To the House Interim Committee On Water, 

I am writing to you today to ask that you please review, redefine, and reconfigure irrigation and water laws, rules, and regulations in Oregon. 

My name is Megan Kellner-Rode and I co-own and farm Boundless Farmstead with my husband David Kellner-Rode (along with David's mother Abby). We tend our 20 acre property in Alfalfa (just east of Bend); 10 acres in mixed vegetables and cover crops, 5 acres in pasture, 1 acre orchard, and about 4 acres mixed outbuildings. We have been with Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) since 2017 and have about 17 acres of water rights. 
 At Boundless Farmstead, we seed, plant, tend, and grow enough produce: 

• To feed a 90 family Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Deschutes and Crook County. (CSAs are weekly food boxes equivalent of $25 to $40 every week for 20 weeks). Some of our members are low income and pay with SNAP/EBT and receive match grants to fund their food boxes. 
• To attend two local farmers markets every week from mid May to mid October 
• To sell 7000+ lbs of food at the autumn bulk buying event called Fill Your Pantry to feed Central Oregonians all winter long
• To sell to a dozen different restaurants in Bend 
• To provide twice weekly deliveries to Central Oregon Locavore, The Stand in Sisters, and Tumalo Farm Stand 

David and I are fully employed by the farm and have no outside farm income. We also employ three full time employees.  We have invested heavily in infrastructure since starting the farm in 2017, including four 20' x 200' high tunnels, equipment, renovation, and most importantly to this conversation highly efficient irrigation systems. This year, we invested further into our irrigation by installing a buried PVC irrigation system and purchasing additional drip irrigation to use water more wisely in the spring months during low flow. We run the rest of our 10 acres of mixed vegetables and cover crops on high efficiency micro-overhead sprinklers. We do this because we know water is a precious resource and needs to be used wisely. We also grow a large amount of cover crops in hopes of increasing organic matter, increasing water retention, and some day, being able to decrease our water use and lease some water back in stream/in district. 
Water is critical to our lives; critical to growing food for our community, to employing ourselves and others, and to being good stewards of this land. 

We would consider ourselves environmentalists as much as we would agriculturalists. We know that the drought conditions are dire and that there is a wide spectrum of opinions and viewpoints when it comes to what proper allocation of water looks like. I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and consider our perspective. 

Last year was challenging for all agricultural growers in Central Oregon; some districts losing water as early as late July, some being on very low allotment, and everyone having to make strategic decisions about water use. I think that every year we should all be using water as wisely as possible, but this feels so important and prominent in our current (and building) drought crisis. I believe that water should be prioritized for environmental/wildlife purposes, clean drinking water, and food/farms above all else. These are our basic necessities as humans, and yet we forget. We are so willing to sell out our basic necessities for manufactured ones that we make our lands unliveable. We are greedy, we are ignorant, and we think we can buy our way to health and happiness. 

Last year, our farm was given 50-60% of our typical allotment of water for almost the entire season. Last year, we worked in sweltering heat all of July. Last year, we had to make decisions about what plants suffered and what plants were given the water they needed. We were lucky in getting 60% of our allotment compared to our farmer kin in other irrigation districts who dried up large parcels, paid large sums for hay and feed (that they typically grow), sold off livestock, and fallowed farmable land. 

This year, we are already having to truck water in to fill our irrigation ponds to water our greenhouses and plant starts because we did not have enough water to fill our ponds this winter. This year, I received word that one of our farmer friends who typically grows 20+ acres of potatoes, winter squash, and onions, will not have enough water to grow any vegetables at all. This year, we are looking at water situations more dire than last. 

To me, it seems there is enough water for wildlife, for clean drinking water, and for farms growing/raising/producing food and animal feed, we just need to redefine who gets water, what “beneficial use” is, and how much each patron is receiving. 

I have attached a map that was sent to us by COID that states we need to prove we are using our water rights “beneficially” in the areas marked with red hash marks and the yellow “x” marks (in the greenhouses). When I called and explained we grow row crops, the COID employee understood, but the way the aerial photos are taken, they need us to prove it regardless. This is as simple as having the Ditch Rider come look or taking a photo and sending it in. 

