Welcome to Sleepover with Sadie Saltzman (@saltysadie)!
Over this past spring and summer, Sadie volunteered through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. This very special Sleepover is set at the enchanting Kern Family Farm in the Sierra Foothills of California. Scroll on down to join us— don’t forget your sleeping bag and pillow!
A day in the life
“Today we planted lettuce and then we did something called occultating which is like covering up a bed that’s done being used. The other day we spent hours putting bird netting over the grape arbors and it was frustrating and hard but then we were done and it was good ‘cause now the birds won’t eat all the grapes. But it really varies, day to day, week to week, season to season. It’s always changing, which is cool to feel so in tune with the earth and how it changes throughout the year.”
Sadie explores the arbors in the Jo.
An education
“The biggest thing I’ve learned while being here is how much you can learn outside of a classroom setting. Because we go to school for all of our lives and it’s, like, conventional to go to school. And we’re given some opportunities to learn outside of school, but mostly it’s like, ‘Oh, school’s where you learn.’ But being here, I’ve learned so much in four months, more than I ever thought I could learn. About farming, but also just about life and friendship and, I don’t know, everything. It’s been a lot about farming but it’s also been about a lot more than just farming.”
Sadie’s dinner party invite list features professionals who have shaped her interest in the food and agriculture spheres.
On minimalism
“It’s funny— since coming here, I’ve like fully given up on my skincare routine. I’ve like totally dropped it, which is something that I used to spend a lot of time doing, but like being here I just haven’t. And it’s been fine… I think being outside a lot, being in clean air, being in the sun, not being as stressed, honestly has all contributed to better skin. So I’ve let go of that routine.”
Favorite sleepover memory
“The first person I ever had a sleepover with in elementary school, her mom would just make us the best breakfasts ever. They were like in courses, almost. And she would make us tea and I was like, ‘God, I never knew tea could taste that good!’ And I remember her mom would read us the Berenstain Bears at night before going to sleep and that the breakfasts she would make the next day were always amazing. I always looked forward to those breakfasts.”
Language and confidence
“I feel through being here on the farm I’ve learned how to express myself a lot better, just through talking. And through conversation I’ve been feeling more confident and seen and heard by others who are here.”
On femininity
“I honestly feel like the idea of being feminine was always kind of uncomfortable or… something that I never connected with when I was growing up. So it doesn’t mean, honestly, a whole lot to me. And I always really struggled with feeling like I was too feminine, almost, when I was younger and, like, never wanting to wear earrings or dresses. I always felt really not like myself when I looked like this normal idea of whatever feminine is. But nowadays I feel like femininity looks like strength and independence and being confident and comfortable with yourself. For me at least. Those are aspects of myself that I feel confident in with like a feminine idea behind them.”
