Have you wondered if you could be a writer?
Have you ever felt your mind wander as you thinned carrots or pruned tomatoes, and turned words over in your head as ideas popped up for an essay or blog post — or maybe even a book?
Maybe you’ve felt the pull to add a blog to your farm website so you can better connect with customers, but you’re not sure if you’re a “good enough” writer to do it — or if you’ll be able to find the time.
The truth is, farming and writing aren’t so different from each other.
Plant one seed, write one word at a time. Tend to the soil, tend to your creativity. Grow nourishment for the body, the soul, the world.
What if you could learn how to write just like you learned how to grow a garden? What if you had a framework that could take you from the seed of an idea to a finished draft? What if you could harvest words just like you harvest crops?
You can.
But if you’re not sure how or where to start, if you’re stuck in procrastination or writer’s block, I can help you turn that around and grow a flourishing writing practice.
Whether you want to blog, write poems, essays, or that book you feel inside you — Harvesting Words, a writing course for farmers and gardeners, can help you grow it.
Here’s what students are saying about Harvesting Words:
“It was a great course and helped inspire me to actually start writing. It was the push I needed to take action.” ~Janell, farmer
I came up with some new writing ideas that were inspired by the school garden we run, things I never even though of before. Thank you for doing this workshop, I feel the spark of creativity coming back in me! ~ Rob, school garden educator
“I loved knowing that each morning I would find a new prompt in my email inbox. Hurray for prompts! I loved how you wove the gardening/farming analogies all through the course. Your videos and prompts were thoughtful and inspiring.” ~Sabrinajoy, farmer
The next session of Harvesting Words is January 27 – February 25.
I believe that creativity is just as essential as food, and for me, writing is a huge part of that. I also believe everyone deserves access to fresh, local food, and access to education and creativity.
That’s why I’m offering scholarships to Harvesting Words. After graduating with a degree in English and Environmental Studies in 2009, I’ve continued to invest in courses on both writing and farming for the past 10 years.
I’ve paid full price for some, but have been lucky to receive scholarships for others, and I know the feeling of possibility and relief and excitement that comes with it. I also know the depth of growth that comes when you dig in and continue learning.
Now, I’m offering you the same chance to keep growing your skills with a scholarship.
The Harvesting Words Scholarship
What it is: complimentary access to the Harvesting Words online writing course.
How to be considered: Write your answers to the questions below in a comment on this blog post. Answers must be 250 words or less. No email entries will be considered.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 21 by 6:00 pm eastern. The scholarship recipient(s) will be announced by Thursday, January 23.
Scholarship application questions:
- What are your writing goals?
- What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to writing?
- Are you a farmer or a gardener? If so, how long have you been growing, and how would you incorporate writing into your farm/garden?
I’m looking forward to reading your entry! Remember, the deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 21st at 6:00 pm eastern.
The next live round of Harvesting Words begins on January 27th.
Bonus:
Share this blog post on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #harvestingwords and let me know that you’re applying for a scholarship. You can tag me on Instagram @goodheartfarmstead and on Facebook @thegoodheartlife.
Here’s a photo you can use to share on Instagram:
Happy Writing!
Scholarship Recipients:
Thank you to everyone who applied for a scholarship! Taking action and putting your words down here means you are a writer — you’ve taken the ideas from your head and put them to paper. And that matters. It may not have been easy, but you did it! And that means that word by word, you can do it again.
No matter what I want you to know this: your words matter.
You have the ability to cultivate creativity. You have something beautiful and unique to offer the world through your words. Keep writing.
Full Scholarship Recipients:
Fern, an urban gardener who works with the food bank and wants to use writing to inspire and deepen conversations about food justice.
Renee, a beekeeper, gardener, and new mom who writes as a way to deepen her relationship with her children and the garden.
