Ngogo (Zulu for Grandma)

Pumpkins in March...kinda trippy.

Ro pickin' walnuts

Before...

After

Starting from Scratch

"It feels good to get dirty, work hard, and slow down." - Jenna Woginrich

It's harvest time here in Memel, and Cindy's kitchen is in full swing as we prep for the winter.  I'm learning how to store, I'm making preserves - plum jam, apple butter, tomato chutney, to name a few.  I'm picking corn off the stalk, shucking it, milling it - turning it into fresh cornmeal for fritters and cornbread.  I'm learning to make my own yogurt...that's been a real trial and error process so far.  

It's oddly satisfying.  There's something incredibly fulfilling about creating your meals from scratch - and by scratch I mean, from planting the seed to the moment it hits your plate - about really knowing where your food comes from.  Sure, back home I can go to a farmer's market and buy a bunch of organic arugula from a local farm, but the rewards not the same: I wasn't there when the seed went into the ground, I didn't watch the plant grow, and I don't ultimately know what went into the process.  

It's about coming full circle.  It's creating something, REALLY creating it, from absolute start to finish.  It's gettting back to the basics, getting grounded, in the most fundamental way.  It's the sense of freedom that comes with being able to provide for yourself - to feed yourself.  To know what's going into your body and know that you worked for it.  It's deeply and surprisingly fulfilling.

Now, I'm a city girl at heart, and I enjoy the conveniences of modern living as much as the next person. But in a world where we're constantly plugged in, mass produced, and bombarded by a trillion pre-packaged distractions, this movement towards self-sustainability is not only revolutionary, but necessary.  It's about taking more control of your life, and regaining some of the authenticity we've lost. There's bliss in walking out to the coop, basket in tow, to pick your own eggs for breakfast.  There's inner peace in searching the garden for the perfect eggplant.

Of course, compost heaps and chickens may not be so realistic for a city like New York.  But wherever you are, whatever your current situation, there are a multitude of choices you can make to bring more simplicity into your life.  So try taking a step towards self-sufficiency today.   Grind your own beans instead of buying that two dollar cup of joe.  Ride your bike to work instead of taking the train.  Put down the iPhone and pick up a musical instrument.  You'll be blown away by the sense of accomplishment you'll feel, the joy that comes with giving up convenience for the sake of creation.  Start making your life from scratch.

Peaches.

John talks about his...no, no - it's too easy.

Memel Organics Preserves.

Phew!

This last week and a half was a whirlwind - the three grad students teaching English (Nayeon, Logan & Hilary) finished their contract, and the days preceding their departure were jammed packed with travel, school events, and farewell parties.

We kicked off the craziness by travelling to the Elephant Coast last week - a 160km stretch of gorgeous, untamed beaches and nature reserves, appropriately nicknamed "The Wild Coast".

Cape Vidal

Mission Rocks

St. Lucia Market

HIPPO!!!!!!

Sodwana Bay

After too much sun and too many close encounters (you try learning to drive stick when rhinos keeping wandering into the road) we returned to Memel for a week of goodbye braais and our first official soccer match with the girls.

Cindy, cooking rabbit for 60.

Bright, Reason, Lakateah (my roomie), and Evidence.  A family of Zimbabwean refugees employed at Cindy's farm.  And yes, those are their real names.

Ro coaches through a huddle on game day.  

It was a grand week, full of speeches, celebrations, and tears.  Waving goodbye as the teachers sped off to catch their flight, I realized how lucky I am - I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to share this experience with.  To Nayeon, Hilary and Logan: Good Luck with all you do, and Thankyou for making the last two months so memorable.  

Miss you already.