01a - A Farmer is Born - The Decision

Conscious Consideration

Modchik and I discussed our reticence to see this differently.  We reasoned that even if the laws changed, the dark side still lingered in the world (underworld) of Marijuana.   Both of us, as adults, had rarely used Marijuana and therefore had relatively little experience with the current environment.   The reality was that our perceptions were decades old, poured into us as teens and young adults.   Neither of us had really taken time ever to thoughtfully consider the various aspects of Marijuana and society, let alone develop an independent opinion about such things.

What if?

The “what if?” continued to draw us in.   IF it is legal and if we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this, then would we?   

Developing an independent opinion

I cannot speak for the inner process of Modchik; however, I can explain how I processed this matter.  Society-at-large is defining the path for Marijuana, just as it has for alcohol, prescription drugs, gambling, sex and so many other vices.  I am not on earth to fix the world (or have it line up with my opinion of how things should be).  Rather, I am here to engage, nourish others, play a role in community, etc. - and part of that (like it or not) is earning an income within the construct of society.  So, when I stood back without judgment, and considered options… small plot farming in Nor Cal seemed to suddenly fit within the framework of options.  But how might I consciously consider this further, before stepping in?

Leaving the question of morality in the hands of society (via the laws established within democracy), I turned to the tight circle of my immediate family (the vortex for me) and asked if this could fit with Carrie and my young adult children, Dylan and Ben.   Carrie would give me her own answer to that as she actively processed the same questions.   But I had to decide on my own how I felt about taking on this profession, and remaining honorable in the eyes of my children.  Further, I had to consider if this would negatively impact their lives - and if I even continue to hold that weight as a parent of grown children.

I concluded that, despite efforts at modeling a drug-free environment (our house has been dry for the better part of seven years), the kids have evolved their own relationship with drugs - mostly marijuana.  I also feel that after twenty years of sacrifice and putting them first in just about everything, I am free to pursue a career, and it is in their hands to process and make what they will of it.   I can provide context and explain motivation.  The rest is up to them.

Another matter lurked, which was the judgement of family, friend and foe.   I recognized that most people do not have a cultivated opinion about this, and any snap judgement is likely the result of historical, rooted ideas (the same ideas that prevented me from seeing this differently).   I can’t change that and everyone is entitled to their opinion - be that a conscious opinion or not.   When I consider how many careers are directly or indirectly tied to alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, and other vices…  and that most people have accepted those things (for better or worse), I realize that opinions are just that…  and I can let them be.

Real magic in each of our career paths is rare.  I'm referring to moments of real inspiration or creativity - where we know inside that what we are about to do is BIG and CERTAIN.   I have felt that twice before in my life…  as a young man coming out of college, I knew when I found the right opportunity.  I engaged myself heartily in that path for eleven years.   Again, at age 35, I was hit by the magic and I leaped the chasm to pursue it.  It was a GREAT adventure that lasted for another eleven years.  I’ve been largely idle and uninspired professionally for the last seven years.  And this feels like a third moment of magic in my career path.

We watched our friend build his farm in California from October through April.   We did research.  I met with an attorney to ask detailed questions about California state and county laws.   When it was all said and done, it was decision time.   We chose to go forward.

01 - A Farmer is Born - The Inspiration

SoberDave and Modchik.  Farmers?

It’s Thursday, July 11.  I sit here, in the early morning light, having just dressed for the day.  The clothes I put on are the last work clothes that are still usable after two weeks of toil.   Both pants and shirt are caked in dirt and dust.   My fingernails are dirty beyond description, skin is tanned deeply, muscles are pleasantly sore.   Behind me lies a vineyard; I can hear the tractor clicking and clacking, the workers having shifted their focus to removing weeds this week. In front of me lies a vast lake, the largest natural lake that lies fully in the state of California - Clear Lake.  We are about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco and one hour east of Ukiah in the northern part of the state.  

The last five days have been consumed with twelve-hour shifts, mostly running heavy equipment in an effort to get our farm jump-started before the season times out.  Suddenly I have become a farmer.  I rise at dawn, take a moment with Henry (our dog) over coffee coffee, consider the project and determine priorities for the day.  Then I set off with my Henry to get as much as I possibly can get done during daylight.  I have one hired hand (Randy), a botanist-in-training, who joins me each day.  Together, we do our best to carry out the instructions of our mentor and technical guide (John) who joins us two days a week to teach us and work side-by-side with us.

We live in a thirty-one foot camper parked near the entry to the property.  It sits atop a ridge and the property drops down the south face of a hill toward the lake.  We drive the mule (a four-wheel drive farm utility vehicle) down the narrow, steep path, past the future home site, and arrive at the garden area.   The property, mostly on the face of a hill, has a several large terraces.  The garden is on the lowest of three terraces.  We spent three days with a bulldozer preparing a 4,000 square foot platform that will house the plants.   Extending water to the garden, transporting dirt and supplies, preparing the site properly…  have been a consuming effort for the last two weeks.   We are days from being complete - with the crop fully in the ground.

In the space of two-months, My life partner (who I’ll refer to as Modchik) and I (now to be known as SoberDave), have gone from suburban business professionals in Phoenix, to small-plot farmers in Northern California.  It all started with the seed of an idea (in this case two distinct seeds).

June 2012

Modchik and I drove the coast of California from Los Angeles to Oregon.  Repeatedly stunned by the beauty, we knew at the level of our souls that our lives would be lived out closer to this coastal energy.   Driving back from Oregon we accidentally ended up stopping at an inland town in Mendocino County called Willits.  We were enamored with this town - every building seemed to have been restored, all the shops looked healthy.  It was the 1950s mid-American town that, in every other situation is run-down with all the shops displaced by the Wal-Mart on the outskirts of town.  Not so here.   This town was thriving.  We walked the neighborhood and talked to a man tending his garden.  He said the Craftsman style home across the street was just purchased for $99K.  We were stunned by the idea that we could live in the heart of Mendocino…  healthy small town, one-hour from coast, in a truly unique and cool house for such a price.   One seed planted.

September 2012

Four months later, back in the “burbs”, with Mendocino fading from our memories, we agree to help a friend who is in some distress.  During the week that he stays at our house, we learn of changes in Northern California and our eyes were opened to an opportunity that our historical framework would simply not allow into our field of vision prior to that moment.   Over the period of one week, I went from “believing” (an inner construct that would not allow me to see otherwise) that growing Marijuana had to be illegal…   to second-guessing myself, and asking, “If it’s legal & has healthy profit, why wouldn’t I give it a go?”

That week in September was pivotal.  I was drawn in to a picture developing in my mind…  I saw a ten or twenty acre parcel in Mendocino County, with a cute little house, a bountiful organic garden and a 3,000 sq. ft. patch of land a ways behind the house where 25 Marijuana plants grow.  The marijuana would supplement our income and our life would be that of a small plot farmer somewhere back in time.   But the small plot would generate a considerable return.   But…  isn’t it illegal?   There must be a catch.  Why isn’t everyone doing it?

In retrospect, the “pivot” was moving from a historical stance (as it relates to Marijuana and society) to recognizing that things change.   The landscape (LAWS) were changing AND my mind was changing.  Result = New Horizons & New Possibilities.