I am ok with having to take these extra steps to continue receiving water. I would actually be willing to do a lot more in order to continue receiving water and to prove we are using it wisely. What I find an issue in is the way beneficial use is monitored and defined. There is a property that neighbors us, owned by a person who lives out of state. They hired people to park an RV on the property for three months and water a field that mostly consisted of mullein and noxious weeds so that it looked “green.” These people watered every day, and to my knowledge, the owner has not been questioned about their beneficial use. 

We have people in our area who flood irrigate 20+ acres for two horses, folks who irrigate 40 acre lawns (not cutting hay or growing any crops), folks who pay people to irrigate weeds and junipers. We also have neighbors who make their living off of the land raising cattle and hay, practicing good pasture management techniques, and cover cropping.  And when you fly overhead and take an aerial shot, all of these properties are “green” and “compliant.” 

I do not think all land is managed equally and I think it is time we start to redefine who gets to use water and who does not, and to redefine what is “beneficial use” and what is not. One of my ideas is to create a tiered system; in years where water is scarce, patrons who are growing food or feed are in the top tier and receive water first, those with hobby farms second (farms that are not feeding themselves or others), those with lawns or recreational properties like golf courses last. This way, we are ensuring that food security remains the top priority in our area. 

Last year, our farm received emails weekly from Oregon government agencies offering drought relief assistance (see Farm and Ranch Drought Resources Page from the State of Oregon), USDA drought relief (USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Oregon Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Wildfires and Drought), tips and tricks on how to use water more wisely (Saving water on the farm or ranch resource), etc. The burden of the lack of water for agriculture was and is glaringly obvious. 
Our local irrigation districts cut water from every single district; the most severe being a week on week off flow, followed by a complete shut off at the end of July (Arnold Irrigation District), and the least severe being a 60% flow for the entirety of the season to COID. 

Oregon has seen severe droughts in the last couple of years, and before the 2020 drought declarations every five years for the last nearly 30 years (See Governor's drought declaration )

The Oregon Water Resource Board (OWRB) states in their 100 Year Water Vision 4 goals, including 

1. Health: Clean water for all who live in OR, 
2. Economy: Sustainable and clean water to support local economic vitality, 
3. Environment: Adequate cool clean water to sustain OR's ecosystem, and 
4. Safety: Resilient water supplies for Oregon's communities. 

I think it is time to take the burden away from the farms and start implementing a smart plan for water use. I also think it is time for the state to redefine or create a nuanced approach to what is considered a “farm” and what is considered “agriculture.” 

This 2017 Deschutes County Census of Agriculture shows there being nearly 1,500 farms in the county. I know for a fact that our farm is among the top five largest vegetable producing farms in Deschutes County and maybe the highest or second highest producing in the COID at only five acres in vegetable production and five acres in cover crop production. The number 1,500 does not paint an accurate picture of actual food and animal feed producing farms. As you can see by the Section “Farms by Value of Sales,” only 6% are making over $50,000 and 3% over $100,000; 46% of farms are making under $2,500 and I would assume the majority of those are receiving Farm Deferral taxes rates as well as irrigation water. This seems like a potential loss of revenue and loss of resources.
According to the Deschutes Basin Board of Control (DBBC) which comprises eight Central Oregon irrigation districts, they convey water to over 7,600 farms and ranches. According to the 2017 Agricultural Census (referenced above), Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties have a total of 2,501 farms. What additional 5,000 “farms and ranches'' does the DBBC serve? Why is the water being allocated to so many non-descript patrons/properties? 

As a side note, the fact that Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) laws allow for Golf Courses is appalling and leads an elitist agenda in a time when EFU/Farmland is so difficult to purchase for farmers, and when water is such a scarce resource. In Deschutes County, there was recently a moratorium on Cannabis grow operations with one of the top concerns being irrigation and groundwater use, and negative affect on people’s lives. I believe a similar argument can be made for the heavy resource use and the heavy chemical (fertilizer, herbicide, etc) use of golf courses. I believe that creating a moratorium on golf course creation could save irrigation water immediately. 

