maudy's journal

Hubby likes to watch Man vs. Wild, while I am kinda disgusted with the survival tricks Bear Grylls shows on the show especially while I am eating. This grossness doesn't seem to bother hubby. It is Bear's skill that he praises.

Anyway. While watching Bear's struggling to survive using limited tools in a very hopeless situation in Namibia, I asked hubby what he would bring if he could only bring 3 things to go to the wild. He said: knife, matches, and KIKKOMAN!

Unlike my two previous semesters that focused on urban design and anything urban, last semester the focus of our studio project was on rural development. Before starting to design our actual project, we had to do research then present three topics each person. So the total was 27 for our class. One topic that I got was agritourism. I had heard and known that term long before I researched that topic, yet apparently there are a lot of fact that I had never thought before.

Agritourism is any agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch - wikipedia.
Running a farm is not easy and not always financially profitable. That is one reason people sell their farm, because it is more beneficial to invest the money. Most of ex-farmlands are developed to hardscapes or buildings, that if is not designed properly will cause more water run-off, more land pollution, flood, heat island, etc. But some people choose to keep their farm, because it is their family heritage, and it's been part of their life, and they want to make good living to support community's demand out of it. It is small farms, family farms we are talking about, not farm factories that are owned by gigantic companies.

To keep their farm going, the farmers need to have other incomes other than from selling crops. Some popular agritourisms are pick-your-own operation, petting zoo, horseback riding, winery, and corn maze. Agritourism serving as cushion against farm income fluctuation, it is stimulating local economy, and the most important thing, it provides FUN for visitors. I just experienced it last Saturday. Strawberry season is in early May. After going to CSA open farm, I hurried hubby to drive to a berry patch in our city.

It was bright and sunny but not too hot when we got to the main building. I grabbed two empty buckets that soon would be filled with luscious strawberries. While having a little driving to the strawberry field, we passed peach, plum, blueberry, and grape orchard. I will try to remember checking their website so I can come when they are ripe. My eyes widened while looking at the field. Those shiny red fruits were hiding under their thick serrated leaves. I was excited, very excited so hubby's preference to stay and read in the car didn't turn me down. About and hour after, I almost filled up my two buckets. I can't decide which one is more fun, the picking or the eating and baking part.

We got to the main building and scale the strawberries. 7 pounds! (more than 3 kgs). The price isn't necessarily lower than that of grocery store, but pick-your-own and road-side-stand are one of few ways farmers can get fair price. The payment goes directly to the farmers, it support local economy, and you get the freshest fruit ever! I have some plans that use those strawberries, one of my plan is just wash, put in a bowl, and nibble them enjoying their tastiness. Yummm....

Last Wednesday before History class started, one of my friend said that he couldn't wait until next year when we didn't need to worry about all of school work. Another friend of mine corrected, "a year and a week". Yes, it is that sleepless-night time again. Some people will come to studio with their red, watery eyes. Some have their sleeping bag, pillow and blanket in studio, camp out in the building to save traveling time.

That conversation reminded me of my great time in my last semester in college. I was stressed out, complained about my thesis coordinator and many things, but I enjoyed that time so much. Although I admitted it after the last semester ended. During the semester, I just wished I could pass that time and graduate.

This time, I can feel what I felt when I graduated, from college, high school and middle school. I can feel the heart stirring of not being around friends that apparently become a group support for each other. Yup, those feeling that comes after the glory of finishing a degree. Wait! No early sadness now. I still have a year, don't I?