I’m kind of surprised it took me until this point in my life to find myself at an organic farm. I kind of took the long way around to get to this point though. I guess it started about ten years ago in Virginia. I had just moved back home after a year’s stint in Austin, TX. I had been working as a barista in various coffee houses for about 4 or 5 years and was ready for a change. I saw an ad in the paper for a farm hand at a local farm named Caballo Farm. Now at the time, my spanish skills were non-existent so I was imagining myself working in the fields harvesting vegetables and was quite excited. Of course, when I called inquiring about the job, I found out it was a horse farm and that my job would be shoveling horse poop. Well, it still sounded better than one more day slinging coffee, so i took the job. It was at this job that I discovered two very important things about myself. First off, I am very afraid of being in close quarters with horses, and secondly, I love hard work outside and getting dirty on the job. However, my fear of the horses became too much and after a few months I went back to the coffee house.

But that short taste of dirt and sweat had left me craving more. Right about this time my mom and dad were having an addition done on their house. I got to know the guys working on the house a bit, and seeing the work they were doing, I knew right then and there that I needed to be working with them. After some convincing, they decided to take me on for a summer job. Well, I stayed with that company for about 5 years. It definitely fulfilled my desire for hands on work. The smells, the textures, learning the different skills, working with so many different types of people, the dirt, the sweat… I loved it! But then I met a girl.

Right around this time, I took a fateful trip to Florida where I met a very sweet girl named Helchi Melissa Mata from Costa Rica. Long story short, I ended up moving down here, married Melissa, worked various jobs until landing a decent job at the airport, started becoming more sustainable, more involved with the community, healthier, I started reconnecting with nature, fell in love with the Buddha’s Dharma, and started learning to smile at life. Then one Sunday Melissa and I found ourselves at Sweetwater looking for local organic produce and I got that itch again. Looking at all the projects and the work to be done on the farm, and the dirt…. I knew this was it for me.

I first fell in love with nature when living in the Cloud Forest of Costa Rica as a teenager. I focused much time helping scientists collect botanical specimens and leading visitors through natural interpretation walks in the forest. For six years I traveled through the tropical forest and learned about their ecosystems and conservation as a naturalist guide.

In 2000 I left Costa Rica and attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wa. This is where I met my amazing wife and best friend, Amber, and we both studied science and natural history together. Olympia is also special to us because it is where our first daughter, Samara Paz was born.

We came to Tampa in 2005 to continue our adventure as an Earth conscious family. Our first visit to the farm we fell in love with the idea of living our ideals instead of just reading and learning about them. It took us minutes to decide to stay and live on the farm as apprentices. In 2008 we welcomed our second daughter, Sage Terra. We have learned many lessons as a family, from learning to grow and prepare food seasonally, canning, drying and making herbal medicine. Many vegetables were new to us like kale and kohlrabi and took us on a creative cooking journey. Our first season here we modified my family’s traditional Costa Rican tamale recipe to a vegan version using many veggies from the farm. As a farmer and scientist, I have come to appreciate the importance of creating healthy bio-diverse soil in order to grow nutritious food.

One of my favorite memories of Sweetwater is wondering why the broccoli in the fields had small bite marks in them only to find Samara eating it directly from the plant. Now that is eating fresh vegetables.

I am continually amazed at the quantity of food that is grown on such a small farm and the amount of families it feeds. This gives me hope of a future where all fresh food is grown in a way sustainable for the environment while benefiting the community in which it is grown. Not only is change possible, but we are already creating it. Peace.

I began working as an Intern at Sweetwater in November 2006. I completed my Master Of Science Degree in Agriculture from Turkey and was working for United Nations as a member of the Research board at UNESCO.Then I met Rick Martinez through networking and we had worked a couple projects as an interpreter. He offered me intern position at Sweetwater. I accepted it. My goal is to provide the earth and the children a strong future, live healthy, stress free, and teach people how to farm based on education I received. I believe field work is more unforgettable education than an academic Education.That point attracted me and I want to teach people field work and learn things which I will never learn in a classroom. Most beautiful is growing from seed to mature plant, observing the phases of the growing cycle of the plant and harvesting it. That experience could not be possible anywhere in a book.