I also believe there is some poor/inconsistent/uncompromising management happening within the irrigation districts. As an example, I have asked multiple times since 2017 if the COID board could consider changing their board meeting times to a time that working people could attend or could consider running for a board position. Currently, the meetings are held on Tuesdays from 9am to 11am. Most commercial growers in the COID district are harvesting for farmers markets and wholesale customers, running farm crews, etc during those hours. The current COID board consists of all white males in or nearing retirement age, and is not a good representation for everyone in the district. I finally received a response that essentially said (in brief) that the meetings have been at the same time for 100 years and they are not willing to change them. This statement, to me, feels like the perfect example of why we are in the water predicament we are in. The irrigation system is being run by 100 year old ideas, regulations, and rules with an unwillingness to change to modern issues or circumstances. In the 1920s, we were approaching 2 billion people. In the 2020s, we are approaching 8 billion.

Another example of mismanagement- every five years irrigation patrons are required to prove beneficial use. After five years, if the water is not being used properly, it is “taken away.” I have been told through the grapevine that water is not often actually taken away from properties that are not using water correctly, because all water that is taken from the property is also taken away from that irrigation district and becomes property of the state again. 

Recently in Central Oregon, COID, Deschutes River Conservancy, and North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) entered into sort of a grassroots pilot program called the Deschutes Water Bank. This program allows COID patrons to voluntarily lease water to patrons in NUID, and be paid to do so. This is a great program and incentive. The only problem is, the information was shared once with COID patrons, then was difficult to find after that. There is no information on the COID website (that I could find) and eventually I was able to scroll through weeks and weeks of posts on their Facebook social media page to find a brief mention. I wish these sorts of programs took a higher priority and were more accessible. 

Irrigation laws, rules, and regulations can be so daunting and so confusing to its patrons that people who may be willing to lease water back in-stream or to other farmers are often discouraged or dissuaded to act. Example- A farmer friend in Central Oregon shares an irrigation lateral line and a complex irrigation schedule with a few neighboring properties. Essentially they get from 2am one day of the week until 10pm the next day of the week. They all rely on each other to uphold their schedule and not to interrupt another’s schedule. This farmer told me that one of the neighbors was considering leasing a few acres of water back to the river, but was dissuaded by the other neighbors because it would make their water schedule change and they would have to reconfigure the agreement. 
The “use it or lose it” regulation also creates fear in the patrons, and often causes them to water land that is not productive and not beneficial. I believe many patrons would be more willing to give up water/lease partial allotment back during drought years if they knew the rules and regulations better and felt better supported by the irrigation district. 

Every year, I organize and execute an event called Central Oregon Fill Your Pantry. This is a bulk buying farmers market that happens in mid-November to encourage Central Oregonians to stock up on local meats, grains, vegetables, fruits, etc for the winter. This event is all about food security and food sovereignty. Last year, during the one-day event, Central Oregon farmers and ranchers collectively made over $120,000 and sold literal tons and tons of food to the community. Just our farm, Boundless Farmstead, sold over 7,000 pounds of food valuing over $16,000. This year, I have already heard that one of our largest producers will not be growing vegetables this year due to water shortages, and a number of others are looking for lands to expand grazing, ways to collaborate and grow different crops, or switching to just value-added crops because their water will be turned off in August. It is frightening and so gut wrenching to think that in its seventh year we may have to cancel. 
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Why does the responsibility of proper water use fall on the backs of agriculturalists/farmers/ranchers? Why do the repercussions of improper water use affect farmers, wildlife, and ecosystems predominantly (at this moment)?  If water is truly owned by the public in Oregon, then why when so many members of the public speak up and against the improper use of water, does it not hold merit?

I am writing to you today out of desperation, out of panic, and from the heaviest heart. But, I am also writing to you out of hope. Hope that if the State can make some changes to water laws and regulations, and fast, that we may only have to endure one more season of desperation and panic and pain. 
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I am available to share my experiences, share my potential solutions, brainstorm ideas, and listen to your feedback anytime.
 
