The Situation

I live with two other interns in the historic farm house, work on the farm five and a half days a week, and attend two different farmer's markets in D.C. My day begins at 8 o'clock (luxuriously late, I can say!), breaks for a 30 minute lunch, and ends anytime between 4:00 and 6:30. The hardest part is working through the hot, late hours of the day. The best part is the peace of growing flowers and trees and the quiet countryside. Living in the country has been simple and refreshing! Moments of inspiration and blissful wonder are renewing my soul. God is steady, present and loving in solitude, loneliness, wide open nature, delicate beauty, the nitty gritty challenge of toil and community life.

The Farm

The farm is 11 acres of flowering plants. Sprawling rows of sunflowers, bright zinnia beds, hills of multi-colored dahlias, packed patches of fragrant basil, crates of glossy lilies, mint patches buzzing with bees, havens of leaning hydrangea shrubs, clusters of many-varied plants, colors, colors, colors! There are flowers that we cut to be bright eye-catching centers; there are modest stems of small, cute flowers to fill in the spaces. I have been surprised many times, when instructed to cut from a plant that never stood out as a "cut flower" plant. I've really come to appreciate those small, modest, or even gnarly plants, as I have come to see them up close.

Markets and Selling Flowers
The day is set in two parts: 1) cut flowers, 2) prepare flowers for sale. Usually we get all our cutting done before lunch, leaving the afternoon open to assemble 12-16 buckets of bouquets (5 bouquets per bucket). Yes, do the math...60-80 bouquets! Our customers are: florists, several Whole Foods stores, "special orders" (i.e. weddings), and FARMERS' MARKETS. The week has a rhythm, i.e. cut for all florists on Monday, deliver Tuesday. Cut for markets on Saturday, attend market on Sunday. Markets are one of my favorite experiences...for so many reasons...this will get its own post one of these days!

Life Outside the Farm

It has been awesome to have a work-is-over point everyday! Keeping in touch with friends and family has been a challenge, as cell phone reception on the farm is limited to a small nook by the far sunflower field. After a 9 or 10-hour day, my focus is spent and my body tired. Still, there have been many opportunities to make the easy enough 75 minute drive into D.C., either for a market, or in my free time. The Quincy House is a mecca of music and Catholic culture. And the Boynes are going to be sick of flowers and produce by the time I'm done here! I love them and their two kiddos so much!

Pictures are my next priority (contemplating a new camera). So stay tuned and thanks for reading!

Love to all.
Miranda