workcations

By the look of my photos lately, I don't actually live in NYC. I'm lucky that I've been able to spend so much time upstate in the Catskills working on projects and in Texas visiting friends and family and swimming every day.

Meredith, NY

I've begun working on a project about the farmers that supply the NYC greenmarkets. I've only just scratched the surface but I've already met some of the most lovely people. Ingie and Tema Kjarval, (photos 2 and 3) of Spring Lake Farm raise pastured pork and beef (4) and sell it at markets all over the city. Anna Janiszewsk's dad, John, (5) raises tilapia in a giant tank and filters the water through the plants in the greenhouse and back into the tank. Dr. Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms (7) raises beef and is doing amazing research on the overuse of antibiotics in livestock amongst other things.

It's amazing to see how these farmers create a space where livestock essentially feed themselves; they eat grass, they poop and fertilize the pasture, they move to another field, the grass grows back in the previous pasture and the cycle goes on.  It's a completely natural process compared to the big system of feedlot farms that use chemical fertilizers, antibiotics and tons of fuel. Plus, it all happens within a few hours of New York City. It makes sense to me that we should support the resources we have nearby and keep money flowing in a local market instead of buying meat and having no idea where it came from, whats in it or how it got here. 

More travel and back

After celebrating my sisters wedding in Dallas, Matt and I headed back North. On recommendations from my cousins, we stopped in Memphis and Asheville along the way. We met Vince Johnson and the Plantation All Stars (above) in Memphis and then found our way to a little old brothel turned legitimate bar where Matt played Ray Charles' old keys. Asheville is an amazingly cute little town and reminded me of Santa Fe/Austin/Brooklyn. We ate locally sourced blackberry jam and felt right at home.

The drive through Appalachia continues to astound me. I cannot understand why, now that we've got the whole transportation thing figured out, more people do not live in this part of America. It's so breathtakingly beautiful it blows my mind.

We're back in Brooklyn now. I shot Fujiya and Miyagi last week at Mercury Lounge and it snowed for the first time last Saturday. Our well traveled dogs loved the snow but it has since melted.

roaming with friends