Rock & Roll Farm

Saturday! Sep 25 2004 // 3:47 pm //

parties

Today was the best day yet. Market was super-awesome. I love being a farmer.

We have a variety of huge warty French heirloom squash that everyone looks at as if it were from outer-space. We made it our mission to sell this 25 pounder today, and after four hours, I finally sold it to this guy who just wanted it to put out for Halloween. Oh well. Everytime anyone would ask about it, Reid - one of the other interns - told people the wrong name intentionally. He was saying the name of some awful disease instead, just to see if anyone would catch it. One lady did, and it kind of pissed her off, but I thought it was hilarious. She wasn’t going to buy a $12 squash anyway, so whatever. The other day I sold a smaller one to a 12yr. old and it just made my day. Man, I love being a farmer.

Tonight we’re having a barn dance party. We’re all busying around getting things cleaned and cooked and wired. It’s rare that we see our friends and family, and even more rare that they see the farm. We have a lot of pot lucks, but never anything this big. We’re going to have a dj and everything.

Tomorrow we’re having a Harvest Party. Hopefully some people will come out. The Harvest Party is when members come help on the farm for a few hours, more than the usual hodge-podge of weeding or tomato picking. The focus of the day will be boxing squash that’s already been picked and grouped in the fields. I’m looking forward to it - some of our members are really fun.

My giant hogweed burns are finally looking better. Giant hogweed is this non-native, invasive plant that is starting to appear all over Michigan. It’s kind of like poison ivy, in that you get a rash when you come in contact with it. The difference is that it’s photosensitive, so you have to go in the sun first. Then, you get these awful puss-filled blisters. It’s essentially a chemical burn. I had a blister on my right shin that was the size of a fifty cent piece, and 3/8 of an inch high. It was painful, and disgusting. I have pictures, if you want to see them. I think they’re too gross to post here. I’m told giant hogweed leaves permanent scars, too. I totally love being a farmer.