Survivor's Day

As the saying goes: March came in like a lamb, extending the exceptionally dry and mild winter. Work at the pharmacy picked up, and I snagged a new dog walking client--energetic border collie, Carla.

I completed my eCornell certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition, yet continued to devour a wide spread of library books. Most reads stem from my favorite podcast, which is hosted by ultra-endurance athlete, Rich Roll. "10% Happier," a recent find, is an entertaining read about ABC News reporter, Dan Harris, and his unexpected discovery of meditation as a tool to manage his high-stress and ambitious lifestyle. Until now, I have not been able to successfully implement meditation into my daily routine. As someone with a very "active" mind, I believe that there is much to be gained by training it to focus on the present moment. It is not an easy endeavor, but I have already begun to notice subtle changes after a few weeks of incorporating five or so mindful minutes into my day. I even tried my first group meditation at the Kadampa Meditation Center in my neighborhood. Reminiscent of the gradual progression of my plant-based journey, I am eager to begin learning more about medication theory and history.

 

On an unseasonably warm Sunday, I met my foodie friend, Dave, for a colorful vegan brunch at Watercourse Foods in Uptown. Also new on the menu: Sushi Den near Washington Park and Bonnie Brae Tavern (more diner than tavern) for the monthly vegan pizza buffet. I am infinitely happy to have finally joined the local vegan community!

 

March 9th marked the one-year anniversary of my skiing accident. This enormous milestone left me with a mixed bag of emotions. A few months ago, I listened to an interview of Monica Lewinsky. Her affair with former president, Bill Clinton, occurred before I was old enough to fully understand or form opinions. Still, I was interested to learn how she coped after the scandal surfaced, drawing parallels to the struggles that I faced after my own life-changing event. She explained how, initially, the day that the FBI investigation began was recalled as the worst day of her life; years later, however, as she recovered and grew stronger, she came to celebrate it as "Survivor's Day." The past 12 months have arguably been the most challenging of my life. The trauma of physical insult and an interrupted future pushed me to my limit. Nevertheless, with the passage of time, persistence, and the support of loved ones, I managed to emerge from the darkness. Although I continue to rehab--both physically and mentally--and search for my new path, I am confident that I am a stronger person than I was one year ago. March 9th is my Survivor's Day.

"My knee may never be the same; neither will my determination."

-Lindsey Vonn

Salem, OR

At the end of February, I deviated from my solo travels in favor of a work/stay exchange via Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)--a program that links travelers with organic farmers in an effort to build a community conscious of ecological farming practices. With my growing draw towards Oregon, I jumped on an opportunity to spend five days at Cadence Valley Micro-Farm & Vineyard.

Cadence Valley is located a few miles outside of state capital, Salem--about an hour and a half south of Portland. The 3-acre farm rests in the heart of the Willamette Valley (pronounced "will-AM-it"). Surrounded by mountains on three sides (elevation ~154') and with historical importance to the Oregon Trail, this agricultural oasis is now home to 70% of the state's population. It is commonly known as Oregon's wine country. The Willamette River plays a key role in the economy by depositing fertile soil across the 150-mile valley.

The thriving property of Cadence Valley includes a large barn, two fish ponds, and a happy crew of farm animals: alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and quirky felines, Marcel and Pinot. The farm yields a wide variety of garden vegetables in addition to an array of fruit trees. The vineyard produces more than 1,000 pounds of grapes per year, providing enough to both sell and keep for wine-making. Hops are also grown for dabbling in beer and cider brewing.





 

The beautiful 1950s house has been modernized with a clean and simple taste, displaying expansive views of the surrounding farmland. Train tracks run behind the property, which adds to the humming soundtrack of the farm.

Farm owners, Dennis and Rachel, are a fun yet hard-working couple from the mid-west. Dennis is a Marine Corps pilot and Rachel works for the state. They lead an active lifestyle, often cycling and trail-running in nearby forests.

