Thank You Tana

It was 10 years ago today that I started this blog, June 6, 2008. So much has changed since then....

I started this blog inspired by the passionate work that I was doing at the time with my husband- trying to build a profitable business of raising animals on pasture, in harmony with the natural ecological cycles of the land. I am no longer on that beautiful patch of ground, although I am happy to report that another organic farmer has bought that ranch and is taking good care of it. For awhile, I thought I had left a part of my soul there, but now I realize they are just memories and there is no reason to hold on to the past.

I am no longer on any ground at all. In fact, I own my current domicile but the ground underneath I do not. I am not even homesteading anymore, just happy to be taking care of myself and my two human animals. I am no longer married any longer, but still very much friends with my ex and raising our children as best as we can together.

I grow a few tomatoes on my patio. I buy local produce, cheese, flowers, and meat at the farmers market. I do a little berry-picking and canning in the fall. That is about the extent of my agricultural pursuits. Even though my newish job is all about the niche meat industry, working mainly with meat processors, I am distant from the actual on-the-ground work of caring for animal or vegetable. I wrote a book three years ago about direct marketing meat, but I am no longer doing it myself.

Therefore, this will be my last blog post on HonestMeat. It has been fun, challenging, mentally stimulating, and sometimes personally trying (back when people used to comment on my blog posts).

Before I part though, I wanted to dedicate this last post to my good friend who is no longer with us. The one who helped me get this blog started, designed all of the layout, and provided numerous vivid photos for the blog. Tana Butler, who became Tana Churchill at the end of her life when she married her long-time partner Bob, was my writing muse for many years. For the first couple years of this blog, we would get together at her house for either tea or wine, depending on the time of the day, to write together. We would run ideas by each other, laugh and talk way too much, and produce original content for our blogs. Her blog, I Heart Farms, was a homage to small farms in the region of the Monterey Bay. Sadly, she was unable to write for many years due to health issues, but many farmers still remember her coming to visit them, usually with her grandson Logan in tow. She would take pictures and capture stories, and then put them magically together into a heartfelt narrative. She visited the local farmers markets religiously, even when she didn't have any money, to snap pictures of the brightly hued produce and usually lots of happy babies and toddlers. Some called her a "baby whisperer" because she could charm nearly all of them. I miss you Tana 'Banana' Butler Churchill. You have made an indelible mark on many a soul.

 

 

Comments

[Cynthia Sandberg]

I didn't realize the two of you got together to write. Yes, Tana, had an indelible influence on many of us in the farming community. She was a true peach.