Everyone's got a project

I've been getting all kinds of updates from friends who have fancy new blogs.
This one's about feminism.
This one's about finding love and a social life in Boston.
This one's about adventures, misadventures and monetary needs in a South America voyage.
This one is poetical musings on a child dealing with adoption.
And this one is the journal of a new farm being built by new farmers.

Landdog isn't much of a project. It's more like rambling when I feel like rambling and then self-consciously staying as far away as possible to avoid looking like an asshole. And things aren't going to change. But for TODAY, this is the purpose of my entry (this and giving my friends' blogs some publicity). Today is the what-is-Liza-going-to-do-with-her-life entry. Though I hope not to get too in-depth.

I am living in North Carolina. Far away from my lovely boyfriend and feeling even farther from any kind of decision about where my life is headed though I know that I'm working it work. While I'm here I'm trying to do research, learn how to sew, and learn from my aunt and uncle's business : Yes, that's me in the orange top. But I must admit to feeling stagnant. Not at all the accomplished 25 year-old of my pre-teen dreams. On top of that I'm not sleeping well at all. I itch to find my purpose. Or at least my purpose for now.

Here are some things I'm thinking about:

Ecosystem Farm is a farm in Maryland associated with the Accokeek Foundation. I am currently in the middle of answering the 5 page application which includes questions like "Please describe your physical condition" and "Are you willing and capable to of performing physically strenuous work for long hours with few breaks for food and rest?" I'm not sure if I'm signing up for a bootcamp or a farm apprenticeship but I'm excited about the prospect of working on another farm. Not only that but they have a big focus on education and I'm anxious to absorb what they have to offer.

The Tai Sophia Institute is another program I'm looking at. This one does not exclude the farm because I will have to take some pre-rec courses if I want to do the Herbalism Masters program. I am still hesistant about this program because it means some serious planning on my part. Meaning, if I get my masters in Herbalism I can plan on a life of working with those skills. This isn't some six month internship that I can learn a lot from and go on my way. This is a degree with which I can enter a profession. Scary as that sounds I'm actually really excited about the prospect of this school and look forward to meeting with an advisor next week.

The University of Gastronomic Sciences is the Slow Foods University in Italy. They have a one-year Masters Program dedicated food culture and communications. I would love to do this program but it may conflict with the Tai Sophia Institute. So here I will have to make a decision (after applying to both and, of course, being accepted to both): do I want to spend my life in food or health? Can I bridge the two? How can I do one and still learn from the other? Etc.

Then there's the chance that I choose to stay in North Carolina. The sustainable Ag program at CCCC looks really interesting and I've met a really nice woman who's in it and likes it. This would be a great way to dip my toes in the waters of agricultural education, learn about business, and get some practical skills as well.

And last but not least I think it'd be awesome to work for Farmer's Daughter. Canning, baking and lacto-fermentation all at boutique prices and with a small business. Cool.

Ok - that's it from me. Let me know what you think!