I spent the second day of the conference dutifully going to sessions, learning about growing ginger better and stuff like that. Ran out of yarn in the middle of the morning and had to walk all the way back to the hotel room to get some more.
I have been trying to figure out why this conference was better than some, for me. Maybe it was the knitting, maybe it was having Jon with me at meals, but it was also that I have things I need to know now that I am outside of my comfort zone, learning to grow vegetables in Loudoun. Farming in Vienna poses few challenges for me, after all these years, but there are great gaps in my education when it comes to different soils and different environmental issues just 30 miles away.
Anyway, it was more interesting and I was comfortable there. So often I feel like I don't belong at a conference. Too many people, too much shmoozing, too many assumptions about my level of interest or level of experience or whatever. I scarcely saw Ellen at all but various people reported that they knew who I was because she was using my name in all her sessions (she teaches a lot at these conferences, which is great for everyone because she is an excellent teacher).
My one contribution was that I facilitated an information session on CSAs. They were searching for facilitators a few weeks ago and they asked if I would do it. At the "crowd sourcing session," we had a lively conversation for 90 minutes, 30 farmers from all over the South sharing questions and answers. Over the years I have found that I enjoy facilitating -- I don't have to be the expert or prepare a presentation, I just help the discussion flow. It is fun for me, way better than getting up and speaking.
The big dinner at the end, with everyone in the same room, went better than usual. Instead of holding us hostage waiting to be fed, they served dinner quickly and then started the speeches and presentations. They got all their ingredients from 25 Kentucky farms. It was impressive, in the dead of winter. We were hostages to the final drawing for the grand door prize: a walk-behind tractor. We didn't win, but that's okay.
Jon and I were on the road by about 7:00 this morning -- a sunny, bright day, warming up fast. We drove all day, through Kentucky and West Virginia and finally Virginia, listening to music, talking about things in the news, listening to odd podcasts, napping, eating nuts and dried mango and other car snack delicacies. West Virginia may have been the most beautiful state on our trip. It is hard to be beautiful in the winter, but the snowy mountains and vistas and valleys and winding roads (of course, why take a big road when you can take a small one?) were striking, especially compared to the flatter, swampier areas in the South.
Back at home, lots of snow has melted but there is still a ways to go. We went directly to the crushed hoop house to see the damage and decided that the only immediate task was to cut small holes in the plastic to let the water out as the snow melts. Ah well.
And that ends the swoop through the South. No drama but many hours of excellent conversation and good visits. The car did great and fuel was cheaper than ever before -- the best price was $1.57 in Mississippi. Someone should raise that gas tax immediately.
No comments:
Post a Comment