My new housemate, Lisa, first thought I was talking about a "dear old lady" when I mentioned Gail, but then she finally realized I meant the "deer" with two "e"s.
I bring my two boys out to Gail's farm as often as possible, and they love it and afterwards talk about "Blueberry" the chicken, pulling grass to feed the deer, and about Gail, too, and how nice she is to kids. I've brought film-making friends from far flung locations like South Africa and Angola, friends from Spain and Argentina and they come away fascinated and enriched by this unexpected experience in America. And I've brought my dear friends from Northern Virginia, who now return on their own with their family and friends because people just can't get enough of Gail and her farm. I know that now-- Gail hasn't just grown an organic farm, she's grown a community of people who love spreading the word far and wide about why we need to change the way we feed ourselves in this country.
Gail is a fountain of knowledge we should all know -- things we've known in the past but somehow have forgotten. Like why chickens are best buddies with a tomato garden, cleaning up all the pesky insects that might do the tender plants harm. Things about the food we should be eating, and thankfully do get to eat after a visit to her fantastic organic vegetable garden, or to the fridge full of beautiful "rainbow" colored eggs.
So just like probably many other people who make regular visits to Gail's farm, I go for far more than the delicious organic vegetables and eggs she has on offer. I go for her wisdom and incredible kindness and generosity. A trip to the Shenandoah just wouldn't be the same without seeing my friend Gail.