Hi There,
I’m Rosy, C’s farm helper for the week! Today is my last day here so I wanted to say a quick hello before I left. I’ve heard so much about you! I love the supportive community you have all built here.
I’d like to share some of my favorite moments on the farm but first I’ll tell you how I got here… I started a company (www.surpriseride.com) a few years back that makes toys and activities for kids that gets them off the iPad. My sister and I were inspired to start the company from memories of our own childhood. Our dad is an artist so we grew up in a very creative home. Shortly after starting the company we appeared on national television on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank. At the time it was just Donna and myself so it was quite the whirlwind. We got over 500 emails from viewers overnight! Fast forward to today and we’ve successfully brought to market over 50+ products for kids, have offices in Washington DC, grown the team, brought on Shark Kevin O’Leary as our investor, and are launching in retail stores this year! Taking a week off to go live on a farm is certainly not part of the equation.
I’ve felt for a while that I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone and push myself to grow. I’ve always wanted to live on a farm especially one with a focus on food (I love to cook!). Fate helped me find C, and her farm, seemed like just the right mix of everything I was looking for.
Living here and working with C was so special. She is such a patient and kind teacher. So very, very wise too! I want to share a few of the lessons I learned from her with you.
1. “Think like a chicken to know how to deal with a chicken.” I was having such a hard time getting chickens to move so I could collect their eggs. Once I started thinking like a chicken and moving like one it became so much easier. This is also good to remember in life when dealing with anyone that thinks differently from you.
2. “Fear of failure is the worst.” Don’t be afraid to fail or you won’t learn anything.
3. How to make bread, butter, yogurt, labneh, pastry dough, Apple tarte tatine, Chicago John Pasta, pickles, and so much more.
4. Relentless determination. She has taken such amazing care of the rescue pig Wai. Taking him on walks every hour, feeding him, putting ointment on him, and putting so much effort into seeing him get better.
5. To not be afraid to try new things. I cared for the chicks for days without holding one. Then C came with me one day and told me to pick one up. I was shocked “I didn’t know I could do that?! What if it bites me?”. It didn’t bite and holding that little chick was one my favorite parts of the trip.
6. How to care for piglets, chickens, a rescue pig (poor Wai!), chicks, peacocks, kunekunes, dogs, cats, and cows.
7. “Take a step back to look at the bigger picture.” I was planting lavender and parsley and was trying so hard to plant in a straight line. But I learned you can’t plant in a straight line if you’re sitting on the ground, you have to get up, walk away and then look at it from a distance.
8. “When building anything new you must create a good foundation”. This is called the friendly monster. Then as you continue to work hard on it, the monster takes over and runs with it and you become just a small part of the bigger whole.”
I could go on and on with the lessons I’ve learned! Thank you for being part of my trip to the farm. It was an unforgettable experience that I’ll be repeating time and time again.
I’ll be replying to all your comments so leave me a line! Hope to talk to you soon!
Hugs,
Rosy
Weather: Wonderful.
Saturday 06/24 10% / 0 in
Clear. Lows overnight in the low 50s.
Saturday Night 06/24 10% / 0 in
Clear skies. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Kitchen's Garden 
84 responses to “Guest writer: Rosy”
Hi Rosy – good luck with your business 🙂
Thanks so much Mad Dog!
Rosy – thank you for sharing your lessons learned this week and for being there ti help Miss C out with Wai and the other animals of the farmy. Sounds like you and your sister are bright determined young women who are going far. Thank you for designing items that gets kids off the computer – much needed! Glad to meet you this week and hope to see you again
Thanks for the sweet note! It was so nicebeing able to help care for the animals. Lots of joy comes from that! Hope to be back soon! 🙂
Dear girl, you are the object of huge envy amongst the Farmy Fellowship! So many of us would love to do what you’ve spent the last week doing, and it’s lovely to hear what you’ve learned and what you’ve been doing. You’re right, Miss C is very wise, very compassionate and incredibly hard working. Congratulations on seizing the opportunity to learn about the important things the Farmy has to teach. 🙂 xx
Thanks for reading Kate! I feel the same way! Very special opportunity. I’ll be back soon and I’ll keep sharing my farmy adventures. 🙂
🙂
Hi Rosy, Great post! Safe travels as you move onto the next challenge! ❤
Hi Manic Mumdays, (Love the username!) Thank you for the sweet wishes! 🙂
Hi Rosy, thank for sharing and good luck with your business. Getting out of our comfort zones will help us grow . Love and compassion for her animals and the environment is what makes Ms. C so special.
