11.28.18 // <You live where?> When I tell people I moved from Chicago to Madison, NC. I usually see confused faces. Why would I ever chose to leave Chicago and move to the middle of no where? I moved from Kansas to Chicago when I was 20. I was seeking big city life and all the excitement that came with it. I LOVED living in the city in my early 20's, great restaurants, night life and there was always something to do. When I met my partner richard and we began to change the direction of our lives it became clear that we needed to move. The winters were brutal, the cost of living too high, there was no room for me to have the garden of my dreams, and going on adventures/hikes wasn't a reality due to all the traffic. We moved into our tiny house in 2015 and we're finally ready to find a new parking spot! I decided on North Carolina, and we found a place to park near Greensboro. Last year we realized we were ready to buy land. We weren't sure where exactly, but were mostly focused on staying in budget and getting the most land possible for our money. We found a great little homestead that fit the bill in Madison, NC. Madison is a small town 45 min north of Greensboro, it has a population of 2,000 people and I would say we live in the "proper country". I can have as big of a garden as my heart desires and I can plant however many hundreds of bean plants I want to now! For us the benefits of living in the middle of no where far outweigh the negatives (which is basically just our commute)! I'm so happy to call Madison home & to create the paradise on my acreage that I've dreamt of for so many years!
11.27.18 // GOAL SETTING ✨ I'm a super goal orientated person. I love making lists, spreadsheets, looking at data etc. One of my major goals for the next five years is to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail! This picture is from this past June when I did my second section hike on the AT. The trail is my happy place and any day I get to spend on it are among my happiest of memories. My dream to thru-hike is what fuels me to go to work everyday, make money and pay off my mortgage as quickly as possible. Once I'm debt free it'll be easy for me to justify taking 6 months off work for a grand adventure! Some days it's really painful to not just get out there and accomplish this goal that is so close to my heart, to have to keep waiting.. But that doesn't mean I can't accomplish other related goals! I've been working on visiting all of the state parks in NC, and I'm getting another stamp in my passport this upcoming Saturday! I have found another challenge to keep my soul satistified: climb all of the 5,000+ ft peaks in NC. These micro goals will keep me busy, and keep my feet on hiking trails until the day comes when my feet will carry me from Springer to Katahdin!
#futurethruhiker
#appalachiantrail
11.25.18 // The year is 2012, I was still a misguided-youth with no purpose orientating my life. BUT I was finally beginning to grow, figuring out my life's purpose and finding my heart song. It began with a question, where the hell can I buy local food in Chicago? I fortunately found the perfect place to do it, that would change my life forever @dillpicklefoodcoop ♥️ this was my first co-op, it connected me to a community of people who would help me grow into the person I am today. I shifted my focus entirely to creating a healthful, meaningful life. I got into gardening, got into the tiny house movement all through this one amazing connection. Richard and I eventually moved down south to North Carolina. The second day in our new town we joined our local food co-op @deeprootsmarket ♥️ I'm now the produce manager there and I couldn't have found a more fulfilling job. I get to work with local farmers, and help shift our local food economy. I don't think there is a single thing that is more important than us as consumers shifting our food dollars to local farmers, producers and food co-ops! I hope you find your local place to do so where you live. How have local foods changed your life?
11.22.18 // baby's first burdock root harvest! First year growing this crop. It's presently in the dehydrator drying down along with some oregano, rosemary & thyme. Went for a morning hike on the osprey trail and got to see my friend maria! Got home and planted 75 garlic cloves and did some other garden chores. Almost ready to start the next phase of sheet mulching! No till gardening is certainly the only way for me. The soil in my garden after just one year is so rich and so full of worms, spiders, fungi and all of the other things nature intended to be there. Thankful for another year here on earth, thankful to get my feet on a trail in the woods, and thankful to get my hands in the soil. Last year offered so many blessings, I'm so in awe with the beauty of life that surrounds me.
