Jenny Bashutski – Bashutski Harvesting
On April 12th, I jumped on a plane and flew down to Omaha, Nebraska for the first annual HarvestHER Wellness Retreat.
I was apprehensive to go. I really wanted to go but I haven’t flown in years and never alone. I knew there would be only one person there that I had actually ever met. Others, I knew but didn’t “know” and for an introvert that is scary.
We all met up Friday at the most beautiful AirBnB rental house that most of us had ever seen! We quickly got to know each other and settled in. We laughed, we cried…we laughed until we cried…we ate, we drank, we had a spa night, we painted, we went wine tasting, we shopped in the quaint little town of Ashland, we heard from an amazing breast cancer survivor, we learned about bullet journaling, we ate some more, we laughed some more, we talked about our trials and tribulations, we lifted and were uplifted – and we bonded like I never thought possible. The thing about HarvestHER is we are all so different, yet so alike.
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Ashli Brehm (auther of the blog, Baby on the Brehm) came to speak to our group about her life story and battling breast cancer. Photo credit – Laura Haffner Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
Photo credit – Taylor Josoff Photography
One of the quaint, little stores in Ashland, NE – Postscript.
Is this January or the middle of April? Main street Ashland, NE.
Our final morning together – came together as strangers and leaving as kindred spirits.
I know Tracy wants no recognition for all the hard work she put into this weekend; but, when we arrived at the house, one of the first things we noticed was just how much work she had put into this event. She did an outstanding job! I just have to say, “Thank you, again, Tracy, for listening to your heart and bringing us all together”. Thank you also to the other women who came because they believed in Tracy and attended this event. I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet each one of you and getting to know you all. I came home feeling so refreshed and ready for this upcoming harvest season and am looking forward to next years event! If you have the chance to make it next year, I definitely recommend it…even if you are an introvert like me!
As far as this harvest season goes, the H-2A visa paperwork is in the process and if the snow ever melts here, we will begin preparing equipment for seeding the few quarters of land that we rent and getting the combines ready for this year’s harvest. Before we know it, it will be time to be south bound!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