Working with my dear friends Bro Mark, Roberto, Dan, Clay, Sarah, Jhessye makes me so happy, peaceful, sharing experiences and learning and improving my language from them. Only complaint I could have that Bro Mark teaches me many slang word which I never forget and will never be able to learn from books. But it is great because I am using those as fun with my accent. I would suggest the people be part of a community like Sweetwater. It is real diffucult to find real communities anymore how to grow food and live healthy.

My desire to learn where my food comes from began while I was attending Providence College and taking classes in Environmental Studies. While reading books by the likes of Wendell Berry and Michael Pollan I discovered the fundamental problems with our national food system. I was left feeling overwhelmed, and each time I opened my fridge I was frustrated. I had absolutely no idea where any of my food was coming from.

I took this opportunity to research farmers’ markets in my city of Providence, Rhode Island. I soon discovered that many of the farmers were in the local area, so I decided to start volunteering at a community farm in the city. This led me to an internship at Farm Fresh Rhode Island, an organization which helps link customers to farmers. I fell in love with the atmosphere at the markets, the beautiful vegetables that were grown in my city, and the community of farmers that supported it all.

After graduating college in May 2009, I left Providence and moved just north of Tampa. I was surrounded by cow pastures and miles of open land, but where were all the farms? I had left an urban area full of farmers and found myself in a rural area full of barren pastures. I looked for a new farm community in my area similar to the one I had left up north, and my search led me to Sweetwater.

My first trip to Sweetwater was in mid-summer, and I remember walking around the farm intrigued by the urban oasis I had discovered. That fall I started my internship and my journey of farming began. From seeding to weeding, planting to harvesting, every time I came to Sweetwater I wanted to stay longer and learn more. I was able to do just that when Roberto offered me a job as a full-time farmer. I was so happy that I did not have to say goodbye to Sweetwater—I was coming back for another season!

I love my job at Sweetwater, my farmily I get to work alongside each day, and the delicious food I help grow. My time at Sweetwater has shown me how beautiful and strong local communities are, and how some are hidden where one would least expect to find them. In my spare time I love to experiment in the kitchen with my fresh veggies and share them with friends and family. I hope to learn more about growing food sustainably, for our earth and for our community—Huzzah!

My love for organic farming is a long story, a journey that began in 1979, but first a little history. I am a third generation Tampa native who grew up in a loving family not very far from the farm. I played, fished, swam and grew up in the wonderful Tampa Bay watershed. It was so different from what is now around us. After graduating with a degree in Engineering, I worked as an engineer for a very short time before realizing my love for organic gardening. It started with small back yard gardens that got bigger and bigger and are still getting bigger.

It was not long before I had given up my career as an engineer and started my first experience as an organic farmer up in Pasco County. In the late 70’s and early 80’s there was not much information on organic farming, but it was a very happy time, fumbling my way through the learning curve of becoming a farmer, not knowing any better. I actually rode my horse from my house to my farm 5 miles away every day for work. This quickly evolved into specialty sprouts and culinary herb business servicing fine restaurants from Sarasota to New Port Richey and all points in between going through several evolutions. It all got very big and hectic. In 1987, I purchased the land that Sweetwater now sits on and moved from Pasco County back to my native Tampa. I came to very much love the special spot on Sweetwater Creek that is now Sweetwater Organic Community Farm. In many ways I was returning to my childhood, canoeing the creek, once again returning to the water shed I so deeply loved, once again much closer to my loving family. I quickly developed this tiny piece of land into a very special market garden supplementing my service to local fine eating establishments.

In about 1990, the organic certification world was starting to take hold. For some reason, I decided to attend a training for organic inspectors in Aurora, Nebraska. It was in February and brutally cold for a boy from central Florida. Little did I know my life was about to change dramatically. It just so happened that my skill set was perfect for an industry desperately in need of qualified professionals. Within a year or two, from the connections I had made in Nebraska, I was traveling the world inspecting organic farms and processing facilities. The organic inspectors formed an association called the International Organic Inspectors Association, of which I was soon elected to the Board of Directors and eventually became President. This experience launched my career as an internationally recognized expert in organic regulatory rules. It was all incredibly rewarding work. This opportunity continues today as my other career that many of you may not be aware of.

