I am not going to lie, I miss 2019. In September of 2019 I had just wrapped up my 3rd year of roadside produce sales in a small mountain town in northern Colorado. It was a good season. We had decent weather and made good money. We decided to go on a big adventure. I got new tires on the truck, packed the camping gear and headed to Yellowstone National Park.
I knew I was racing the weather but I had to go. My son was 11. I was 12 the first time I went. We experienced all four seasons in one week. The elk and the moose were in the rut. The wolves howled all night down by the lake. Buffalo were everywhere. We slept on the ground in a tent, under the stars. We hiked every trail and took pictures of everything. We were free…
In January of 2020, I felt in my spirit that something wasn’t right… The news said a new virus outbreak was taking place in China. It spread fast and the world shut down. Like everyone else, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I tried to live a normal life but it was evident that normal was no longer a thing.
There were a lot of other things that affected my little world in 2020. The world famous stone fruits that grow in our valley experienced a hard freeze in May. 90% of all the crops in the valley were lost. Then in July, the Pine Gulch fire happened. It ended up being the 2nd largest wildfire in Colorado history.
Firefighters work during the night battling the Pine Gulch fire. (Photo courtesy of Wyoming Hotshots/Inciweb)
I had started my first market farm. Previously, I was a peddler of other peoples produce. I pushed forward with my goal of becoming a farmer. It was successful and I learned much. As time marched on, it became painfully obvious that there was no going back. It was time to adapt and overcome. I had to come up with a plan.
Through the pandemic, I learned to be still. I learned to breathe deeper and take time to cry (& occasionally throw rocks at the hillside.) I read a lot and write even more now. It’s a form of release. I learned that fear is a powerful and destructive force. I learned not to be afraid and to stare down adversity with peace in my heart. I learned that I am stronger than I thought and I am determined to stay the course and continue to follow my dreams…
Nomadic Farmer 