Hi Gerlinde, I completely agree! The challenge is finding new ways to get out of our comfort zones in our daily lives! I’ve started a list of a few ideas. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wow! You are quite an inspiration. Best of luck with your company and thanks for taking that week out of your busy schedule to help out at the farm.
Hi Nadia! Love your photo. Beautiful kitchen! Thanks for the thoughtful comment. It was my absolute pleasure to help out! Such a special place!
Isn’t learning and having totally new experiences just fabulous?!? To actually pick food from the garden and under hens and prepare it and eat it? So rewarding! No doubt you will look at life in new ways now, and take your wonderful farm experience and knowledge that Celi has shared with you as you go forward. Wishing you happiness always!
Hi Dianeandjack! Yes, exactly! The idea of getting to pick everything needed to make a delicious meal is so satisfying. Thanks for writing in! 🙂
Hi Rosy! So pleased to meet you! Glad you had a lovely week- I would certainly follow suit if I didn’t live so far away (Greece) 🌺
Hi M.L. Greece is so lovely! It’s one of my favorite places I’ve had the chance the visit. Such welcoming and loving people. Thanks for reading and following along! 🙂
Good morning, Rosy. I’m sure it’s been great for Miss C to have you there as well. And I agree with Kate; you are much envied. With there being so much to do on the farm, I would imagine the time just disappears way too quickly. One more mind now open to new possibilities. I’m sure you shared new perspective as well. Wishing you all the very best in your ventures to get kids moving again. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we all had a farm to go visit for a bit. Hope you get to come back again soon. Marlene in Oregon
Hi Marlene! It’s like you read my mind. C and I were saying that everyone (especially kids) need to have a farm they can visit. There’s so much to be seen and learned. We’re going to have to create a farm activity kit for kids! Thank you for your sweet comment! 🙂
Good Morning Rosy! Thank you for spending a week helping Celie when she really needed you. It struck me that you all found a Soul Sister in each other. I believe your week with her will inspire you in your own enterprises & creations. And that you will become one of us in the Fellowship of The Farmy. And thank you for beginning by sharing with us today. Judith in NC.
Hi Judith, This is exactly how I felt about C! Our shared love of butter confirmed this. 😉 I was lucky enough to make butter and bring some back with me to Washington, DC! I’m looking forward to the ideas this week will spark. Hearing from all of you has been so lovely and inspiring. Thanks for reading!
wow Rosy that was wonderful..thank you so much. L live in Bulgaria so the chance of me ever getting to USA and meeting Miss C are about the same odds as flying to the moon and back. This is why I am a follower so that I can at least read about what is happening. You have done a wonderful job whilst you have been there and I know that Miss C appreciates it…not only that but you have learnt a lot and that shows by your remarks. Remember those points and they will make a difference to the way you see other people and the way you live your life. You are already succesful in your own field and now you have added love and experience of live animals….Thank you once again for all your help and may God always be with you and be there to guide you….adios and muchos besos
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 at 1:37 PM
Hi Patrecia! Thank you for your touching comment. I really appreciate the kind words. Your sincerity signs through. I hope to visit Bulgaria one day and enjoy your famous delicious cheese! We ate it a lot growing up with mixed with dried mint, tomatoes, and olive oil. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your journey. It really is nice to connect on different levels with this amazing world we have.
Hi Kathy, I agree. It’s so special that this amazing place allows us to connect on a personal level. Thank you for reading!
HI Rosy, I like others never miss my daily visit to The Farmy and C. So pleased you enjoyed your experience, and will maybe include a piggy or a calf or even a big Fat Pig in your future endeavours. Waving to you Miss C . Laura (South Africa)
Hi Laura! Thanks for visiting from South Africa! I haven’t had the chance to come visit your beautiful country yet. But I look forward to it! Would love to have a piggy in the future. For now, I am trying to get a garden lot in the city! 🙂
Congrats on your business moves. I hope it goes well in the future. Glad you are having a good time down on the farm.
Hi Jim, Thanks for your kind words! Yes, had such a lovely time! I have been telling everyone I know to do the same. 🙂
I think Miss C. should make it a requirement for all farm guest workers to leave a few lines like this (my favorite is the one about stepping back to get the overall view but the chicken one is also great, and deeper than it sounds). We Faithful Readers can only occasionally get a clear glimpse of her wisdom, despite all the photographic evidence. Thank you for being there this week!
Hi Liffster! That’s a great idea! Would be so fun to read everyone’s experience on the farm. I’m glad the chicken lesson was your favorite. That’s mine too! Hope to be back soon! Thanks for reading. 🙂