My Duel Lifestyle - by Levi Bilderback, Garden Intern 2017

​I currently am living a double life. On the one hand, I eat, breath, poop and sleep at Songaia four days a week, not to mention the work that goes into maintaining the Garden. On the other hand, I go visit Kaylee for three days and eat, breath, poop and sleep with my wife, as well as looking for a permanent place to live. Sometimes one life is more stressful than the others.

Since I don’t have a butt anymore, I had to work my thighs off when I’m with Kaylee. Trying to find a house here has been a little upsetting, but the search shall continue! House hunting isn’t all we do, though. We’ve also been tending and keeping a garden at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. It is little and a work in progress, but we love to grow things, and growing ANYTHING is a work in progress. We’ve also gone on some hikes and explored the greater area a bit. We are quickly falling in love with Washington.

While I do feel I have two separate lives, I realize it is all the same thing. I have been learning so many valuable lessons about farming and life, because permaculture is about both. When I was with my parents, I kept imagining how I could farm the land for the maximum benefit to the earth and community. I wanted to plant a food forest. I’m learning so much and working so hard. I can imagine a beautiful future, and I have found a way I believe can usher in real change that is good for everyone.

I’ve worked my butt off at Songaia. No, seriously, I have no butt. But I have so much more knowledge about some things I feel very passionate about: living sustainably and growing good food.