Some easy breezy tunnel work during this warm sunny week! There’s nothing better than the smell of healthy soil when there’s still snow on the ground. Seed order is in, field plans are done, and now it’s a waiting game... by that I mean slow mornings, house projects, book reading, and card playing. Til seeding, y’all. Xoxo
Wishing you all happy solstice, holidays, family time, whatever you do this time of year.
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Last weekend @days.of.juice (🙏🏻) and I put together a damn sweet solstice dinner with @theodoressmith (🙏🏻). We filled the greenhouse and he created incredible courses - I will die with the deconstructed ceasar - cooked over an open fire to bring in the light with us. If you’re interested in attending our dinners in the future, let me know; we’re putting together an email list! I recommend
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Sending love and light to you and yours, xoxo
Tracy ✨
(Sorry for the reposts, Instagram didn’t like my photo formatting)
The drive to Côtes de Fontbonne is narrow, windy, and steep. We got lucky: an afternoon sun perfectly filtered over the contoured orchards and hills, highlighting the Ardèche region of southern France. Estelle and Pierre are awarm and lovely as ever - they seem to have not aged at all, excitedly lending us boots, showing us updates around the property, preparing snacks, introducing us to their cockatoo and friends. They stopped making aperitif wine and cheese like the did in 2007, but continue to garden for themselves and their community. Estelle keeps a book of the over 100 WWOOFers they hosted over the years. They make rose water and apricot oil for sale. Their little sons who I played with are now 18 and 20, their house has expended to gorgeous splendor, and they no longer shit in the barn (a shame - it had the best view).
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When I was here 12 years ago (12 years! I was a baby!) I didn’t imagine a grand vegetable farming career. In fact, I came back to the states after WWOOFing in Spain France and Ireland wanting to be a beekeeper, or maybe work with animals. I wound up at @heartyrootsfarm instead, which turned out to be an incredible fortune. But before that, it started here. Visiting Estelle and Pierre last week took me back to my first glimpse of what sustainable living / farming looked like. The three farms that I spent 5 months with were all so different but they were all so warm and open, all focused on meals together and joy. We spent our days doing things that nourished our bodies, the land, and community. That’s what it’s about, right? Eating well, believing in the work, sharing it? I get it now, deeply. Then it was something cool to do with my body and hands and my burnt out brain. A sweet experience before @alisastorrar and I jet-setted through 12 countries in 5 weeks like INSANE PEOPLE, just two virgos set loose with books and plans, truly getting the full value of our Eurorail Pass.
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This little visit was an absolute highlight of my vacation. Thanks @wwoof for the early farming opportunity, my hosts along the way (none of whom have social media) for their kindness, and @days.of.juice for being game and navigating skinny ass back roads with me.
