We haven’t known each other very long, so you don’t know much about me other than that I struggle with staying light in a heavy, dark world.

Let me give you a little backstory to who I am at this very moment…

In 2014 I went back to work after having been a stay at home mom since 2000. 14 years is a long time when trying to get a job. People don’t want to take a chance on you, especially when the reason you were out of the workforce is that you had kids. I tried for almost 5 years to get someone to hire me. I know, I know. I could have gone to McDonald’s or Burger King, or any other chain anything and gotten a job…and been just as miserable as Andy was working on rusty Minnesota cars. That right there, that’s where I was lucky. I had Andy. The one who didn’t like his job, and who fully supported my finding something I would willingly give my time to. Thank God for him, because even though we’ve had our challenges over the last 19 years he holds my heart in a locked box and he’s got the only key.

When I finally found my place at 101 Market (a little greenhouse/market/floral/gift shop) it was like finding a little bit of heaven. Pain-inducing, back-breaking, sometimes sweat-covered, sometimes long-underwear-required, customer-infested heaven. Working in a greenhouse in the sun (or cloud-covered snow…because…you know…Minnesota) all day, constantly moving my body and working my muscles, constantly surrounded by plants and people that get me and all my eccentricities. I will always have a special place in my heart for the women there who taught me what they know and gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities. Those who took me in and helped me find ME. In fact, most of the best friends I’ve had in my life came from my time there.

The next spring (2015) I had the opportunity to work at Riverside Farms, a greenhouse/farm that is owned by family members of the people who own 101 Market. What a different experience that was. Loud, hot, dirty, and full of conversations that are definitely NSFW. The best part for me was that it was free of customers for the first 3 months and it was fun, despite all of the hard work…or maybe because of it. Little did I know when I took that opportunity, it was going to change my life and help me down my path.

2020 marks the 6th spring I have planted at Riverside. It also marks the beginning of the third spring since I left 101 Market and moved to Riverside Farms full time. A choice that I will never regret. A choice that put people into my life who completely changed me, whether they know it or not. An entire family of people who took me in and allowed me to be a part of what they have. They gave me love that I am not sure they knew they were giving. They gave me strength when I didn’t have my own. They gave me permission to be myself completely and feel safe. They gave me experiences and memories and the entire last chapter of this first book in my life. When I think about leaving the farm behind, I hold out hope that they’ll find a way to keep me even while I am on the road. They are family I am sad to leave behind. They are also most of the entries in my address book so I can send them postcards and little things I find on the road!

There is more to my story than just my job, but since it is late, and I’m exhausted and sore from my first days back at the greenhouse, I will leave you here.

Sweet Dreams.