I felt like I was the director of an extremely small-scale CSA as I went out to the garden to decide what would be good for my end of the trade. I wanted some variety and bulk, but I needed to plan carefully; give away all the beets and that's, well, all the beets. Ditto the carrots, some of which are too small at the moment anyway. I ended up with a big leafy mixed bunch of carrots (we have two varieties, one a gorgeous blood-orange and one standard) and tiny baby red beets (the beets are not doing that well, so I'm erring on the side of pulling them early so we can use the space for a more content tenant); a bunch of chard; a small bit of oregano; a half a punnet of raspberries; and a bag of salad mix, heavy on the arugula, which I have been munching all spring. The produce looked good in a Priority Mail box I found in the garage, and I felt proud. And when I first held that egg carton in my hands I had this surge of excitement. Nay, giddiness.
Last week, B. and I raised the question of whether we should consider moving to what I affectionately call "the sticks." I am starting to picture myself easily in a little house with a yard and chickens, space for L. to run around, maybe an extra room in which to write. I grew up solidly in the 'burbs, or actually, in a place that strikes me as very rarified, very New England: a small town outside of Boston, with old houses and a town square and a train station. But my dad, who is also fond of the sticks, took us there often, and we spent summers hiking and on the ocean and in all sorts of sticksy places. So I'm not unfamiliar. I had a great childhood in these places. As an adult, I have been pretty solidly urban. My major reservations about moving to the country:
1). Lack of cultural opportunities for me and my kid.
2). Lack of diversity.
3). You have to drive everywhere. Not a big fan of the car. Nor is L. He actually gets annoyed when I pick him up from daycare in the car instead of on the bike, and my weak protests ("It's freezing out!" or "Mumma's really tired today, Bunny!") fall on unsympathetic ears.
4). I really do believe that, for reason #3, the city is the smarter environmental choice. Greater density and you don't always have to drive.
5). This is the biggy: all that space. Me and a kid and all that space. Since L. was a week old I have relied on coffee shops, public parks with park benches, and other urban trappings to keep the both of us sane. I'd say my momming relies heavily on community and the kinds of resources you get in the city. Out in the country, you're making your own community, and you have different resources.
Nonetheless, I fantasize about the country, as those of you who have been reading me for a while now know (here's an old post about The Simple Life).
Two bloggers I know live with kids in the sticks. The first is Laal, my friend from college, who lives on a micro-farm outside of Paonia, Colorado. You can read about her sheep-wrangling, garlic-growing, and house-building here. I love reading Laal's blog because it gives me this window into life with kids in a very different place than where I live. The other one is this mom, also from Colorado, who writes here. I don't know her personally, of course, but I like her blog a lot: great photos, light tone. She makes it sound so easy!
Today, Saturday, L. is off with his dad. I keep getting texts like "we're at breakfast!" "We're going to the beach!" Meanwhile I'm holed up in a coffee shop, about to tackle a freelance editing job. I seem to be procrastinating.
And yes, you're thinking, but wait--isn't it Tuesday? It is, my friends. More peeps read blogs on Tuesday, I'm told, so I'm saving this as a draft. I'm trying to build readership. If you like what you're reading, share me. Thanks.
And here, some photos of chickens and kids and gardens...
A girl named Leila with a chicken named Chichek:
Leila with RayRay, the Boss Hen:
Our garden a few months ago:
And now!
6 comments:
Susie, the town we live in, New Boston, has a population of about 5000, even smaller when Nathan and Laura were growing up. I loved raising my children in a town where I knew most of the parents of the children who were nearby in age. Good luck with your decision!
Oh yes, I understand. I'm with you on 1 through 4, but 5: you will find things to do. There's so much more work when you have a yard, a farm, chickens, etc... You'll cook more since it's so difficult to go to a restaurant. You'll learn the constellations together. You'll build tree forts, hang tire swings, forage for mushrooms.
I'll bet that kind of community feels lovely when you're raising little kids! And good for me to remember that places of that size exist. Sometimes I think population of 100,000; or farm in the middle of nowhere with five people in a five-mile radius. There are in-between places, after all. Thanks for sharing!
Says you, my fellow urban friend! Are you interested in moving to the country at all?
I'm glad to see pics of your garden. It grows beautifully, and I can't believe you already have carrots. Thanks too for the link to my blog. I've got to find some more inspiration somewhere soon! Love to you my friend.
Another good blog about country living with lots of good pictures: Grass Stained Me. I particularly like her latest post: Sex in the Sticks http://grassstainedme.blogspot.com/
Thanks for this gem! I loved "Sex in the Sticks."
As for inspiration...I'd be game to just hear how you spend your days. Too mundane?
When I think of you in all that space, the word "garden" seems lofty for my little plot, but then, I think of the tweedlebugs who had such a big world in that little window box (or something).
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