Thank you for your time,

House Interim Committee on Water
Chair- Ken Helm rep.kenhelm@oregonlegislature.gov  
Vice Chair- Mark Owens Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov 
Vice Chair- Jeff Reardon Rep.JeffReardon@oregonlegislature.gov​
Member- Vikki Breese-Iverson (lives in Prineville) rep.vikkibreeseiverson@oregonlegislature.gov
Member- Lisa Reynolds Rep.LisaReynolds@oregonlegislature.gov
Member- Anna Scharf Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Member- Marty Wilde Rep.MartyWilde@oregonlegislature.gov

Senators
Jeff Merkley (D)- senator@merkley.senate.gov
Ron Wyden (D)- Home | U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon (senate.gov) no email, must use form 

Oregon Water Resource Department
The only email I could find was to the Executive Assistant Nirvana.Cook@oregon.gov or you can use the form embedded in the website
Chair- Meg Reeves
Kathy Kihara (lives in Bend)
Julie Smitherman
Eric Quaempts
Joe Moll
Jan Lee
Woody Wolfe

Deschutes County Commissioners (or look up for your county!)
Chair- Patti Adair Patti.Adair@deschutes.org
Vice Chair- Tony Debone Tony.DeBone@deschutes.org
Phil Chang Phil.Chang@deschutes.org 

Use this website to look up all of your legislators! 

First of all, accepting SNAP/EBT on your farm is not challenging, it is just a bit time consuming and tedious. But never fear! There are a lot of really amazing resources. 
 
Just a few definitions to help get you started:

• SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps)
  
• USDA FNS – Food and Nutrition Services runs SNAP
  
• EBT – Electronic Benefit Transfer, how funds are moved using SNAP
  
• Oregon DHS – Department of Human Services operates the state food stamp program with funding from FNS
  
• Oregon Trail Card – The name of Oregon’s food stamp EBT card
  
  • DUFB – Double Up Food Bucks is a program where SNAP participants can increase the value of their benefits. In Oregon, you can do this through your CSA or at the Farmers Market – these programs are run by different organizations. 
    
    • CSA DUFB - Portland Area CSA Coalition (changing name to PNW CSA Coalition) 
      
    • Market DUFB goes through a Farmers Market and is run by the Farmers Market Fund
      

 
Accepting EBT on Farm
I would definitely start here: The CSA Farmer's Nationwide Guide to Accepting SNAP/EBT Payments by Zenger Farm. It is invaluable in this process and I recommend reading through the whole document thoroughly! I also recommend printing the document and having it next to you while filling out the SNAP application. This resource was written in 2013, but the information regarding applying with FNS is still relevant and extremely helpful. I would follow this part of the guide to a T (predominantly the info starting on page 15). 
 
 
To accept SNAP benefits through EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) you will first need to: 

1. Apply for a USDA Account (this part only takes about a half hour)
   
2. Apply with USDA FNS to become a "retailer.” The application takes about 30 min to 1 hour and the wait time for acceptance will probably be around two weeks (though it can take up to a month). You will either need a scanner, a smart phone, and/or will need to mail/fax documents in. You will also need a business license, a social security card, and a photo ID. 
   
3. If you would like a mobile reader option for EBT, simultaneously apply with MarketLink or Oregon DHS (see instructions below)
   
4. If you would like to match funds and apply for DUFB, simultaneously contact PACSAC (Portland Area CSA Coalition changing name to PNW CSA Coalition) (see instructions below). 
   

Mobile Reader and App Grant Funding
Using a mobile reader to accept SNAP through EBT is not mandatory. You can use the paper voucher system and mail in the vouchers for a check. I decided it made more sense to be able to run SNAP cards (like a credit card) for our farm, rather than mailing in vouchers (and potentially discovering a customer has insufficient funds). 
 
The caveat of using the mobile reader (which connects to your phone like a square reader) is that the reader is not free and neither is the service. So, you can either choose to pay for this service, or you can apply for grant funding. There are two options for applying for grant funding for this service. Here is a snippet of an email I received from Amanda Cross of the Oregon Farmers Market Association describing those options: 
 
There are two programs out there right now to provide free EBT equipment to farmers markets and direct marketing farmers:

• The federal program is MarketLink, and their sign-up is here: https://marketlink.org/training/free-equip-info
  
• The state program is with OR Department of Human Services, and is the one on the flyer you referenced. DHS did not have an application so that markets (or farmers) can easily ask for equipment. So I made a Google form to help collect the info needed and then I send that info to DHS on behalf of the market when they want to apply. (My form is here: https://forms.gle/oTsvesS2R5dy4iGb7) The people I'm working with at DHS are, Adam Rea (ADAM.J.REA@dhsoha.state.or.us) and Lucy Huffman (LUCY.HUFFMAN@dhsoha.state.or.us). In turn, they are in touch with Maurice Bill Walker at DHS who handles ordering the EBT equipment and the contracts. 
  

