How farming is like sailing

1. Farmer Tan: I'm not sure why we never called it Sailor Tan but man after wearing polo shirts and khaki shorts all summer on the deck of Wyntje Captain J and I looked like we were wearing t-shirts and shorts when we weren't wearing anything at all (which was the official uniform on our own sailboat Gitane when offshore and with little chance of being spotted through a periscope by men in a submarine (which actually happened. You're welcome boys.))

2. Knots: Very useful to know how to tie a real knot instead of just tie a lot, as they say. I got very excited the other day when our instructor at the farm used a trucker's hitch to tighten up a string marking a soon to be planted bed. I almost volunteered that I know that knot too if anyone wants to learn it, but I don't want to be the smarty-pants show-off. Just yet.

3. Fixing shit with your own flair (aka jury rigging): Yup, whether it is nailing together chicken roosts from used pallets and termite infested 1x2s or connecting a used baked beans can where an exhaust elbow should be on your diesel engine, farmers and sailors are a crafty (and cheap) lot. And I love love love it! Having to figure out how to fix a problem in the middle of a field or the middle of an ocean can be exhilarating. Usually annoying as all hell to begin with but then you figure things out and start tinkering and marvel at your genius when the engine starts up and doesn't bellow smoke into the cabin. Or the chickens love their new perching apparatus. Yes, eventually it's better to actually use quality materials and more sweat and tears but hey you made the magic happen at least for a little while.

4. Chasing birds: I spent my morning chasing after chickens. They are fast little suckers with sharp beaks and talons. Talons I tell you! But once those little guys are under your arm and you put them to sleep by covering their little eyes and their little brains say "It's night! Sleep" and they go limp, they're quite cute. Unfortunately blue footed boobies that land on the deck of boats and poop or perch on the top of the mast and disrupt wind readings (and then poop) do not know about the whole "It's night! Sleep!" thing. They don't care what time it is, they will sit and squawk and poop with no regard for the tired sailors yelling (cursing) up at them. But they're still kind of cute in their own blue footed way.

5. Water conservation: Water water everywhere but not a drop... to do your laundry. Or bathe. Or do dishes. Well at least not fresh water. You get used to being slightly salty on a small scrappy sailboat. All the time. That's why you go naked- it cuts down on laundry. You'd rather be able to drink water then do silly things like bathing or washing dishes.
Water conservation on a farm is a little different. Especially in San Diego. We can't really save water by going naked. Or at least we haven't tried. Yet. But using bio-dynamic farming methods saves on that precious resource that we funnel away from Northern Cali (a sheepish Thanks to y'all up yonder). We live in a desert. Water is scarce. Turn off the faucet. Army shower. Water plants deeply and as little as possible. Etc.

6. Mother Nature's capriciousness: I've encountered it at sea when the skies darken and wind bellows and my body tenses for impact with every steep white horsed wave. The next day is bluebird skies and glassy calm waters. Its hard to remember the former.
Farmers contend with the changing of the seasons and the unpredictability that current weather patterns are dishing out. So far my farming experience here is all sun (lots of it (hello freckles)) and butterflies. I heard last winter it rained and rained and rained which I imagine confused the arid soil immeasurably. No earthquakes and hurricanes on this side yet but that Mother Nature always has a trick or two up her sleeve that could mess with even the heartiest of pumpkins.

7. Getting creative with food:
At sea: wondering what the hell to do with the eight cabbage you picked up in Panama City knowing it's the only veg that will last three weeks in the heat without refrigeration.
On the farm: wondering what the hell to do with the eight million cucumbers you picked that are piled in baskets, on tables, in trunks of dusty cars. Pickling anyone?

8. Tools and procedures: You've got to have a lot of pointy and clampy and archaic looking tools on hand for various tasks and procedures. Both tools and the procedures have funny names that only you and your compatriots know and the layperson gets easily confused when you talk about splicing the bitter end or packing the stuffing box or pulling and composting bolting brassica. It's like pig latin but way way better. Because you sound like you actually know something.

9. I love sailing. I love farming. Kickstarter farm barge? Hmmm...