Teamwork is my Favorite Work.
My dog is snoring next to me and I have the “morning chill vibes” (or something like that) playing on the Spotify mix. It’s just after seven in the morning, it’s gray and gloomy outside and my second day of work with my full time 2019 crew is going to begin very soon. And, honestly, I’m already a little sore and tired! This transitional week between working mostly on my own for the last three months to working side by side with our farm crew always holds a mix of excitement and nervousness for me.
The crew arrived yesterday, transitioning out of their winter time routines to find me at the farm, arms full of plans and project lists and to-dos. We sat together in the morning introducing ourselves (ok, re-introducing ourselves-most of us have worked together before) and indulging me in my ice breaker question, which asks–are you more like a cat or a dog and why. Then we hit the fields. I asked the crew to build us some cold frames–which are the hardening off area that plants go after they leave the greenhouse, but before they are planted. The three farmers, who make up our full time crew; Mary, Andy and Miriam, got right to work. They made a plan and then started hustling! I watched as they skillfully put the pallets and hoops together to make a cold frame. They shared their ideas, they listened to each other. They tried some things and then retraced their steps back to start again when something wasn’t right. I moved around them tending to moving our pick-your-own hut, and putting potting soil in a new place. Their energy and speed invigorated me. I remembered how fast things happen on a farm when you have a top notch farm crew. And my nervousness about a new season beginning, left my body with each exhale.
In one morning, the cold frames were built. Plants were moved outside. Our first carrots were seeded. A project list was put together for April and May. Our greenhouse area was transformed and invigorated. The power of a crew- of a team- always amazes me. I am so excited to see what we can do together this year. Now…I better go stretch out this old body of mine to get ready for day two…and the rest of this incredible season!
From our farm to your table,
Meryl
(on behalf of the Just Roots team)