I flew into Portland on Saturday afternoon, brimming with excitement. It should surprise no one who has flown through PDX to learn that it proudly holds a five-year recognition as best domestic airport. After catching the airport shuttle to Salem, I was immediately struck by the lush, green landscape--a stark contrast to the brown desert-like Denver winters. Gray sky and light rain are characteristic this time of year. Despite minimal snow and mild temperatures, the air felt colder than 40 degrees in the absence of the sun. I was surprised, however, by how much I enjoyed the rain.

After becoming acquainted with my friendly hosts, we ran a few errands in the sleepy town before heading back to the farm to settle in. I toured the property and shared my first of several delicious vegan meals. Both Dennis and Rachel are excellent cooks. Dennis's long-time friend, Jason, joined us at the farm while in town for business, adding to many thought-provoking conversations. The only down-side during my stay? Stink bugs!



On Saturday, Dennis and Rachel invited me to join them on an outing to McDonald State Forest. Located 15 minutes north of Oregon State University in Corvallis, the 11,250-acre forest is used for university instruction and research on forest management. I thoroughly enjoyed the new sights, smells, and sounds of the earth-sodden forest--a welcomed change from my typical Coloradan mountain hikes. Moreover, the rain blanketed the adventure with a peaceful sense of calm and quiet.



On Monday and Tuesday, Dennis and I got to work on the farm! One of the first things that I confirmed is the hefty amount of work required to operate a farm; there is always something that could be done. Dennis smartly created a running "to-do" list that allows WWOOFers to choose projects based on skill and interest. Overarching goals include the following: converting grass to food production, improving pasture quality, and removing invasive/exotic plants in order to establish a native plant landscape.

Luckily, Dennis was a patient teacher in explaining the basics of farm maintenance. By way of example, I learned how the farm runs purely on solar-powered electricity, which is managed by a bank-of-sorts that is based on daily usage. The barn, however, is self-powered by a small solar panel that is connected to an RV battery.

My daily tasks began with feeding the animals, all of whom I became quite fond of.

Buddy, the unspoken favorite

Pinot

In addition, I helped Dennis replace a frozen hydrant; the farm owns water rights to the spring and stream water on the property.



I also assisted in the installation of concrete steps leading down the gentle hillside behind the house.

In terms of gardening, weeding was a top priority--slightly daunting for a perfectionist like me, but also strangely satisfying. I cleaned up several beds, and started a new one with fava beans. Aside from providing food, fava beans enrich the soil with nitrogen as they grow. The beans become seeds after the pods are harvested and left to dry out. There is something to be said about the almost magic-like experience of planting seeds in the hope that they one day flower.

 

The three hens kept good company in the garden as they sought out the freshly-turned earth in order to greedily dig up worms!






















Another job involved trimming the wildly-growing blackberry bush, after which I learned that cuttings/branches can be taken from certain shrubs and trees to grow new plants.

The final major project was to prune the grapes by removing the canes that fruited last year. The Pinot Noir grape thrives in the fertile soil and cool climate of the Willamette Valley.





I left Cadence Valley on Wednesday morning with a full heart and a rooted vow to maintain contact with my gracious hosts. Although I longed to explore more of the state, I am glad that I made the most of my time on the farm. Besides, my instincts tell me that my time in Oregon has just begun...

During the two-hour flight back to Denver, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my stay at Cadence Valley. The rewarding experience has enriched my life in countless ways. For instance, working with my hands in harmony with nature is something that I found to be deeply meaningful. Above all, the wholesome company has left the greatest impression. Dennis, Rachel, and Jason are among the type that inspire me to be a better person. Thanks to them, I am reminded of several personal goals: mindful learning, service and compassion, and my post-injury resolution to become an Ironman triathlete. While having traveled a long way in my 25 years, I remain cautiously optimistic in what is yet to come. 

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Expanding My Tribe

February was a short, quick month. Another cold blast came and went, whitening town for a brief moment.

Anna and I stayed warm indoors at the nearby Ogden Theatre, where we watched bluegrass bands Fruition and Rayland Baxter perform. Unfortunately, I was tired from a busy stretch at work and bothered by the smoke inside the venue. Still, it was a nice change of pace to enjoy live music.