The down side was that with all that travel my beloved farm was rapidly becoming abandoned. It was weighing heavily on my mind and heart. One day in 1992, while lamenting this situation with a dear friend, I came up with the idea of starting a “community farm”. He thought it was an excellent idea and offered to be the first member. So in early 1993, Sweetwater was officially, well, maybe not so officially, born. We started with 7 members and fumbled our way through it. Little by little with the steady support of dear friends and family, Sweetwater began to evolve and bloom like some rare, unknown flower, with us all gingerly nourishing her growth, not really knowing where we were headed. Meanwhile I was traveling more than ever, visiting some of the most amazing farms in Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, thousands of farms growing anything from coffee, cacao, quinoa, sesame, grains, fruits, vegetables of all shapes and sorts, all the while collecting ideas for our own dear farm back home. As of late, I have lost the lust for travel and have become more and more a home body.

So much has happened during this journey it is hard to get it all into words. So many wonderful people have contributed their hearts and souls to our Sweetwater, have nurtured it and helped it grow from that seed of an idea to the unbelievably wonderful farm we now all call our own.

There have been so many ups and downs, funny stories, success and failures. During this time the bloom has blossomed to nearly 400 families. Over 10,000 school children have visited Sweetwater to learn about healthy food. It has all far exceeded my wildest dreams and imagination of what it would day become, and fills my heart beyond words. I am deeply indebted to all of you who have become part of the richest experience anyone could hope for. I thank our wonderful staff, those who are here now, who have come and gone, who all remain so dear to my heart. I thank all of our wonderful families, the children, many of whom I first met as lumps in their mother’s bellies as they rounded the share barn every week, the volunteers, musicians, vendors, the thousands of school children who have visited, all who have added their spirit to the tapestry we now call Sweetwater. This is truly the real reward, the true harvest of all our efforts.

The seasons pass, the fallow fields are tilled once again, nourished and seeded. With all of our past effort, all the love we have given the earth and each other, brings new crops, new faces, new people to share this special experience with. In this way, all those have come before, their efforts continue to live on. This is growing community from the ground up.

Each season I continue to be amazed, when I think it cannot get any better, it does. So here is my toast to our best season yet!! Thanks to all of you!!

See you all soon on the farm.

Rick

I’ve been with the farm for so long, the beginnings are but a hazy, dreamy memory… my eyes are growing heavy…. I’m hearing the faint gurgling of Sweetwater Creek… everything’s going wavy. Hmmmh.

I first started with the farm back a few days after the creation… of dirt. Or as we know it today: “Soil”. At that time the farm was more popularly known as the “Eden of Gardens”, and one of my first tasks was pulling serpent sized vines out of the citrus trees. I remember making wreaths out of the vines, which would prove fortuitous some time later at the first Christmas. But that’s another story altogether. It was also fortunate that by then, rocks had been created and I used them to beat the vine stains out of my loin cloth down at the creek, near where the footbridge is today.

Technology soon affected us, as it does everyone and we evolved from being hunter/gatherers to actually planting crops! In rows! Can you imagine how much more effective that made the tractors? We were awestruck! The old ‘hunting and gathering with tractors’ wasn’t at all productive, and besides, it really spooked our pet Mammoths. Ahh, the memories…

Actually, I came to Sweetwater after reading an article in the Tribune, and wanting to get my hands in the soil, I was soon spreading compost (we did it with shovels back then), planting seeds, pulling weeds, harvesting and helping with the other farm tasks. What I considered chores to be avoided if at all possible growing up on my family’s farm in Michigan, I was now doing willingly… My business degree and 30 years in Information Technology didn’t give me much background for Florida farming, but I have been able to draw on my childhood farm experiences from time to time. One thing WAS different with volunteer work at Sweetwater, if you didn’t get your particular task done, by the time you came back, it was always done! Not so with childhood chores.

