Goodbye, Christopher

Christopher, my wonderful farmhand, apprentice, sounding board, and raconteur, had to leave us and follow his dreams back in his home state, Tennessee.  Chris was a valuable part of the farm here, and did some great work on my well tower remodel, our new greenhouse project, and was the artist behind my favorite part of this blog: the beautiful banner you see at the top of every page.  I truly believe without that gorgeous banner, this blog wouldn't be nearly as well-received as it has been. 

Chris and I had nicknames for each other.  I started calling him "Orach" after he saw it growing in the garden and asked what it was.  I affected a southern accent and joked that it sounded like something a redneck would name his kid.  So from then on, he was Orach.  Not to be outdone, he started calling me the good ol' redneck name of "Verleen."

Thank you, Christopher, for your good help, and ultimately, your good friendship.  Here are his parting words:

A little over two weeks ago I packed my things and drove the long road home to Memphis, Tennessee.  Now I get to say goodbye in writing, and tell you what I will miss most about life on the farm.  It is difficult for me to put into words, so bear with me. I will miss MORNINGS the most. Mornings always start the same way:  coffee in Cynthia's kitchen, with fresh whipping cream to go in it.  Then, back out the door as the last wisps of fog burn away, with the sun breaking over the trees to the east.  The chickens always get excited and cluck a little louder as they hear a person coming to free them into the day yard.  The plants seem somehow conscious and attentive as you stride past the orderly rows to the chicken coop.  Dali, the potbellied pig, snorts 'hello' and asks for her breakfast.  The chickens flock like unruly children, their little chicken personalities showing through.

I will miss LUNCHES second-most. The lunches I cooked, I mean.  Fried red (and green) tomatoes . . . tomato gravy.  Sometimes there were so many tomatoes, we would have tomatoes with a garnish of tomatoes.  And tomato juice (just kidding).

I will miss SNACKS the third-most. Now I'm talking about garden snacking . . . biodynamic KALE fresh from the stalk . . . radishes that Cynthia did not know I ate . . . red mustard . . . parsley . . . did I mention tomatoes?  When harvesting tomatoes there are always the little cherry tomatoes that burst.  Not good enough for Manresa, but too good to throw away.  I solved this problem by eating them.

I will mess Chef David ALOT.  He always looks very snappy, except when he looks raffish.  And I DO miss CYNTHIA.  It's not easy being a super-smart farmer, huh?

Love to the dynamic duo of Trinity and Indiana Jones. 

Thanks, Chris.  Trinity and Indy send love to Poopers.  We'll all miss you both!

Photo by Chris Schmauch / GoodEyePhotography.com

Comments

[Scott Honeycutt]

Chris, Ol Boy --

I have been looking for you, want to catch up. It's been years -- Scott Honeycutt (Knoxvegas)
honeycutt825@charter.net

[Christopher]

Thanks Tana, Jeaners and Annette (and kiddos) for saying nice things. I miss y'all, too.

Cynthia said that farming is like the law -- vast, knowable only in a small way because of its vastness. I agree, and I think it is because the human assists by inserting him/herself into a part of a process -- a process that is contingent on so many variables, only a few of which we see.

But although that is the challenge, that is not what keeps me coming back. It's being a witness to the beauty of the process, and eating the tomatoes, that I love.

[Annette]

We miss you Christopher! Love Annette, James & Emily.

["Jeaners"]

Christopher, it's not quite the same without you here at the farm. I miss seeing your non stop energetic enthusiasm, (matched only of course by your dog Poopers) your lovely smile and that delightful sound of your southern drawl. Who will call me "Jeaners" I still ask myself? Your southern hospitality was felt by every visitor to the farm, always making everyone feel welcome. Your letter touched me because I know you see the poetry that goes on here at Love Apple Farm; the dedication, passion and hard work required to keep it going and the die-hard work ethic Cynthia seems to inspire in us all. Just knowing that all your contributions have made this place even better is the reward you get to carry with you everywhere you go. I remember when I house-sat for Cynthia and had the daily farm duties. The apricots were coming on and we would shake the tree, "it's raining apricots," in that moment I knew what it felt like to be rich, for no money in the world could buy that moment or those special gifts. I know you will keep touching others' lives and making the world a better place, I just know you will. Thanks for being my friend too, and of course giving me your family recipe for Tomato Gravy, yum. Love, Jeannie

[Grow tents]

We wish him all the best back home in Tennessee. Cynthia Sandberg, how are you doing?

[Tana]

Well, Christopher, I enjoyed all the time we spent together: you are smart, witty, and creative in the best possible way. I wish you all the success and happiness in the world in your new cycle of life back in "Old Tennessee," as Dan Fogelberg called it.

(And how sweet and true that you call Cynthia a "super-smart farmer." I wish we could clone her. There just isn't enough to go around!)

Cheers!

Tana