Ok, so I'm at a crossroads, and let me tell ya, brothers and sisters, it looks pretty good in all directions. All points clear and ready for some combination of pluck, luck, and, "oh, fuck." I'm ready to spend my final winter in the north woods, and head on down the line. This poses no small amount of obstacles, naturally, but I'm used to that.
First hurdle: Garlic
I've got not much money to show for my meager attempt at lettuce farming this year, but learning not to bite off more than I can chew, and figuring out exactly how much my jaw is actually capable of holding is well worth the money I didn't make. I do, however, have around 25-30lb of uncertified organic seed garlic that needs to get planted. German porcelain stiffneck aka "Cockburn's stiff neck". Big cloves. Perfect for processing. I also have some rocamerole and an Irish red variety, but they didn't get very big... Probably another 15-20lb of that, but I'd almost rather eat it. ANYWAY, I'm staunchly attached to the idea that where the garlic goes, I go. My basic concept is that I talk to all interested parties, suss out the nutjobs in favor of the
Real loonies, find a place that I want to spend the next few years/forever, come out next month, plant a bunch of garlic, come back to Door County for a winter of metal and carpentry work, get a lil scratch in my pocket, and make the big haul next spring. Ambitious? Maybe. Only time will tell. But it seems to be a very chewable plan, at least to me.
So, here's me:
Benjamin L. Johansen, human male, 27, 5'8", 175lb, red hair, pagan/daoist, eyes of a greenish hue.
Gardening since age 7 (veggies, fruit, cut flowers,
greenhouse, row crops) familiarity with most animals, deep love of the woods and hills, couple years of philosophy/religion/journalism college, community college certificate in
greenhouse production,
experience in personnel management, chainsaw operation/maintenance, forestry, self-employed as a carpenter/mason/farmer for 3 years now, developing knowledge of
permaculture, natural bulding, chemical processes, blacksmithy, plant medicine, as we speak. My current goal is to find a place to put down
roots and begin experimentation with the production of hydrosols using herbs that i have grown myself (fyi- hydrosols are PERPETUALLY in high demand, and not terribly complicated to produce.) I would be just tickled and pickled to find a place where I could work in exchange for space for me, my garlic, my truck, tools, and a small lab. I'd like to live somewhere with lots of
trees, like-minded people, clean
water, and plenty of space to breathe.
Waddya think? I'm open to suggestions, offers, questions, comments, flattery, bribes, etc. Have a good'n.
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