I soon joined the Sweetwater Board and over the years have held every position except treasurer. I made up for that deficiency by being the farm’s bookkeeper for many years. I was even newsletter editor for a while, back when the Internet was just getting started and it was a major undertaking to get something ‘published’ on the net. Over the years I’ve seen our membership grow from under 100 to the nearly 400 it is today. We’ve expanded our growing capacity from one location to three, and are looking forward to begin growing crops at the Children’s Home location soon. Many people, from board members, to employees, to volunteers, to donors have seen Sweetwater’s vision and have worked hard to make it a reality. And I value the friendships I’ve made along the way.

For the past 4 years I’ve worked part-time at Bern’s Farm for Sweetwater (along with Berk — see him featured in a previous WYF feature), mainly growing micro-greens and herbs for Sidebern’s Restaurant, and Bern’s Steakhouse. We grow the micro greens in a 30 foot tall pyramid which it is said Bern had constructed back in the day when pyramid power was all the rage. So maybe the micros ARE extra powerful. The next time you’re at Bern’s restaurants be sure to complement them on their micro-greens, herbs and other produce. We’d appreciate it! And it really is true they require their waiter trainees to work 40 hours on their farm.

A recipe? Here’s a simple one I tried just last night… Kale Chips. Wash and dry a batch of kale leaves… can be Kurly Kale or Lacinato. Cut out and discard the center vein and cut remaining leaf into smaller pieces as desired. Lightly coat the pieces with about a tablespoon of olive oil by massaging with your fingers. You can add any favorite seasonings to the oil, like crushed garlic. I went at my garlic with a mortar and pestle to make it extra creamy. Sprinkle with salt and any other powdered type seasonings you like — sesame seeds work well too. Spread in a single layer on parchment lined baking sheets and bake in a 275 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on absorbent paper. To get them extra crispy all the way through, I put them back in the oven after it’s cooled down and leave them overnight with oven light on. Can’t say they’re my most favorite, but they are hard to stop eating once you’ve started… (more fun to chew than they are to swallow) and they make kind of a ghoulish presentation your kids might like.

Hi there Homies! My name is Jhessye and I came to Sweetwater born a poor black woman in Mississippi. Just kidding . Actually I came to the farm soon after I graduated from the University of Central Florida. Formerly, I was a researcher conducting a Long Term Forest Ecology project for Harvard Forest. Shortly before graduating, I jotted down my interests. Lo and behold, organic farming was one of them! I actually discovered Sweetwater from a great duo, Tia and Terry Meer of the Simple Living Institute in Orlando. When I first came to Sweetwater in December 2009, I was actually a vendor for a nonprofit. I remember the atmosphere: This place is rockin dude!!!!.’ So I went up to this cool and awesome manager guy named Roberto and said ‘I am so wanting to intern here.’ And as humans do say the rest is history.

My ultimate goal is to circumnavigate the world by human power. Biking (holla to Herbie and Lene), kayaking, galloping, leaping, crawling and of course walking on my dreadlocks! Sweetwater embraced me to learn how to farm and live sustainably with Mama (Earth that is). I’m here because I want to have an organic farm/gardening center one day open to the local public, with a diversity of organic food utilizing a variety of practices (permaculture, non tilling, non cultivation, honey bees, etc.). I also am an aspiring filmmaker. On my journey, I intend to make films, narratives and documentaries, about whatever stories connect with my chi. I also am a novice herbalist learning to remember the old practices of my ancestors. They had such folky herbal knowledge! Yippeee!

Veggies that sprite my soul are definitely broccoli and romanesco. In fact, I am thoroughly convinced that I the latter vegetable is from outer space just like me (shhh… don’t tell anyone). I’m definitely not a cilantro woman. You could probably interrogate me and get a quick answer by putting a cilantro leaf near my super sniffer! A recipe that I love is banana fritters. Take some bananas, mash ‘em, a capful of vanilla, douse with cinnamon-or to your own liking- a little bit of nutmeg and one cup of flour for every four bananas. You can fry or bake em! Holy crap it’s amazing.

