Over the last two weeks, I’ve spent something like40 hours in front of the computer working on this years Adamah Farm Plan. Choosing vegetable varieties, checking the spacing, rearranging the crop rotation, calculating how many seeds, seed trays, and other supplies will be needed, and inventorying the seeds as they come in. When you are planting almost 4 acres; almost 200 rows of 85 ft each, you need to be organized. I’ve been working 10, 11, and even 14 hour days organizing data and choosing varieties. Last week, I actually had an extended dream involving various members of the Cucurbitacea family (watermelons, cukes, zukes, winter Squashes and pumpkins). I can honestly say that I never put this much effort into anything that I did in college… maybe 2 that papers I wrote came close to the sheer number of hours and the intensity level of this work.

Tomorrow, the seeding begins with onions (roughly 50,000 seeds), though the vegetable seeding doesn’t really start in earnest for another few weeks. Just enough time to finish the organizational work that is yet to be completed. One day last week as Shamu (my boss) and I were in the office going over vegetable varieties, he shared a D’var Torah. In Psalm 126, which starts the Grace After Meals on the Sabbath and Holidays, we read “Those who tearfully sow will reap in great joy.” Shamu and his wife Jaimie had discussed how during the winter when it seems cold and dark, we often feel like crying, but we know our tears will be rewarded with songs to come. I know that I was surely hurting after all those hours looking at little cells in excel, but the labors of the winter preparations will be richly rewarded… Every bit of stress I’ve felt while preparing this farm plan will have its own joyful song as when it’s time to reap the bounty of our harvest. Green Zebra Tomatoes, Early Moonbeam Watermelon, Delicata Squash, Diamante Cucumbers, and countless other varieties… It’s amazing how fast my frustration turns to excitement when I prepare to plant… With God’s help, and the labor of our hands, we will certainly reap with great joy.