Double Oak Farm

“May you live an interesting life” is said to be a translation of both a Chinese curse and blessing. I first heard it several years ago and it has stuck with me all this time. I looked it up today and wikipedia casts serious doubts about its authenticity. The fact that I first heard it on an episode of Magnum PI in the 80’s really doesn’t add to its validity as an actual Chinese proverb. Its doubtful origins however do not change the interesting questions that it raises. Is interesting good? Would it be better to live in peaceful predictability? Personally I must not mind trouble and excitement because I always seem to choose the interesting path.

This past year has been full of excitement. It has truly been a grand adventure. There has been a lot of joy and a lot of stress. These last few days as we try to finish everything necessary to open a produce store are like one big adrenalin rush. Every time I check something off the list I have two new things to add. Will we ever be done?

The planting is going well, but the rain has us behind schedule. That’s the thing about growing and really life in general. It’s never really your time or your schedule.  It’s all in God’s time. You can plan all you want, but you can’t make the weather, or the phone company, or the city government work on your schedule. You just have to take things as they come and make the best of every situation.

We had one chaotic adventure to Chicago this week to pick up our produce display tables. We are trying to reuse and repurpose items whenever we can and we found a great place that promised to have all the equipment we need at great prices. DJ and I ended up digging through piles of junk in the pouring rain amid sharp protruding metal and broken glass. We were led up and down warehouse staircases in total darkness and we waded through puddles inches deep while indoors. We only found a few items that we needed that were in good condition. DJ was completely and thoroughly soaked by the time he was done loading in the rain and the six inches of standing water in the parking lot. We laughed a lot and we are happy with our new tables.

We will make a big push this week to get all the painting, cleaning and set up done at the store. We also will be planting 3000 melon plants and dozens of other veggies. The strawberries are coming along nicely and if we get some sun they will be ripe for the grand opening. The lettuce and onions look beautiful. The radishes are up and growing. The blackberries are getting ready to blossom. It is sunny and beautiful out today and I’m ready to get to work.

This Wednesday I will be speaking at the Sierra Club meeting at the Bartholomew County Public Library. If you want to know more about what we are doing and why be sure to stop by. Tim is working on a power point and it looks great.

Be sure to drop by next week. We open May 13th and we will have our Grand Opening celebration on May 15th-16th. It will be a grand start to the new phase of our Grand Adventure.