2500 hours of purpose. They won't understand the weight behing all my sponsor shirts. 

I wanted to quote some psuedoscience. People say that it takes about 7 years for some of the more complex cells to cycle through with the new... And that just like a snake molting and shucking it's skin, we are birthed a new. Six years... And this is who I ended up being. Fuck me.

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Update

Hello everyone I am close to my half way point. We have two more weeks of the Spring share before changing gears and harvesting the fall crops. This means Melons and squash and less leafy plants. I can't wait for the sweet and hot peppers. All of the work I have been doing recently is about to ramp up for a few reasons. The work load is going to get heavier. 100 watermelons weighs more than 100 heads of lettuce. And I received some confidential news that my coworker is leaving. She accepted a new job in Tucson, Arizona. She is the only full time employee here at the farm. That is forty hours of week we will lose of labor. With only 10 more weeks of seasonal work. I doubt the farm could find the extra hand. So, I feel like we're on a sinking ship with some buckets. I will most likely take up 10 more hours a week. Well it looks like my initial worry for hours is superfluous now... I will have too many! It is exhilarating to speculate on my future here. I need to keep my head on my shoulders and not at home. I have 10 more weeks of commitment here. And i will work my butt off help these people recieve nutritional foods in accordance to the seasons. Much love

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I thought I would share my farms crops on week seven. We served 98 members and their families. And had a huge surplus of crop left over. With our donations to Fish and Loaves we are about to affect over a hundred more families that are in need.

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Some more of the crops we are distributing on week seven on the farm

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Apology

I'm sorry I am not keeping up with this. Strange events are taking place. I miss my time in AmeriCorps. The NCCC was the best thing to happen to me. My life felt so interesting, and of value. The ability to help others... I wish others could experience what I did. I wish I could again... Life here at the farm is nice, but it doesn't satisfy. I know I was meant to be more. Helping people-- I need to find out how. Kalamazoo is a city like Pueblo, my hometown. In need of a change of attitudes. Someday I will learn. I will grow. And lead by example.

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This is a Hong Vit Radishes. We only grew them for their greens. Unfortunately, many of our members complained about the small radish size, when these were in fact perfect. So, we instead harvest the leaves for salads. Which are great and a little spicy. 1. History of Radishes First cultivated in China, radish crops spread through the Northern Hemisphere and into Europe in the 1500s. Radishes had reached Massachusetts by 1629. 2. All in the Family Radishes are members of the Brassica (mustard or cabbage) family. The root is related to kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and horseradish, among others. 3. Where They Grow Most states grow radishes, but California and Florida boast the biggest crops in the United States. 4. Your Child's First Plant? Because they grow rapidly, radish plants are ideal for children's gardens. The scientific name for the genus that includes radishes is Raphanus, Greek for "quickly appearing." And they disappear quickly at the dinner table too! 5. Radish Varieties Several varieties of radishes are available year-round. They vary in size, taste, and color but share nutritional values.

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This is our walk in cooler. We harvest everything same day as we distribute it. So, as it waits for the distribution time it chills out in this room. Check out the list we harvested for today.

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This is our first fruit of the season! Before this it has only been roots, greens, and flowers. But now we have zucchini. And they look delicious. Soon our cucumbers will be ready too.

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These are some nice radishes wouldnt you say?

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This is are wash pack area where we bring all the produce we harvest and rinse it. We cannot legally say we wash it. But we remove the dirt and bad leaves.

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Today, I have mulberrys and black cap raspberries. And, guess what? They were free. I forage them from the forest. A nice pint of them

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Update

Monday, I harvest. I will see if I remember to take some pictures... there are new things this week and it should be yummy. As we speak I am making some homemade farm grown radish chips in the oven. Wednesday, we made so awesome fish tacos with bok choy instead of a taco shell and a broccoli slaw instead of cabbage. Delicious! So many new things I am able to experience. Like grocery shopping from a bicycle. Yikes that's difficult especially when the store is five miles away. But, I will persevere! I bought 30 eggs and transported them in my back pack... I'm sure I can tackle larger challenges. I do have to plan a trip to a Wal-Mart to get some other items but that is even further. Haha. I picked up new hours this weekend take care of the farmland and the animals. Feeding, cleaning and revamping their stalls. Lately the rain here has been quite dampening. The dirt is a slop of mud. And that can create bad situations for the animals like slipping and hoof rot. So we are adding sand and rubber mats to stop the excess moisture. I met another AmeriCorps NCCC alum from class 17 Sacramento. He was interviewed for the position I am subbing for. He seemed really cool. I hope he gets hired on. Waiting on packages in the mail. I heard a few people wanted to write me letters. I can't wait for the encouragement! Oh speaking of uplifting spirits-- Kalamazoo has a roller derby. I went to a game on the sixth and now they are having another on the 27th. Can't wait to watch them. I bought a crappy bike too. Guess that what you get living on a budget. Wish I could have my bike though. I miss it.

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I resigned. 2,500 hours of service.

So it is official. I am no longer an AmeriCorps member. But, I will forever stay an Alum. There is an ocean of experiences that couldn't be contained in a small post, 2,500 hours of service and hundreds of people met and helped. I am so proud to have had the privilege to participate in such a program, I definitely encourage everyone who is 16- 23 years old to look into and research it. I am accepting a small job in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I am a farm hand at Community Supported Agriculture farm. DeLano Farms to be exact. It is going to be very difficult for me. Starting off with only housing, while everything I have taken for granted is now missing -- transportation, family, friends, home. I did this on purpose. I needed to challenge myself and what better place then a town called the Zoo by its inhabitants. One thing I still want though is love! If you want to send me letters or postcards about your adventures and hardships message me for my new address! Really though... Message me. I need to catch up with everyone!

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Leaving the NCCC.

It isn't an easy decision to make. I am pushing away a program that I hold near and dear in my heart. There are just some aspects that I don't agree with as a returning member. The amount of growth and professional development has waned significantly, almost to the point of becoming ineligible. AmeriCorps NCCC, in its own right, is a wonder and most fulfilling adventure for anyone and everyone to challenge themselves with. But, it is designed to fit all that it has in one year and offers little more in subsequent years. So you may be pondering what I am pushing this aside for-- well one of my projects ended up in Kalamazoo, Michigan doing Sustainable Agriculture. And let me tell you, I fell in love. I applied to work there as a part time farm hand. They are offering free housing and I think it an awesome opportunity. I need to formally resign before I accept the the farm position. And then I can start my search for a second job. This is super exciting. For those of you that followed me and my writing adventures from the beginning, I honestly thank you. I plan on continuing this blog. As for my team there next project will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Serving with a Habitat For Humanity. There are a fun group of people, I wish them the best as they move forward after losing two members in one round. Myself one of them. But I have no doubt that Oak 6 will live on.

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You can see the room I am staying in while assisting the farm. The other day there was a light frost and for the first time I noticed dandelions with some extra fluff due to the ice. The crowded areas are the farmer's market. We have been there every week experiencing the market life. We dont do all our shopping there but we are happy to support all the farms. And finally, this is my team doing a forced picture. Oh well.

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Some of the plants need protection from insects. We cover them with a sheer-like fabric to stop flea beetles but still let the sun light in

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This is the old house I am staying in while at the farm. It is from 1890, but honestly, it isn't that bad. It lacks a dinning room but other than that it is nice . The second picture is the nature center itself. We never work there.