We had another sister night at Viewhouse Eatery and Bar in LoDo, where we painted wine glasses.

Alex joined in for the brewery stop--2 for 1 at joined taproom, Strange Craft Beer Company and Wit's End Brewing Company. My Colorado brewery count currently sits at #68.



Branching out, I attended a vegetarian speed dating event at Vinue Food and Wine Bar in Cherry Creek in hopes of meeting like-minded individuals. It was a fun and unique experience with several take-aways, including a hodgepodge of vegan friends! The following week, a group of us met at Highlands Indian and Nepali eatery, Himchuli, for the monthly vegan buffet. It was a great evening spent in the company of young and intelligent people with similar interests and values.

Gregory Canyon

Despite my freshly-made 2018 goals, January passed slowly as I struggled to find my "purpose." It is clear that I do not fare well with too much time on my hands--I find meaning and satisfaction in the hustle bustle of a relatively busy life. When I wasn't at the pharmacy or gym, I could usually be found with my nose in a book or progressing through my online nutrition class. I also landed my first "regular" client as a dog walker: Yogi, the happy-go-lucky labradoodle.

The weather continued to fluctuate one day to the next. 

On a particularly warm day (65°F), my neighbor, Alexa, and I hiked through Boulder territory. The Gregory Canyon Trail clocks in at 1.1 miles with ~900' of elevation gain. The first stretch runs through a dense canopy of vegetation alongside Gregory Creek. As the trail ascends, it opens up and becomes rocky. Green Mountain can be viewed to the north, with the plains to the east. In the summer, Gregory Canyon is home to an impressive array of wildflowers and wildlife--especially songbirds.

The trail levels out near the top, ultimately leading to the Realization Point Trailhead. From here, you can turn around or create various loop options. We hiked on a bit further, but ended up getting turned around--it's easy to get lost in the Boulder trail network if you're not careful! Eventually, however, we made it back to the trailhead to complete a 6-mile hike.

On a cooler afternoon, Anna and I went ice skating on Evergreen Lake. Spectacularly situated among ponderosa pine-covered mountains, the 8.5-acre stretch of ice includes 11 pond hockey rinks and a large public skating rink. It is the world's largest Zamboni-groomed outdoor ice rink!

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New Year's Goals

I hope that you (my readers) celebrated a very happy holiday season in the company of loved ones. After my Christmas travels, I was excited to return to "normal" life in Denver, where I paused to reflect on the year behind and the year ahead...

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I admit that 2017 was one of my more challenging years. My knee injury was a traumatic experience that altered the course of my life. Though I am still managing the consequences, I am confident that I am a stronger person as a result. Looking ahead, I am eager to adopt several changes in my life--goals, in place of resolutions, if you will.

First, I will try to carry a new attitude--a new pattern of thoughts--about my current situation. Since the accident, my career goal to become a military pharmacist has been on hold, which has left me feeling stagnant in terms of my next move. While I still plan to move forward in that direction, there's no telling when it will happen. Instead of waiting around, I intend to explore other career opportunities, travel outside of Colorado, and spend more time with friends. I am anxious for the next chapter to begin, but life can change in an instant; for now, I remain in Colorado with a fresh perspective about living in the present.

Second, after making the transition to a (mostly) vegan diet one year ago, I am now committed to this lifestyle. I plan to cook more in the year ahead, and crowd out as much processed food as possible. As it has become a new passion of mine, I enrolled in an online certificate program through Cornell in plant-based nutrition. Whether or not this will play a role in my career as a pharmacist, I want to educate myself on the effects of nutrition on our health, the well-being of animals, and the survival of our planet.

I will work towards these goals by practicing mindfulness through yoga and meditation. Despite the tragedies that occurred last year, I remain grateful for the many blessings that were sent my way. As bad as life may seem sometimes, someone else always has it worse; be kind to others.

"Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come."

-Melody Beattie