There are pluses & minuses to each program and I've started this MarketLink vs. Oregon DHS infosheet to try to illuminate the differences between them. You are welcome to copy and adapt this, and my google sign-up form, for farms if it's helpful. And I'm happy to discuss more about the programs or how farms can sign up with DHS, feel free to send me your questions or we can schedule a time to talk too. 
 
Next Steps and what I decided to do
After researching both options, I decided to go with MarketLink. I decided to go with MarketLink because I had heard it was more time efficient to go through the third party than through the government organization. I also did not need an additional smart device and planned to use my phone. After recently revisiting the Market Link v Oregon DHS info sheet, I believe the DHS program has become more robust, and might be more worth looking into. When I applied at the beginning of the year, there were more benefits of going through MarketLink. I would suggest calling both organizations to see which might fit your needs better. 
 
The MarketLink application requires a bit of going back and forth between documents, emails, and government websites. First, you apply to see if you are eligible for the grant (this process takes very little time). If so, you will receive confirmation and a Market Link ID number via email. Once you have that, you will need to wait to continue applying for the mobile reader/app until you have your FNS Approval Number (meaning until the government approves your application for SNAP). Once you have that number, you can continue the process with MarketLink. For this part of the process, you will need to provide your Federal ID number again (business license) and the bank account information you want to use in order for the organization to pay you. 
 
This is where it gets confusing. There are four different companies you will receive correspondence from in regards to the mobile reader/app. Here is the breakdown: 

• MarketLink is only responsible for the grant; they help you apply for the app/mobile reader and help you receive the reader for free. 
  
• Novo Dia Group (NDG) is the group responsible for handling payments; they accept the EBT and deposit the funds into your bank account. 
  
• TotilPayGo is the phone app that NDG created for you to use to accept EBT. 
  
• MobileMarket+ is NDG’s old app. When I applied this spring, correspondence was still being sent through that name and you may have to apply for an account here in order to use the TotilPayGo app. 
  

It is very confusing at first and I sat on the phone for awhile one day trying to figure it all out.  Hopefully they have made it less confusing by now. 
 
Once you get past all the applications and actually get the app and reader, it is actually very easy to use and our payments always come through. Also, the folks at Novo Dia Group have been very responsive.  
 
Double Up Food Bucks for your CSA (NOT at farmer’s markets)
If you are a vegetable farmer and have a CSA, you can apply to work with PNW CSA Coalition (previously PACSAC) to help your customers receive up to a $200 Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) grant towards the cost of their CSA. You do not have to be able to take CSA to work with this organization, so skip all that headache above if you only want to use SNAP for your CSA. 
 
I just received an email from Holly at PACSAC today. Here is a copy of that email: 
 
We have DUFB funding through 2023, and are already working on our plan for after that.
 
Small caveat -- you need to join our org and we need to do the SNAP processing for your members.  The reason why is that DUFB is tied to SNAP: a member can't get more DUFB than they pay in SNAP, so if, for example, a member can only pay a portion of their monthly fee because they have run out of benefits, they will only get part of their DUFB allocation, and we keep a running database on how much DUFB is left.
 
I'm attaching last year's documentation so you can get a feeling for what it entails.  We haven't done 2021 yet but it will be nearly identical.  Registration to join PACSAC will be out next week so join our listserv here to get notification.
 
FAQs: SNAP and DUFB
Get set up to process SNAP (this is a checklist on having PACSAC process your SNAP/DUFB members)
 
This looks like a wonderful opportunity, and they are very excited to work with folks all over the state. The fees for this service are: 

• Membership fee of between $50 and $200 sliding scale
  
• $10 per CSA customer utilizing the service. 
  

 
The way the relationship works between your farm, PACSAC, and your customer is (from PACSAC website): 

1. Member joins your CSA, fills out whatever paperwork/website you use.
   
2. When you fill out our online form, we automatically email a SNAP Processing Agreement to the member with all your pricing and farm information pre-filled. We also CC you on this email so that you have a record of that agreement.
   
3. The member has 7 days to print, sign, and mail this agreement to the Coalition. We will remind your member by email after 7 days. 
   
