The rain began around 2 p.m. before we had the last of the black weed cloth and staples pulled up. It was a gentle, refreshing sprinkle. All of the pulling and scraping was getting me warm under my clothes, so I didn't mind. The rest of the crew didn't care much either, and someone challenged us to guess in what direction a rainbow might appear. Fingers pointed in various directions, but the sky failed us, and we turned our attention back to the task at hand.
"Wouldn't it be great if you were a farmer with super powers?" Olivia asked.
There are several ways to get free eats where we live; doing work trade on a farm is one of them. I found out about this option by word-of-mouth from a friend. So I called the farm she works for, talked to the field crew manager, Laura, and signed myself up for the Wednesday afternoon shift. You work four hours and then get to take home what's left over from the farmers market and whatever you want from the rows out in the fields marked with yellow flags. You only need to be able-bodied, cooperative, and willing to sign a liability waiver, and commit for the season.
