Five days before moving to Farm #3, here are a few lessons I've learned so far.
- Humility - A 71 year old carrying heavier logs than me, limberly climbing and balancing on trees like a young man. Driving hours, carrying, pushing, pulling, dragging, rubbing, scratching, sawing, climbing, squeezing. 7 days a week, most of the year with very few breaks and for several decades. Wow! A 33 year old mother of two with remarkable endurance doing gruelling work on the fields while dealing with a very busy schedule and an overall exhausting lifestyle. Some incredible life stories. People with practical skills and a very sharp intuition when it comes to designing, building, fixing, timing, driving, etc.
- Physical Condition - a 78 year old farmer working all day long in the vineyards looking like he barely turned 50. Farming develops a strong back, mostly from handling tools in the field, carrying, lifting and putting down. More sleep and food are required.
- Farming equates with scratches, cuts and bruises.
- Intellectual surprises - I have rarely met as many intellectually stimulating people in so little time. Both farms I've been staying in have something in common: no TV. In Ardèche, the radio would usually either be tuned in on France Culture or France Musique. Jazz and classical music were the two main genres listened to. Courrier International in farm #2 and Le Monde Diplomatique in farm #1 were usually thorougly read. Both hosts and many farmers met have travelled extensively and possess a lot of knowledge about cultures and a deeper perspective than most about history, politics etc. I did not expect to meet a farmer who read Kant's Critique of Pure Reason!
- Company - a dog, a donkey and a three year old. Three unexpected encounters that have become revelations. A dog can be an amazing companion. Taking care of a convalescent donkey daily has made me want to spend more time with animals. An adorable three year old rekindles hope in mankind.
- Adaptation - It takes a week to get used to a new setting, two to finally feel settled, three to feel as comfortable as at home. Spending an extended amount time with other people makes you adjust to their behavioral patterns, especially on their territory. It makes you morph into a buffer state where you balance with your core set of behaviors and the environment's dynamics to come to a state of equilibrium. You then feel sufficiently self-preserved while not creating too much tension in the host's space. You pick up their communication habits, and tune in to speed and energy levels.
- Responsibility - With experience come skill and autonomy. It is wonderful to nuture those skills and to have people trust you with them. When you receive a person's encouragement to complete a task unsupervised that could mean a lot of damage if badly done, there is a boost in self-esteem - as long as you have managed to do it properly.
- Beauty - There are absolutely gorgeous areas in France. Living, working and hiking in such environments feeds the soul. Common things in a grandiose setting makes them meaningful.
- Food - I don't know if any pursuit is more noble than striving to eat like a frugal gourmet.
