Aimee's Treasures: Urban Farming: Amber Stylies

So I have this fascination for country living.
Read more on that here.

This is my favorite barn along a country road in Cambria.

I even find myself frequenting blogs like

this, or this.
I can't help but take delight in getting
a sneak peak into the world of real,

true blue young American farmers.

Photo courtesy of Kate Maclean

It takes me back to a yearning for the simple life,

even though, I know
my skin isn't thick enough to withstand such hardship,

such solitude, such trials as those met by farmers.

Because the truth is, I'm a city girl at heart.
(Well, of the suburbs variety.)
And always will be.

Me and one of my besties, Kim,

in the city of all cities, San Francisco.
Aug. 2011

City girl aside, there is something I will always admire

about those who are living a self-sustaining lifestyle.

But there are people, like my dear friend Amber,
who bring a little farm life to the city.

Veggies and fruit fresh from her backyard garden.

Amber and I have been friends since high school,

which, let's be honest, was well over a decade ago.

I'll spare you the embarrassing H.S. throwback pic.
(Or, spare me, in this case.)

This is us now.

Big Bear trip, June 2012.

Amber is a friend of many talents.

Need your hair cut or colored?

Need to know:

What kind of insect, fish, or ocean mammal that is?

How to cook an amazing Thanksgiving meal?

The geological origin of that rock?

Amber's your gal.

Don't let this platinum blond, sun worshipping, licensed cosmetologist fool you.

She's got smarts.

(Even though she refers to herself as the missing meatball.)

She falls a lot.

Meatball aside, Amber is one of the most down to earth people I know.

And down to earth she is indeed.

Like, hands down in the dirt kind of down to earth.

Two years ago, Amber stopped eating meat,

and decided to start an organic garden in her backyard.

It's something she knows well, as it is something

that has been passed down through generations.

Even though she grew up in the heart of Long Beach,

Amber's parents. . .

Amber with her parents, Sheila and Mike. 1983ish.

. . . and grandparents

Amber's paternal grandparents, back in the olden days.

were backyard farmers.

Her grandfather, at the ripe age of 88 years of age,

still tends to his garden on a daily basis.

As a result of this upbringing,

Amber has memories of a yard filled with

every fruit and vegetable you could imagine.

And what was planted and harvested

eventually was placed before her for consumption.

Amber, a lover of all animals big and small,

kept strange pets such as this caterpillar:

Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar. Hmm, looks friendly.

Or this freaky spider:

Green Lynx Spider.

Note: This does NOT look friendly.
(Weirdo.)

And even though she has worked so hard on her garden this Summer,

it is confirmed, if this bunny were to make a home in her garden,

she would let it eat all the veggies it wanted.

Umm, adorable!

If her house was zoned for it, she'd have a goat.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Matthew Edwall's peeps.

Or two.

Photo courtesy of Kim Cowen. Thanks buddy!

(Believe me, she's checked.)

She is currently gearing up to buy a couple chickens for fresh eggs on the daily.

Long story short, Amber is doing stuff I'm into, but know nothing about.

So, I decided to spend one Sunday morning with her in her backyard,

to learn more about the business of urban farming.

Amber in her garden with her brilliant Border Collie pup, Koda.

As Koda's Auntie, I'm not biased at all.

June 2012.

That morning we picked the juiciest
strawberries and boysenberries you could imagine.

And ate the sweestest peas I've ever tasted, right outta the pod.

Aren't those peas cute?

We picked tart lemons off the tree. . .

. . . & clipped off the largest tangerines I've ever seen.

And I said silly things like,

"Are you suuuure those aren't oranges?"

She showed me her lovely herb garden,

ready and waiting to be snipped for cooking,
or chopped for a nice garnish.

This herb garden boasts the likes of basil,
rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill, Italian parsley, cilantro, etc.

We admired her tomatoes as they ripened on the vine. . .

. . . and she explained that with gardening, comes patience,
and then, after a full bloom,
sweet gratification meets you on the other side.

(In my best Southern accent:

"Them's some purdy tomatoes!")

And in between all the fruit and veggie picking,

we played a little frisbee with Koda.

She can be quite the ham.

Amber's garden has gone from this:

Planting mid-May 2012.

To this:

Mid-June 2012.

To this!

End of June 2012.

And there is pride and satisfaction in that.

Her garden provides a harvest like this every few days.

After we harvested the fruit and veggies, as it were,

Amber made me a lovely lunch of grilled zucchini and squash

while I munched on some freshly picked berries. . .

. . . and shared some quality Auntie/Puppy time with Koda.

She's ma girl.

Lunch was absolutely delicious to say the least.
Just delicious!

And at the end of it all,

I got to pose next to this basket of veggies

as if I had something to do with it.

Moral support?

Good job friend!

I gave her that basket. That has to count for something, right?

Amber has become so enthralled with backyard gardening

that she has co-authored a website with some like-minded classmates
offering readers the 411 on how to start an organic garden of their own.

And recently she started an internship with Long Beach Organic, Inc.

Total hippie status.

Peace man.

Amber's enthusiasm for backyard farming has
inspired me to take a small step in that direction.
This past weekend I started an herb garden of my own.
(My strategy: Dream big. Start small.)

So this is me, being all organic and stuff:

I bought certified organic herbs locally.