4. After we receive the agreement, we will begin processing their SNAP payments. Assuming there are no issues with the member’s SNAP benefits, your member will not hear from the Coalition again. It will seem like automatic bill pay, with payments coming out of the member’s SNAP account on the day their benefits are issued.
   
5. If we do have a problem processing your member’s payment, we will contact your member directly to resolve the problem. If they aren’t responding, we will ask for your help.
   

For more information or to sign up visit the PNWCSA Farmer Tab and learn about membership, accepting EBT, and browse a ton of other CSA Farmer Resources. 

Other CSA accessibility ideas and resources 
Here are some additional resources to consider when thinking about food accessibility and your CSA/Market presence. 

• Sliding Scale CSA calculator and information from Zenger Farm. This is Zenger Farms metric for how customers can decide where they fall on the sliding scale. 
  
• Sowing the Seeds of Food Justice from Soul Fire Farm (SARE Project) This research document is chalked full of great ideas for making your food more accessible; sliding scale CSAs, grant funding, work trade, etc. 
  
• Farm Direct Nutrition Program Info  FDNP are the green $4 vouchers often seen at the farmers market (but accepted in any farm-direct transaction)
  
• Application for accepting Farm Direct Nutrition Program vouchers This is so simple and only requires an application and a brief conference call with the Program Director. I believe farms only have to reapply every three years. This program is wildly easy to participate in and all vouchers are accepted at your bank.  
  
• General helpful info for taking EBT on farm
  

 
Ok, that's all I have for now folks. If you have any questions, send them my way and I will try to help you out! 

​

Recently, I was asked to write an article for the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance's annual directory. They asked me to describe a day farming in the high desert. I tried to encompass the experience of multiple farms and their farmers.

This video describes more about the directory and my piece is below. 

To steward
By Megan French
​
This land of dusty hooves and yipping coyotes, of soaring Red Tails and darting marmots. This land where the sun is intense or fleeting, where the clouds are invisible or rumble full of thunder, where the breeze gently soothes or fiercely fights, where the nights are always cold. This land where fields are a palate swept brilliantly with wildflowers or scorched black with wildfire. This land is where we steward and where we call home. 

Our fingers are cracked from arid sand, our hair bleached from the desert sun, and our cheeks blush from the endless wind. We know the value of a well-used handkerchief and a well-loved dog. We know the absolute sweetness of the air after the rain soaks the sage leaves and the sun warms the Ponderosa bark, like the delicate scent of an incense burning in the adjacent room. We know the harm of a single seed of cheatgrass or an unwatched step near warming rocks. And above all, we know so deeply the importance of observation. Because to be observant, in this land, is to be resilient. 

Everyday we walk our fields, both looking for life, and for death. We notice the sand lilies have bloomed, and deem it spring; or the rabbitbrush bloomed and deem it autumn. We check our plants for the frost damage they almost certainly have sustained. We take note of their vigor, plunge our hands into the earth to check their roots, check the moisture, check for pests. We wish we could spend more time observing, but the time for a long day’s work started about an hour before dawn. The hens are fed (our favorites are told a story), the chicks are checked for warmth, and the whole time our sweet farm dog shadows and pays no mind at all to frantic squawking birds. 

Second cup of coffee and we remember a restless night’s sleep; born from the bright moon heading towards full again, the impending frost, and the long to-do list. But, no matter, because the frogs croaked a midnight orchestral melody and the owls added a back-up ensemble, eventually lulling us to sleep. 

The farmer is the carpenter, the electrician, the mechanic, the grower, the vet, the cook, and the poet. The farmer’s day never ends, only changes from one number on the calendar to the next. But, this is no job; there are no chores except that of calling family every weekend, there is no clock except that of a hungry belly, and there is no boss except weather and bugs and soil. There is only purpose. 

To steward this land, one must be resilient. But, resilience comes in many forms. To be resilient is to be chilled to the bone all day standing in front of a broken tractor or a hurt animal feeling powerless, but forging forward toward a solution. To be resilient is to be fixing fence in the dark, wanting nothing more than a kiss goodnight and a warm bed, but knowing that will come again soon. To be resilient is to grow food with care; to seed, plant, weed, water, weed, water, and harvest, and to hope to the moon that those customers show up to that rainy market. To be resilient is to know that strength lies in the quality of community, the greatness of love, and the humility of head, to continue to observe, learn, and steward.