Greetings and Blessings!
I’m Kate and welcome to The Secret Carrot! I am so glad you are here to join me on my journey towards a more simple life. This blog is a place for me to share my experience as a farmer and novice homesteader deeply rooted in faith, family, and the soil.
Faith
I am a 21 year-old devout Catholic and love being a daughter of Christ. I was raised Catholic, but my faith was never a major part of my life until I moved across the country. While I was away from my family, I returned to the Church and found my home in God, never looking back.
For me, farming and homesteading are not just a way of life. They are a manifestation of my strong faith and devotion to traditional values.
What you’ll find at The Secret Carrot
During my journey I have learned the horrors of our current food system. As a farmer, food enthusiast, and beginner homesteader, I strive to rediscover the joys of growing, harvesting, and savoring fresh, locally sourced produce.
The Secret Carrot is an educational and inspirational outlet reflecting on how food has the power to connect people, nurture communities, and remind us of the miracle of Creation.
As I shift towards living more like our ancestors I am learning valuable life skills, instilling a strong work ethic, and cherishing the blessings of simple living.
This is also a place for me to share the importance of agriculture. Agriculture has a bad rap, and that is so unfortunate because we need farmers!
How did I get here?
Right out of high school I went to college to study Spanish and biology on a pre-dental track. I was a full time student working at Trader Joe’s, a chair-side dental assistant, and a babysitter weekday mornings. With this hectic schedule, there were not enough hours in the day to succeed in all of these endeavors and get enough sleep.
I was overtired, overworked, burnt out, and in desperate need of a change. That is when lockdown started and I had a chance to slow down and evaluate my choices.
I realized that I did not want to be a dentist after all. I was seeking a greater purpose but just was unsure what that could mean.
Then my boss at Trader Joe’s said, “Kate, I could see you growing things.”
WHAT?!
This unexpected comment completely changed my life!
She suggested I consider attending an agricultural school to finish my degree. So I applied to one close by, created a schedule, and was ready to start in the Fall of 2020.
Something in me was hesitant to go back to college and I made the difficult choice not to finish my degree despite the societal pressures to earn one.
About my experience so far
I researched regenerative farming internships and found one on Lopez Island, WA. The 8 months I spent there were life changing. I learned from the most amazing, knowledgeable, kind, patient people. After this experience, I knew I wanted to continue learning more about raising food.
Next I interned on a farm in Maryland for over a year. I learned a tremendous amount about plants and animals, and even had my own dairy cow!
Now I work on a veggie farm in Pennsylvania and am learning lots of new skills.
My dream
My dream is to grown my own food and live a simple life on a homestead. I want to preserve my own food, milk a cow twice a day, and sit on my porch in the little pockets of time I can spare when I’m not tending to the land.
In order to do all of that, I need to save some money. I need to work.
Farming is great because it kills two birds with one stone. I earn some money while also learning how to raise food.
One of the perks too of farming is access to fresh food. Over these last two and a half years, I have learned how to can, dehydrate, bake bread, make yogurt and cheese, and so much more!
Fun facts about me
I have 8 siblings
I am an identical twin
I can hold a handstand for a minute
I love going for long walks
I love ice cream. My favorite flavor is almond butter brickle!
Let us grow together
Thank you for being a part of my journey and allowing me to be a part of yours. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer, a fellow homesteader, or just curious about embracing a simpler and more traditional way of life, may God bless you abundantly, and may the fruits of our labor, both on the land and in our hearts, be a testament to His grace.
With green thumbs and a warm heart,
Kate