The last week on the campus farm has been very rewarding. Even though challenges remain, the stress of those challenges is becoming manageable. Maybe a better way to put it is that I have been practicing stress management. Mindfulness of my physical state caused by stress has allowed me to take moments to reframe my internal monologue as well a lower the heart rate and loosen the body. The farm property is more under control and is looking much better, except for an important planting of trees that I have a habit of forgetting to line trim. One of the interns asked if we could spend 15 minutes weeding in different areas rather that weeding one area clean and forgetting about it until it is a problem again. It is not only a good idea but one I have meant to implement both on my own property and farm. I have yet to lead a 15 minute an are weed party but am excited to try. What I have done since that suggestion is make sure not to focus on one task for a day or even every week but to make small progress on several areas every day. That ends up looking like line trimming for an hour, then weeding for an hour, then cleaning a barn then planting some seeds and controlling insects. It is similar to a suggestion from my partner to make everything 1% better every week instead of trying making one thing perfect, not finishing then moving on while other areas of work and life don’t get attention. It seems to be going very well.
Fall greens are being started in flats and in soil, I plant to finish the season by showcasing a planting system learned in a course. Landscape fabric is a weed barrier that plants will be planted through. drip irrigation under the fabric with sorghum sudangrass planted in the rows and mowed for weed control. I think it will be great
