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The Design Inspirationalist

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The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: farming

Garden Love

14 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by melissaoconnor in life

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dothework, earth, farming, garden, growit, homesweethome, longisland #sograteful, naturelover, ny, plants, vegetablegarden, veggies

A little peek into our vegetable garden, aka: my happy place. So far everything I planted is thriving and it’s just so gratifying. We have lettuce, broccoli, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, basil, parsley and cilantro. Lots of our favorite things to eat. Growing food, or just about anything for that matter, has been such a love of mine. And lately I’ve felt a calling to be closer to the earth and plant all the things. I have a vision… and dream that one day hopefully soon we will have a little farm on our property. It will be filled with tons of vegetables and fruits, along with flowers. I imagine it being a beautiful and magical place, as our small garden is now, and becomes a local spot for organic produce around our town. I don’t know all the legal hoops to get to that point but it’s something I would like to work toward. I truly enjoy doing this so much and Gray Star Farms doesn’t seem so silly to me.
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Anyway, just wanted to share a special place I love with you all. I come out here every morning and throughout the day to water and observe and then at night one last time before our day is done. It’s a big part of my daily routine. I am so grateful to have the space to bring this garden to life and proud of what we created. Nature will always have a place in my heart.

Farm Stories and Everything in Between

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Awesome Shops, Featured Artists, Weddings

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commercial, dedicated farmers, editorial, farm stories, farmers, farming, farms, healthy living, Indiana, Indiana wedding photographer, Indiana weddings, Kelley Jordan, Kelley Jordan Photography, natural light, photography, potraits, sustainable agriculture, wedding photographer, weddings

Farm Stories and Everything in Between

I was delighted to have Indiana photographer, Kelley Jordan contact me recently. She was inquiring about my albums and possibly working together in the future. I was impressed that she offers such a wide range of photography services. From portraits and weddings/events to products and commercial shoots, her talents and skills go far and beyond what you expect.

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Using the camera as a tool to tell beautiful stories and capture those special moments, it’s the connection between her subjects that is most important. Her love for life and exploration clearly shows through her work and since high school, photography has been her main focus. It is obvious Jordan is sincere in her vision, only seeing what truly speaks to her, and bravely unveiling the beauty that natural light has to offer.

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

I also discovered her love for the Earth and sustainable methods, which she expresses through her project, Farm Stories. It was created to connect people with farmers who practice sustainable agriculture and encourage all of us to live healthy lives and be kind to the planet. Jordan travels all over the world and captures these beautiful farms as well as the farmers and animals who call them home. I thought this was such a great way to introduce and encourage people to open their eyes and learn more about what we eat, how it grows, and the insightful dedicated farmers who stick to their values and do what is right.

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

Farm Stories and Everything in Between - © Kelley Jordan Photography

I did a little Q&A with Jordan about her experience in the field as well as the importance of Farm Stories, enjoy!

What do you look for when shooting a wedding or an event?
Whenever I’m shooting I look for light. Not just any light, but compelling and interesting light. Sometimes that looks like the perfect silhouette and other times it’s a sunbeam highlighting an intimate moment. I also love finding those little moments – the ones that may be fleeting and seemingly insignificant. Those are often the most darling and lovely to capture because they embody the realness of life that transcends that single day.

When is your favorite time of day to take photographs and what season do you love most and why?
Looking through the lens often is most beautiful in the morning or evening. The sunlight softens and changes color which highlights things in a new way. I like shooting in every season because they vary so much, but I do especially enjoy finding new green growth in the spring.

What role do you feel Farm Stories plays in todays food industry and how can it change the way people see agriculture in general?
Farm Stories is about sharing the positive stories of farmers who are investing in a better food system. Discouraging food stories prevail in the news these days because bad farming practices are so common. But the more I look, the more I find men and women investing their lives to feed their communities well. I hope that Farm Stories will connect the surrounding communities to their local farmers to promote a more sustainable and healthy system.

What have you learned since Farm Stories has been created?
I’ve learned SO much more than I can write here. One of the biggest lessons I learned in the beginning was how transparent our food system is NOT and how uneducated we are as consumers. This came about when I stayed on an egg farm in England. Seeing the behind the scenes of free range farming was disturbing to me. Let’s just say the term “free range” does not mean hens frolicking in open fields.

There is tons to know about healthy living and sustainability. What tips or advice would you share with people you feel are most important?
I’d say the best way to start is to ask questions of the people that are feeding you. Buying local is the catchphrase of the day, but when it comes to food, it is very important. If you cannot ask about your food because you have no idea who is growing it or where it’s produced, chances are there is a lot going on that you don’t know about and wouldn’t want to support. If shopping at the farmers market is already a part of your rhythm, don’t be shy about asking questions of the vendors. Where is your farm and can I visit? How do you make your pasta sauce? Do you follow organic practices? etc. This will inform and impact your food choices and therefore our food system in positive ways.

{You can purchase Jordan’s photographs in her Etsy shop: Farmstories & view more of her work at her website, Kelley Jordan Photography}

Inspiration Photo Friday: True Love

15 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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Tags

animals, autumn, evolution, fall, farm, farm animals, farming, gardens, nature, new york, october, plants, queens, queens farm museum, seasons, trees, vegetables, vintage farm, vintage farm wedding, wedding

Since I have been researching places for Dan and I to visit for our wedding anniversary, our wedding day has been on my mind. And since spring is right around the corner, I can’t help but think of the farm where we shared our vows.

The Queens County Farm will always have a place in our hearts. I fell in love when I saw photos, so you can imagine how much I adored this little piece of heaven when we visited it for the first time. I may have gotten distracted with other venues but in the end, both Dan and I followed our hearts and chose the farm for our special day. We visited the venue 3 times before the wedding, each different seasons, and still felt connected to the grounds and the animals. This is how you should feel about where you get married.

So, for Inspiration Photo Friday I wanted to share a photo I took upon one of our visits during the fall. It was so lush and beautiful, autumn colors everywhere. The animals were lively and the birds were singing. It was such a lovely day at the farm. I love that we can always go back, whenever we want, and have new experiences there. As the years go by, we can watch the farm get older and evolve.

It is such an amazing feeling to be connected to a place like this one. We have a lot of love for the Queens Farm and the animals that call it home. I am so happy we went with our hearts and chose this beautiful place to be a part of us forever. The Earth and its animals will always have my love…the truest love of all.

Inspiration Photo Friday: True Love - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

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