Fall 2007, Food Bank Farm
Welcome to my attempt at a blog. If you are reading this you probably already know most of this, but for formalities’ sake…
My name is Rachel Wyatt Lindsay – I worked for the last three years at the Food Bank Farm in Hadley, MA, this past year as an assistant manager. I attended Wesleyan University, where I was part of a group of students who founded Long Lane Farm, a one-acre organic educational farming project that continues today. I suppose I learned to love growing food while helping in my grandfather’s garden as a child, and became interested in working with food justice and environmental sustainability while at college. Recieving a Fulbright to work with a micro-loans program and the department of Agro-ecology at a national Nicaraguan university is a result of my desire to (at least for now) move away from manual farm work and experience some of the educational and economic support structures that are behind the growth of sustainable agriculture throughout the world.
When I am not working on the farm, I am either dancing, looking for a place to go dancing, or thinking about the next time and place that I can go dancing. Contra, swing, contact, just boogying, irish step dancing (not so much any more), and more recently salsa, merengue, and bachata – I love it all. I also fill my time with cooking and enjoying the fruits of hard work at an organic farm, learning Spanish, making art, and trying to keep in touch with all the crazy wonderful people I know.
November 24, 2009 at 8:06 am
By any chance, do you have any information on short term homestays (ie 2 nights) on a farm for a group of 4 (including two good kids ages 7 & 9). We are searching for a more authentic experience than a hostel but can’t seem to find anything…. I love your site – Great work!!!
October 5, 2009 at 12:05 am
I hope to correspond with you about the many people and resources you’ve encountered in Nicaragua. My husband (a Nica) and I have a farm between Nandaime and Rivas off the Panamerican highway. There is so much to do and so much we need technical help with that at times I feel totally overwhelmed. We both work hard here in WA State to support development of this farm. Reforestation, riparian preservation, pasture management, and digging wells are just a few of the things on our plate.
Your blog is very inspiring!
thank you and best of luck,
Betsy
September 6, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Hi! Your blog randomly appeared today as a link in my Google News Nicaragua Email. Being a former grantee I was curious so I clicked and realized hey, I’ve met you! (Casa de los Mejia Godoy…). Are you still in Leon? How much longer? If you come down to Managua send me a note! I’m actually in CT this week visiting family, will be back the 14th.
abrazos,
kate
August 20, 2009 at 7:40 pm
finally got your address, a little late but gave me something to do, your blogs are great, pictures are fantastic and you seem to be having a great time. Miss your smiling, happy face at the farm. keep up the dancing!
June 5, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Hey Rachel,
I found this very interesting blog as I was doing research for my own Fulbright application in Nicaragua! I wanted to know if you could help me with some questions I have about applying to live at UNAN in Leon. I’m really excited about my project and would really appreciate any help or advise you have. My email address is firstname.lastname@gmail.com. Thanks so much, and good luck on your project!
May 7, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Rachel, the tract of land is near Jinotepe. I’ll be working with a missions group in that area doing a building project. BTW I’ve been blessed with a “few” pounds of Selva Negra coffee. Very good!
May 6, 2009 at 10:16 am
Hi Rachel, I will be visiting Nicaraqua this June. Will be working with a local Missionary Organization who are looking into purchasing a 80 acre piece of land. I have a background in the Master Gardening Program in PA, and have owned a small farmette in the past. The interesting thing about this particular piece of land is that is has a artesian well and a stream providing the possibility for irrigation. I am looking forward to what the possibilities are. – Bruce
May 6, 2009 at 10:28 pm
That sounds really interesting Bruce, where is the piece of land you are looking at? I would love to hear about your plans for the land, what you want to grow and where the products will go. Please look me up when you come visit, my cell number is on the right hand side of the homepage, it’s a movistar number.
May 2, 2009 at 8:24 am
Happy Birthday, Rachel!
Thank you for your articulate observations and your pictures.
Love,
Marney
(first cousin once removed – now that is an interesting cultural concept)
April 6, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hello Rachel girl!!
I love your web site and will be checking in on it often. I miss you very much at the Food Bank Farm. I can’t believe you won’t be here this season, it is slow to sink in for me. How lucky everyone is to have you there. You sound so happy Rachel. Good luck with all you do. And so with much love and pride good bye for now!
Sherry from the Shareroom
March 5, 2009 at 5:48 pm
coment on Miercoles de Ceniza part 2.
The bigger question related to all the plastic burning is, why does a poor country like Nicaragua import and produce so many goods which come in plastic bottles and plastic packaging? Until not too long ago jute and various types of paper was used for packaging and glass for bottling. Maybe coca cola and their friends need to be sent off and sustainable industries started.
March 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm
That’s a really good question. To frame it in respect to agriculture, why are Nicaraguan farmers selling their beans and peanuts to El Salvador, where they are packaged (and roasted, in the case of peanuts), labeled, and then returned to Nicaragua to be sold in the supermarkets? Unfortunately I think the answer is cultural, and immensely difficult to challenge. The same culture that prefers beans in labeled packages doesn’t care where the packages end up. But I’m not convinced that the bulk of the blame can be thrown at large companies such as Coca Cola. Even unpackaged bulk goods in the market end up in plastic bags, and fruit drinks that are made in large batches from fresh local ingredients are sold in plastic bags with straws stuck in them to drink in the street. It’s the same struggle that we have in the U.S. – trying to get people to bring their own bags to market, and to carry their own cups around to drink from. Except that here no one has even begun the campaign.
March 3, 2009 at 9:26 am
Excellent! Thank you!
February 11, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi Rachel,
Your mom told me about your project and your blog! Fantastic! Can I share this with your fellow Waldorf alumni?
Hope all is going well!
Yours,
Robert
February 20, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Of course you can. I appreciate your enthusiasm, and hope there are others who would be interested in this too.
February 3, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hi Rachel. How are you? I just wanted to say that I hope everything is going great in Nicaragua. I hope you’re learning a lot of spanish and having fun.
February 1, 2009 at 10:08 am
Hello from America!!!!! This is your brother and fellow colleague Chris from Dr. Hajdu;s Veterinary clinic back home. Hope all is well, send some tomatoes!!!!
January 24, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Hey Rachel,
Great that you got a blog started. Keep the info. coming & I’ll keep reading. Stay in touch.
January 20, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Rock on, sister! Obama’s warming it up for you out here in the U.S. May the contagious optimism of the national moment reach you and lift you up as you travel! I’m pulling for you and can’t wait to read about your adventures!
January 17, 2009 at 11:26 pm
rachel,
have safe travels, and have a wonderful time. I am sure that you will make us all so proud!
Love you and miss your pretty little face already, muah!!
January 17, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Rachel,
Thanks for this. can’t wait to read along, then come visit and see for myself! enjoy the sun for us who forgot what it looks like.
January 17, 2009 at 11:18 am
Hi Rachel, It is great to “hear” your joyful voice in print. I am glad you are blogging to share your delights and insights. ¡Baile, Mi Amiga!
January 16, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Rachel,
It has been a tremendous pleasure getting to work with you these two weeks. I look forward to a future of collaboration. Buen viaje en Nicaragua.