What I will always remember from Sweetwater is when Sweetie the pig came to the farm. I still remember him coming up to me and how LONG it took for Rick, myself (not much of a pig wrangler), and the neighbors to get him into his pen. At this farm, I enjoy each day, and work with some of the most ethereal people I have ever encountered. My motto is to ‘Live for today cuz ya don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow’ and ‘No matter what you’re going through, there’s always someone who has it worse than you.’ I am humbled by this and I greet my Mama (Earth and biological) with this philosophy every day. As Sean Connery says in his native language: the day is yours lass!

Last year I came to Sweetwater looking for an opportunity to learn from the Earth and the people around me while growing food in FL. I was living up in New England and decided to chase the sun as the farming season was ending in that region. Though originally from FL, I had moved away for a few years. Just before returning to FL, I was going to school in MA and working on organic farms during my summers between classes. Before that I worked in field biology and taught environmental education, hiking with kids and singing lots of songs! These were fun jobs and I found out a lot about myself during these times. I have found in working here that only one other thing fills my heart like playing in the soil and communing with plants. That other thing is Sarah, who I met at Sweetwater last year. Since starting my work at Sweetwater, I have been given an opportunity to learn from and work with many other great people too. I have found a farm community that brings me joy everyday. I am oft reminded of how important Sweetwater is to Tampa Bay. It is a place to play and work on the farm, a place to share our laughs and thoughts, love and pain, our visions and our dreams.

Roberto has taught me a lot, including homebrewing. I once lived with a homebrewer, but not until I worked with Roberto did I get the inspiration to start brewing my own beer. I’ve even started using herbs from the garden in my brews. I love to cook too and have always liked omelets, but lately everyone of them has been filled with our kale, collards, or chard. Today though, I was inspired to whip up some cauliflower beer cheese soup (yes, with homebrew). The verdict: delicious!

To me, Sweetwater means bees and ladybugs giving the plants the care they need to grow, people taking time to help one another finish out the last tasks for the day, plants reaching for the sun. I have spent a lot of time observing and playing in the natural world, and my time at Sweetwater has helped me open up to new things for me to learn from the Earth.

Near the end of this season, Sarah and I are moving, but I know that I’ll have a place in my heart for Sweetwater and will remember how much this farm has given me. It has pushed me to see a better way to live and give to all those around me- men, women, and ladybugs alike. To quote Gary Snyder,

“stay together

learn the flowers

go light”

I began working as an intern at Sweetwater last October while attending Eckerd College. When I started I was supposed to work eight hours a week. Eight hours became ten, then fifteen, and by the end of last season I was working up to 30 hours a week! I loved it. I couldn’t get enough.

When I started at Sweetwater I had the goal of learning a bit about growing my own food, an excitement for having fresh veggies to cook with, and a belief in living more sustainably. I didn’t realize then that I would fall in love with growing food. From starting the seeds, to nurturing the little baby plants in the greenhouse and in the fields, to harvesting and finally cooking and preparing delicious veggies and herbs– I love it all. I believe that food is more than just feeding our hunger. It is our nourishment, our healing medicine, our connection to the Earth, our family and community interaction, and can be a huge step in the direction of saving our planet.

After I graduated from Eckerd College last May, Roberto offered me a full-time farmer position at Sweetwater and I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I felt and still feel that I have so much to learn from Roberto and from my farmily. Perfect sunshine, pouring rain, miserable cold, and everything in between I know that when I go to Sweetwater everyday I will be working alongside people I love, growing beautiful food, learning something new, and meeting and sharing it all with volunteers and members.

This year I hope to learn more about herbs and making tinctures and tonics for healing and health promotion. I just started baking my own bread from scratch and it is so much (delicious) fun! I love to knit, hike, camp, read, and dance. It is also my goal this season to make Mulberry jam from the Mulberry trees on the farm! Wherever my quest for living a healthy and sustainable life takes me I am so happy I could grow and learn here!